Nanomaterials : a review of the definitions, applications, health effects. How to implement secure development Nanomat\'eriaux : une revue des d\'efinitions, des applications, des effets sanitaires et des moyens \`a mettre en oeuvre pour un d\'eveloppement s\'ecuris\'e

TL;DR

This review discusses the definitions, applications, health effects, and safety measures related to nanomaterials, emphasizing the need for clear regulations and understanding of their toxicity for safe development.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of nanomaterials, highlighting challenges in defining these materials and summarizing current knowledge on their toxicity and safety regulations.

Findings

Nanomaterials are widely produced and used across various industries.

Defining nanomaterials remains challenging due to their diverse properties.

There is a need for clear safety guidelines based on toxicity research.

Abstract

Nanomaterials are an active area of research but also an economic sector in full expansion which addresses many applications domains. For instance, french production for the most common nanomaterials (such as silica, titanium dioxide, carbon black) is in the hundreds of thousands of tons. As for any innovation, one must consider the risks and, if necessary, establish rules to protect consumer health and that of the worker. This paper addresses in particular difficulties in defining these materials, the state of knowledge on human or environmental toxicity and requirements and agencies in charge of safety.---Les nanomat\'eriaux repr\'esentent un domaine de recherche actif mais aussi un secteur \'economique en pleine expansion en vue de nombreuses applications. Par exemple la production fran\c{c}aise pour les mat\'eriaux les plus courants (comme la silice, le dioxyde de titane, le noir de carbone) se chiffre en centaines de milliers de tonnes. Comme c'est le cas pour toute innovation, il convient de s'interroger sur les risques et, si n\'ecessaire, de fixer des r\`egles pour prot\'eger la sant\'e du consommateur et celle du travailleur. On discute en particulier les difficult\'es pour d\'efinir ces mat\'eriaux, de l'\'etat des connaissances en mati\`ere de toxicit\'e humaine ou environnementale et des prescriptions des agences en mati\`ere de s\'ecurit\'e.