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UNITAR Website webpage indicates activities and resources to learn more about nanotechnology and manufactured nanomaterials (nano). The third International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM3) emphasized: “the need for UNITAR and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to continue development of international guidance and training materials for the sound management of manufactured nanomaterials, drawing on existing initiatives, needs assessment and best practices, within their respective mandates and subject to available resources in cooperation with the regions and other relevant stakeholders"

The term nanomaterials refers to materials that have at least one dimension (height, width or length) that is smaller than 100 nanometres (10−7 metre), which is about the size of a virus particle. This particular size dimension represents a major characteristic of manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs). The unique properties of MNMs may result in highly desirable behaviour leading to such varying applications as better paints, better drugs and faster electronics. However, for the same reason, MNMs may also present health hazards

This report provides an update and further assessment of the sources, fate and effects of microplastics in the marine environment, carried out by Working Group 40 (WG40) of GESAMP (The Joint Group of Experts on Scientific Aspects of Marine Protection).It follows publication of the first assessment report in this series in April 2015 (GESAMP 2015). The issue of marine plastic litter was raised during the inaugural meeting of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in June 2014. Delegates from 160

Both reports arose from the Danish project “NanoDEN”, commissioned by the Danish EPA.Environmental fate and behaviour of nanomaterials by Hartmann N, Skjolding L, Foss Hansen S, Gottschalk F, Baun A (2014)The report 1 provides an overview of the to date knowledge regarding processes relevant for environmental fate and behaviour of ENMs. Key environmental processes are identified, discussed and prioritized according to their relevance as inputs for fate modelling for ENMs. Furthermore, knowledge gaps are identified and prioritised with regard to

The German Environment Agency (UBA) webpage on advanced materials highlights UBA´s current preparatory research and thematic conferences on advanced materials. It reflects UBA´s opinion with regard to potential challenges and needs connected to advanced materials from the perspective of chemical safety, i.e. as summarized in a joint perspective paper on good governance developed by the higher federal authorities the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA) and UBA.

The German Environment Agency (UBA) webpage on nanotechnology indicates its activities and opinions as well as research efforts with regard to adequate regulation and safety assessment of manufactured nanomaterials and highlights relevant topics, actors, programs and networks including providing relevant links. Current research supervised by UBA is presented and finalized research is published as reports at this webpage.

The webpage presents OECD`s activities with regard to safety of manufactured nanomaterials starting back in 2006. By this, OECD intends to promote international co-operation in human health and environmental safety aspects of manufactured nanomaterials. The website provides publications developed within the OECD Working Party of Manufactured Nanomaterials, reports of previous workshops, projects and testing programs, the OECD council recommendation on safety testing and assessment of manufactured nanomaterials, but also videos of webinars on dedicated topics. Currently, one of the main

Scientific knowledge to assess the exposure to nanomaterials continues to improve. The OECD compiled an inventory of available models and tools for assessing occupational, consumer and environmental exposure to Nanomaterials. 54 tools and models were initially compiled and following in-depth analyses, 10 occupational, 7 consumer and 6 environmental tools/models were recommended or evaluated as suitable for assessing exposure to nanomaterials. The detailed information on the analyses and evaluations are provided in the reports accessible from the Series on Nanomaterials website