News highlights
Sacramento, California • January 2013
The University of California's Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology Receives California's Highest Environmental Honor.
The University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN) was awarded the California Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA) in the field of Green Chemistry. The award was announced this week at a ceremony at the California Environmental Protection Agency in Sacramento.
The UC CEIN earned the award for their nanotechnology environmental health and safety efforts. Since its inception in 2008, the UC CEIN has become a world-class research facility focused on the responsible use and safe implementation of nanotechnology in the environment.
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(left to right)
Roger Nisbet, Hilary Godwin, Yoram Cohen,
Arturo Keller, André Nel, David Avery, Elina Nasser |
UC CEIN is
widely respected globally for implementation of novel approaches to assess nanomaterial properties that determine hazard, environmental exposure, and impact on marine and terrestrial ecosystems. These efforts have helped create a paradigm shift for investigating nanomaterial hazard and risk at a scale commensurate with the rate of new nanomaterial development.
"The ability to address nanotechnology safety is key to advancing nanomaterials in the marketplace," said Dr. Andre Nel, Director of the UC CEIN and Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Public Health at UCLA. "UC CEIN developed frameworks, methodologies, and tools are not only being used by state and federal agencies, but are also being adopted by industries across the United State and internationally. UC CEIN's work is helping to ensure companies engaged in technology development are thinking about safety from the development stages instead of focusing solely on desirable new material properties."
The UC CEIN also plays a critical role in educating the next generation of nano-scientists, engineers, and policy makers to anticipate and mitigate potential future environmental hazards associated with nanotechnology. Housed at the University of California, Los Angeles, with a second major research hub at University of California Santa Barbara, the UC CEIN engages researchers at nearly two dozen research institutions in the United States and worldwide. On a recent visit to the UC CEIN Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson praised the Center for the creation of over 100 new green jobs in the state of California since 2008.
For more information about GEELA, visit http://www.calepa.ca.gov/awards/GEELA
perkinelmer.com • November 8, 2012
Pushing the Boundaries to Understand the Impact of Manufactured Nanomaterials on our Food Supply
The PerkinElmer company's website lead story in their Environmental Customer Stories section features the work of UC CEIN associate Professor Jorge Gardea-Torresdey and his group at University of Texas at El Paso as they seek to understand how manufactured nanomaterials may enter our food supply. One particular study is focused on how nanomaterials may affect soybeans, the fifth largest agricultural crop in the world and the second largest crop in the United States. For the complete article, go to
http://www.perkinelmer.com/pages/000/environmental/environmentalcustomerstories.xhtml
Nature • Sept 18, 2012
Nano-safety studies urged in China by Jane Qiu
Exposure surveys and stronger regulations are required for the industry to thrive, researchers say. Here is a recipe for anxiety: take China’s poorly enforced chemical-safety regulations, add its tainted record on product safety and stir in the uncertain risks of a booming nanotechnology industry.
As an antidote to this uneasy mixture, the country should carry out more-extensive safety studies and improve regulatory oversight of synthetic nanomaterials, leading Chinese researchers said at the 6th International Conference on Nanotoxicology in Beijing this month. “This is the only way to maintain the competitiveness of China’s nanotechnology sector,” says Zhao Yuliang, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST) in Beijing. “We certainly don’t want safety issues to become a trade barrier for nano-based products.”
For complete article go to http://www.nature.com/news/nano-safety-studies-urged-in-china-1.11437
Future Scientists Forum in Beijing • Sept 18, 2012
September 7, 2012, on behalf of ACS Publications, ACS Nano Editor Advisory Board members André Nel from the Division of Nanomedicine at UCLA and Wolfgang Parak from Philipps-Universitä Marburg in Germany presented the 2012 Future Scientists: Student Innovation awards at the International Conference on Nanotoxicology in Beijing, China. The "Outstanding Young Scholar Awards" were decided upon by the Future Scientists Forum audience consisting of people from dozens of universities in countries all over the world. There were 152 total votes for best oral presentation. Each winner got at least 1/3 of the vote from their session. Also part of this youth program, a Poster Committee chose the "10 Best Posters" out of 44 (200 originally). Each poster was scored independently, and the top ten were chosen according to their scores. This event was sponsored by ACS Publications, Nano Letters, and ACS Nano and organized by the NanoSafety division of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and took place during the 6th International Conference on Nanotoxicology in Beijing, China. Congratulations to all winners for their excellent work!
