IG addresses nano fears - Knoxnews, USA

The DOE Inspector General issued an audit report this week that said the federal agency and its contractors had not taken all safety precautions to address potential issues regarding exposures to nano particles and the health implications.

The IG report noted, "Since the field of nanoscale materials is relatively new, the health and safety risks associated with these materials are still emerging. Health and safety risks include possible pulmonary inflammation and lung tumors resulting from the inhalation of nanoscale materials as well as an increased potential for explosion and fire due to nanoscale attributes that are not present in the same materials at larger sizes."

Nanoparticles affect pollutant toxicity - SafeNano, UK
C60 nanoparticles have a very different effect on the toxicity and availability of pollutant molecules from other carbon based organic chemicals. In addition, the nanoparticles themselves may also be inherently toxic.
C60 made phenanthrene more toxic to algae at lower concentrations, for instance, but made it less toxic to the crustaceans. C60 made PCP less toxic to both algae and crustaceans. Nanoparticles also affected how quickly and how much of the pollutant was taken in by the organisms. Clumps of the C60 itself also stuck to the crustaceans’ bodies and inside their digestive systems.
The authors recommend that nanoparticle risk assessment take into account not just the toxicity of the particles themselves, but also the possible interaction with other environmental contaminants. They also suggest that further research into the effects of nanoparticles’ different phases (in particular their behaviour in water) is also relevant to their potential toxicity in the aquatic environment.