Project Description
NRCWE is a government research institute under the Danish Ministry of Employment performing research in occupational health and safety. NRCWE’s goal is to generate and disseminate knowledge contributing to a safe, healthy work environment in accordance with the technical and social developments in the Danish society. NRCWE contributes to securing coordination of Danish work environment research and monitors national and international work environment development and research. The annual budget is 13 million EUR and NRCWE has a total staff of approximately 180.
Occupational nanosafety is one of NFA’s five strategic research areas and has a staff of ca. 35 persons. The strategic focus on health risks related to nanotechnology was initiated in 2005 and resulted in the formation of the Danish NanoSafety Centre in 2012 with secured funding until ultimo 2018 (1 mill EUR/year). NRCWE has performed in vivo hazard studies of nanoparticles, diesel exhaust particles, and other combustion derived particles with focus on cancer, cardiovascular disease and prenatal toxicity, and furthermore engages much in characterization of particles, exposure measurement and modelling of occupational exposure as well as in risk assessment of particles. NRCWE has been partner in 18 EU projects on nanosafety, work package leader in NanoReg and project leader in the newly initiated H2020 project CaLIBRAte.
Role in NanoPack:
- Responsible for assessment of potential occupational nanomaterial exposure
- Characterisation of the physico-chemical properties of pristine and surface-modified HNTs
- Carrying out in vitro testing of the cytotoxic potential of HNTs and in vivo testing of pulmonary exposure to two HNTs in an animal model
- Contributing to risk assessment