Unilever s approach to assuring the safety of novel nanomaterials - supporting the risk assessment science

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1 Unilever s approach to assuring the safety of novel nanomaterials - supporting the risk assessment science Bobbie Bradford Safety & Environmental Assurance Centre

2 Unilever s brands Unilever s Mission is to add Vitality to life. 160 million times a day, someone will choose one of our foods, home or personal care brands We meet everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care with brands that make people feel good, look good and get more out of life.

3 Unilever Approach to Safety & Sustainability Commitment defined in Code of Business Principles & Policies for: Consumer, Occupational & Environmental Safety and Sustainability High ethical standards for Human Testing & elimination of Animal Testing Governance is responsibility of Chief Executive Officer, supported by Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre (SEAC)

4 SEAC s Mandate Provide independent scientific evidence and guidance so that Unilever can identify and manage: risks for consumers, workers and the environment (safety of products and supply chain technology) environmental impacts (sustainability of Unilever s brands, products and Supply Chain) Providing assurance to help deliver Vitality and growth in a safe and sustainable manner

5 Building Brands & Assuring Safety - relevance for nanotechnologies? Unilever position Unilever has built a strong reputation on the use of novel science and technologies to deliver new products and improve the performance of established ones - in a responsible way. We believe that there is considerable potential for new benefits through the application of specific nanotechnologies, for healthier Food and better HPC products. The decision to apply any new technology in our products will always be taken on the basis of comprehensive safety and environmental evaluations, substantiation of benefits, regulatory compliance and consideration of consumer acceptance.

6 Supporting the Unilever position The debate around Human and Environmental safety and confidence is important and we are actively participating in moving the debate forward We conduct our own research and have commissioned scientific research with leading experts on both health and environment, over and above our own research in these areas. We monitor the emerging science & regulations around nanotechnology and focus efforts in areas where we can add value or where we see gaps in Risk Assessment Risk Assessment Framework

7 Risk Assessment Framework Generation of enhanced physico-chemical data package including shape, surface area and potential for biopersistence of the nanomaterial as supplied. Physico-chemical characterisation of the material in intermediate and final product formats. Exposure scenarios from product manufacture, distribution and use. Quantification of exposure. Determine hazards relevant to the route(s) of exposure. Consumer Adverse effects due to particle characteristics (e.g. shape, surface area & chemistry), potentially increased/ altered biodistribution. Occupational Increased potential for exposure due to particle characteristics. Increased potential for chemical reactivity, flammability and instability. Environmental Adverse effects due to particle characteristics (e.g. shape, size & chemistry), potentially increased/different bioavailability and/or mode of action. Comparison of hazards and exposures to characterise COE risks.

8 Supporting the Unilever position Our focus so far has been in: Consumer & Occupational safety particularly inhalation toxicology Environmental safety Developing measurement techniques for nanomaterials to include: Raw material Form in product Form in the body (eg digestibility) Distribution in the body & environment Areas where we consider may be additional concerns Engineered nanomaterials that are insoluble & biopersistent

9 Internal Research Main internal focus Ecotoxicity Algal and Daphnia acute and chronic studies. Sludge adsorption experiments. Measurement Science Unit TEM SEM 3A: Control image with light microscope. 3B: Control SEM image of Daphnia section, overlaid with a titanium map 3C: SEM image of Daphnia section after exposure to 1.0 mg/l TiO 2 for 21 hours. Sectioned Daphnia and algal cells overlaid with titanium dioxide maps

10 Lung Exposure Assessment Use nanosizer to determine if exposure to nanoparticles

11 External Research Consumer safety Studentship at Imperial College - Investigation of the effects of nanomaterials on the alveolar epithelium and systemic translocation BBSRC project at Kings College London Investigation of the translocation and toxicology of nanomaterials in the nasal epithelium Studentship at Aston - Use of bronchial epithelial cell in benchmarking responses to particulates Collaboration with Health & Safety Laboratory on in vitro approaches for inhalation toxicity Environmental safety PhD (completed) at York University/Central Science Laboratory - Fate and bioavailability of nanomaterials in the environment, measurement techniques Several papers on this work have already been published PhD ongoing at Napier University - Bioavailability, uptake and translocation of nanoparticles in aquatic organisms.

12 Transmission & Scanning electron microscopy & chemical analysis Chemical analysis by energy dispersive X-ray Au colloids & NOM spectrometry (EDX) TiO 2 Powder in H 2 0 TiO 2 ENP in lake water

13 Development of hydrodynamic chromatography- ICPMS Size separation of particles between nm Multi-element & isotope analysis of size fractions by ICP-MS Fast, robust, sensitive & minimal sample alteration Simultaneous analysis of metal & metal oxide particles in complex aqueous media

14 Conclusions Unilever Big Brands across Foods & HPC products Unilever R&D are investigating use of nanotechnologies Any new technology in our products will always be taken on the basis of comprehensive safety and environmental evaluations SEAC are supporting the use of nanomaterials by sponsoring external & internal research to close any data gaps relevant to Risk Assessment Using standard toxicology studies to identify hazards Modifications if necessary For human & environmental safety we consider major gap is in measurement. Guidance from Regulators will be followed to adapt Risk Assessment as appropriate