ACS Certificate of Merit • August 22, 2012
Congratulations to Adeyemi Adeleye, a new UC CEIN PhD student at UC Santa Barbara, who received the ACS Environmental Chemistry Division's Certificate of Merit in recognition of his presentation titled "Persistence of commercial nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) and its by-products" at the 224th American Chemical Society National Meeting in Philadelphia on August 22, 2012. This was a leveraged project, working with a major environmental consulting firm, AECOM, who is interested in knowing the environmental implications of this nanomaterial used in groundwater remediation.
UCLA Research Award • August 14, 2012
Congratulations to CEIN undergraduate researcher Wilson Mai. Wilson has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious UCLA Senior Undergraduate Research Scholarship. These scholarships are awarded to selected undergraduate seniors who demonstrate strong academic abilities and engage in significant research endeavors. Wilson has become a key member of the CEIN research lab at UCLA and we congratulate him for this award.
Rice University News • July 11, 2012
Ions, not particles, make silver toxic to bacteria by Mike Williams
Rice University researchers have settled a long-standing controversy over the mechanism by which silver nanoparticles, the most widely used nanomaterial in the world, kill bacteria. Their work comes with a Nietzsche-esque warning: Use enough. If you don’t kill them, you make them stronger. Scientists have also suspected silver nanoparticles themselves may be toxic to bacteria, particularly the smallest of them at about 3 nanometers. Not so, according to the Rice team that reported its results this month in the American Chemical Society journal Nano Letters. For the full article go to http://news.rice.edu/2012/07/11/ions-not-particles-make-silver-toxic-to-bacteria-2/
Dr. Somasundaran elected to Royal Society of Canada • July 2012
Join us in congratulating UC CEIN faculty member Ponisseril Somasundaran of Columbia University on the prestigious honor of his election to the Fellowship of the Royal Society of Canada (Academy of Science) on the basis of his contributions to the fields of Applied Sciences and Engineering. This distinguished fellowship is not widely awarded outside of Canada. Dr. Somasundaran is the first ever recipient from Columbia University. The Royal Society of Canada: the Academies of Arts, Humanities and Sciences of Canada (RSC) was established under an Act of Parliament in 1882 as the senior Canadian collegium of distinguished scholars, artists and scientists. For more about the RSC visit their website http://rsc-src.ca/home.php
Nanowerk Spotlight • July 9, 2012
Towards high-throughput, mechanisms-based toxicity testing of nanomaterials by Carl Walkey
This article is a discussion of methods of nanomaterial toxicity testing focusing on the fundamentally different approach being developed under the guidance of Dr. André Nel and the researchers of UC CEIN at UCLA. Under certain circumstances this new approach using in vitro testing has tremendous advantages over previous methods including faster results. The complete article is at http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=25849.php
Nature Nanotechnology • July 2012 • Commentary by Steffen Foss Hansen and Anders Baun
Titled 'When enough is enough' this commentary discusses recently published research articles about nanosilver and the environment and the European Commission's request of its Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) to provide a scientific opinion on nanosilver and potential safety, health and environmental effects, and role in antimicrobial resistance. To read/download full commentary (88KB pdf) click here
Sad news • June
23, 2012
We are greatly saddened to report the passing of UC CEIN colleague 
Professor Ma Jan of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Prof Ma served as the Chair of Materials Science & Engineering since 1 April 2011, and as the Acting Chair from 1 January 2011 to 31 March 2011.
He joined MSE in 1997 and dedicated 15 years of service to the School and the University. Over the years, he held various management positions in the School, which included Head of Materials Technology Division, Vice Dean, Associate Chair (Academic) and Chair. He was also seconded to become the Director of Temasek Laboratories between 2009 and 2012. Prof Ma showed relentless dedication and commitment in each of his appointments and deserved the credit for elevating our School to its status today. He had always been warmly regarded by colleagues, students and alumni as a good mentor, brilliant researcher and talented faculty. He will be deeply missed by all of us. Prof Ma is survived by his wife and 2 daughters.
