The rise – and regulatory risks – of the Australian nanotechnology industry

Abstract

Nanotechnology is a US$42.2 billion global industry with a seemingly endless suite of applications. This thesis details the rise and regulatory risks of the nanotechnology industry and its applications, particularly within the Australian context. Australia’s regulatory approach and the responsive of its regulatory frameworks to the emerging risks of nanotechnology and its applications have been assessed. The study uncovered mechanisms by which many nano-enabled products could go to market without pre-market risk assessment that considers the unique risk profile of nano-objects. Further, it was found that the cautionary approach to nanomaterial regulation being incrementally adopted in the European Union, is yet to be translated to domestic policy at large, with Australian regulators continuing to implement a ‘wait and see’ approach. Given risk assessment and regulatory management relies on nanosafety research, the work detailed in this thesis aimed to contribute to the growing body of nanosafety research on one nanomaterial of particular concern, titanium dioxide. This study revealed that anatase titanium dioxide nanoparticles were present in three food products available on the Australian market. It was established that these nanoparticles were readily taken up by cells and that their surface chemistry changed dynamically during a simulated digestion. After initial cytotoxicity screening, titanium dioxide nanoparticles were found to dysregulate cellular homeostasis, impacting the integrity of the cell membrane, and inducing autophagy in Caco-2 colon carcinoma-derived cells. The interdisciplinary work presented in this thesis demonstrates the intrinsic link and interdependence between environmental, health, and safety research and its social, economic, and regulatory implications, offering a timely consideration of the Australian nano-economy and the regulatory challenges it faces.