Nanowerk Spotlight • June 20, 2012
The Spotlight section of nanotechnology and nanoscience website nanowerk.com
features an article on some of UC CEIN's research on
how the crystal structure of silver nanoparticles in aquatic environments is a determinate of toxicity to aquatic life.
Full article at http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=25655.php#ixzz1yLXe0cmR
University of Bremen wins prestigious Excellence University title • June 15, 2012
Congratulations to UC CEIN partner University of Bremen for its recognition as one of Germany's eleven finest universities and grand prize winner for research funding from the German Federal Government's Excellence Initiative. These honors include an extra 100 million euros for research funding.
For the complete press release from University of Bremen go to
http://idw-online.de/de/news483539
For more about the German Excellence Initiative go to http://www.bmbf.de/en/1321.php
Dr. Pedro J. J. Alvarez awarded 2012 Clarke Prize • June 7, 2012
The 2012 recipient of the Clarke Prize for excellence in water research is environmental engineer Pedro J. J. Alvarez, Ph.D., P.E., DEE, the George R. Brown Professor of Engineering and Chair of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Alvarez was selected as the 2012 recipient because of because of global leadership and contributions to enhancing water resource sustainability through water pollution control. With a focus on examining new technologies, his work has provided fundamental insight on a broad range of water industry challenges, but he is best known for his pioneering research in two fields: bioremediation and environmental nanotechnology.
“The Clarke Prize is one of the greatest honors I have received in my life, an honor that I owe to the privilege of having had great mentors, students, and other intellectual sparring partners and collaborators, as well as a very supportive family,” said Alvarez. “This prize is an inspiration for generosity, integrity, and world affirmation – the idea that the world can be a better place and we can do something about it by contributing to broader access to safe and affordable water.”
More details at: www.nwri-usa.org/ClarkePrize.htm
Dr. Jorge Gardea-Torresdey receives Piper Prize • May 1, 2012
Prof. Jorge Gardea-Torresdey of University of Texas, El Paso and UC CEIN has received the most prestigious award for teaching excellence and higher education in the State of Texas. He is the first Hispanic in over 100 years to receive this award, making him a great role model.
He is being recognized for his major contributions to Science & Technology Education (STEM), which are having an impact not only at UTEP, but in the State of Texas and of course at the UC CEIN.
Full details at:
http://newsuc.utep.edu/index.php/news-latest/343-chemistry-professor-receives-piper-honor
EPA Administrator visits UC CEIN @ UCLA • February 2012
On Friday, February 17th, the CEIN was honored to host a visit by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. Administrator Jackson was in Southern California promoting public health, the environment, and jobs creation by the Obama administration. She chose to visit the Center and spent a short time in the middle of a busy day taking a quick tour of our labs in the UCLA CNSI building and meeting with . . . more
EarthSky News • February 7, 2012
UV from sunlight excites nanoparticles to kill phytoplankton in lab setting
by Benjamin D.Duval
Microscopic bits of metal – nanoparticles, a thousand times smaller than the thickness of a human hair – have been touted as a biotechnology and manufacturing miracle. Among many other applications, they can be used to keep the smell out of sweaty gym clothes, to treat wastewater, and they are being considered as a way to deliver cell-specific cancer drugs. However, as a recent experiment shows, the very properties that make nanoparticles so valuable in killing harmful and unpleasant bacteria also kill ocean phytoplankton that regulate the climate and are the base of the oceans’ food chain. For the complete article go to http://earthsky.org/water/uv-from-sunlight-excites-nanoparticles-to-kill-phytoplankton-in-lab-setting
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry • January 2012
Special Issue: Nanomaterials in the Environment edited by Stephen J. Klaine
An interesting special issue devoted entirely to nanomaterials in the environment, with editorial, focus article, critical reviews, and twenty one articles divided into sections on environmental chemistry and environmental toxicology. Volume 31, Issue 1, 220 pages.
To see the complete issue, go to http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.v31.1/issuetoc
NewHavenIndependent.Org • November 21, 2011
Sunscreen Today, Dinner Tomorrow? by Gwyneth K. Shaw
(NHI Nanoblog) Super-small zinc oxide is in sunscreen, boat paint and other products that end up in rivers, oceans and the public water supply. What do these minuscule particles mean for marine life—and what might that tell us about effects up the food chain? Shannon Hanna, a graduate student at the University of California, Santa Barbara, is looking at a tiny but important link in that chain for clues. Go to http://bit.ly/uvt7MU for the complete article.
NewHavenIndependent.Org • September 9, 2011
Survey Shows Confusion On Protecting Nano Workers by Gwyneth K. Shaw
As super-small particles and materials become increasingly common in manufacturing, how are companies dealing with the potential to expose their workers to invisible hazards?
A group of researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara decided to find out. They did a survey of international companies, discovering that the workplace safety picture isn’t yet fully formed. For the complete article go to http://bit.ly/roc5X3
INNOVATIONS IN NANOTECHNOLOGY at the NSECs and NNIN • Highlights of Achievements • 2011
This report issued by the National Science Foundation describes the landscape of NSECs and NNIN facilities and highlights many of the specific innovations they have achieved, including the most significant fundamental discoveries, powerful new applications of nanotechnology, and start-ups and other commercial ventures formed as a result of advances made at these centers and facilities. It also describes novel education and outreach efforts generated by the NSECs and NNIN. Read/download full report (2.2MB)
Innovations in Nanotechnology June 2011
More news . . .
FoodProductionDaily.com • June 7, 2010
EU and China Join Forces to Explore Nanotech Risks by Rory Harrington
The European Union (EU) and China agreed this past week to collaborate on boosting research into consumer safety and exploring the potential risks from nanotechnology. The memorandum of understanding was signed by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine (CAIQ) during a joint Food Safety Scientific Seminar at the Shanghai Expo. The two bodies pledged to find new approaches to nanotechnology and toxicology, while also improving consumer protection and pursuing alternative methods of animal testing. The JRC and the CAIQ said the explosion of nanotechnology and the potential safety hazards from the materials had been a major driver behind the partnership, as well as the increasingly global nature of the supply chain.
2020 Science • May 4, 2010
Public participation in nanoscience - should we care? by Barbara Herr Harthorn
UCLA Newsroom • March 25, 2010
'Study provides proof in humans of RNA interference using targeted nanoparticles' by Kim Irwin. A team of researchers and clinicians from UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and the California Institute of Technology has published the first proof that a targeted nanoparticle — used as an experimental therapeutic and injected directly into a patient's bloodstream — can navigate into tumors, deliver double-stranded small interfering RNAs and turn off an important cancer gene.
AOL News Special Report • March 24, 2010
The Nanotech Gamble - Bold Science, Big Money,
Growing Risk
'Amid Nanotech's Dazzling Promise, Health Risks Grow' by Andrew Schneider
Chemical and Engineering News • June 22, 2009
'Next Generation Risk Assessment' by Britt Erickson
EPA’s plan to adopt in vitro methods for toxicity testing gets mixed reviews from stakeholders.
UC Santa Barbara press release • December 9, 2008
'People in the U.S. and the U.K. Show Strong Similarities in their Attitudes Toward Nanotechnologies, According to a New Study'
Nature Nanotechnology • December 7, 2008
'Deliberating the risks of nanotechnologies for energy and health applications in the United States and United Kingdom' by Nick Pidgeon, et. al.
Chemical & Engineering News • October 20, 2008
'Probing Hazards of Nanomaterials' by Rachel Petkewich
United States Environmental Protection Agency press release • September 18, 2008
'Nanotechnology: A Brave New World Requires Bold New Research Approaches'
Announces and describes establishment of the CEINs at UCLA and Duke University and their scientific missions.
UCLA Newsroom • September 17, 2008
'UCLA, partners establish new center on environmental effects of nanotechnology' by Jennifer Marcus
UCLA and 12 collaborating institutions have been awarded $24 million in federal funding to establish the University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN), which will help researchers design safer and more environmentally benign nanomaterials.
National Science Foundation press release • September 17, 2008
'NSF and EPA Establish Two Centers for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology'
The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have made awards to establish two Centers for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEIN).
Science Magazine • August 22, 2008
'NANOTECHNOLOGY: Can High-Speed Tests Sort Out Which Nanomaterials Are Safe?' by Robert F. Service
