The term „nano“ derives from the greek word nanos, dwarf. A nanometer is one millionth of a milimeter. It is equal to 1/1,000,000,000th or one-billionth of a meter. When things are this small, you can't see them with your eyes, or a light microscope. Objects this small require a special tool called electron microscope or scanning probe microscope.
Nanoparticles range in size from 1nm to 100nm.
All these naturally and synthetic things are on the nanometer scale: Virus (30-50 nm), DNA (2.5 nm), buckyballs (~1 nm in diameter), CNT (~1 nm in diameter).

On 18 October 2011 the EU Commission adopted the Recommendation on the definition of a nanomaterial.
According to this Recommendation a "Nanomaterial" means:
A natural, incidental or manufactured material containing particles, in an unbound state or as an aggregate or as an agglomerate and where, for 50 % or more of the particles in the number size distribution, one or more external dimensions is in the size range 1 nm - 100 nm.
In specific cases and where warranted by concerns for the environment, health, safety or competitiveness the number size distribution threshold of 50 % may be replaced by a threshold between 1 and 50 %.
By derogation from the above, fullerenes, graphene flakes and single wall carbon nanotubes with one or more external dimensions below 1 nm should be considered as nanomaterials.

A material is called a nano-object when one, two or three external dimensions of it are present in nanoscale. This includes nanoparticles, i.e. nano-objects with all three external dimensions on the nanoscale. Nano-platelets are nano-objects with one external dimension on the nanoscale, and two much larger external dimensions. Nanofibers have two similar external dimensions on the nanoscale, and a third external dimension that is much larger than the other two dimensions.

These definitions were developed in 2008 by the Technical Committee ISO/TC 229 "Nanotechnologies" in collaboration with the Technical Committee CEN/TC 352 "Nanotechnologies".

Nanoparticles can be of different chemical nature. Both inorganic and organic nanoparticles are known. They can consist of only one element, i.e. metal or carbon or of compounds like oxides, nitrides, etc. Nanocomposites are understood to be composite materials that have at least one component in the form of a nano-object. Nanoparticles often build clusters of aggregates or agglomerates. By contrast to aggregates, agglomerates can be ground into the primary grains through optimal mixing. Therefore, their shape can be very inconsistent and they may take a wide variety of forms which has considerable influence on their properties. In principle, because of their enormous surface-to-mass ratio nanoparticles behave completely different than larger composites.

Are legal regulations like chemical legislation and work protection law sufficient to take the special properties of nanoparticles into account? What are the legal requirements concerning nanomaterials in Germany?

In Germany and at European and international level there are no specific legal requirements on nanotechnology. Chemicals (this includes nanomaterials) are subject to chemical legislation, safety and health for employees at work are subject to safety and health regulations. Since 1 July 2008 the European chemicals legislation REACH additionally provides a framework for the assessment of nanomaterials. Whether there is a need for specific action apart from that is investigated in research projects like NanoCare. The results of NanoCare will help in defining future safety measures for nanomaterials.

How dangerous are nanoscale particles (ultrafine particles) that are already present in the environment through soot emissions and natural aerosols like SiO₂ or beech dust?

Dust and aerosols in the environment can also be hazardous. It is known that i.e. inhaled wood dust from beech and oak in joineries can lead to cancer. Fine dust and diesel exhaust gases are known to have an impact on the human respiration system. Research on the effects of nanoparticles will lead to new findings regarding the evaluation of ultrafine particles occurring in the environment. Vice versa, present evaluation studies of fine dust and particles from combustion processes can lead to conclusions about the effects of some synthetic nanoparticles (i.e. in the respiratory tract).

Such vaccines against flu viruses don’t contain any synthetic nanoparticles as they wouldn’t have any task. Because the contact to the antibody-producing cells is made by injecting the vaccine directly into the blood, no “fillers” are needed.

The Paul-Ehrlich Institute (in Germany) gives the following information on its website:
Although some of the components are in a size range of nanoparticles, it is not about synthetic nanoparticles.

To what extent are nano sealings of glass, lacquer, or metal surfaces hazardous to the human organism - during the process of sealing or later, when the surface-treated products are actually used?

These are our opinions on the topic, we exclude any liability claims.
The term nano is not protected. No one guarantees that the corresponding product really contains nano. Some manufacturers use the term because it seems to be effective in advertising.

The lacquer association has conducted a study that examines nanoparticles in lacquers (in German only). The result is described as being positive (from the customer’s point of view).

If no information about the used nanomaterial is provided on the product you can contact the manufacturer to get information about the used nanomaterials. I.e. which ones were used, where do they come from, are there any toxicologic studies on them, did the lacquer association conduct any tests on the product you are interested in? In the best case it can be concluded from these facts whether a risk does exist or not.

Topic: recycling, recovery, secondary raw material

There is no difference to existing products - if they are recyclable products they are recycled. Because nanoparticles often consist of rare materials (silver nanoparticles or rare earths) it will be in the interest of the companies to recycle these materials to prevent a steep increase in the prices of these products on medium-term. Therefore, there will be a self-regulation of the market.

Is it reasonable to call for a regulation that prohibits further research on nanotechnology?

Not from the point of view of DaNa and the NanoCare Cluster. There are indeed still some knowledge gaps, but that is this way with every new area of research. These gaps will be closed by the new findings from the numerous national, European and international projects. In our opinion there are so many positive aspects to nanotechnology (i.e. in the medical sector or in the protection of the environment.) that a moratorium would be contra productive. 

As many processes in nature take place on the nanoscale, research on nanotechnology will lead to a better understanding of these natural processes. Advances in medicine would be very difficult if research on nanotechnology was not allowed any more. Of course the intended goals of every single project have to be validated. Ethically dubious projects are rejected by most scientists and all sponsors.

For the nanotechnologists their science is just like any other: what matters are the people working in this field and what they make of it.

The chemical industry is contributing to the social debate on nanotechnology in two ways: by providing information and by engaging in dialogues. Employees present their own research results to the public at conferences and in publications. Some companies inform about topics like work protection or about a nanotechnology code of conduct (EU-Codex) on their websites.

The chemical industry is proactive on possible concerns and worries of people regarding their products. It participated with own works in research projects like NanoCare, INOS and TRACER and is involved in the public dialogue. The industry also takes part in other ongoing research projects like Carbosafe.

Do particles pass over into the food? Will this cause health hazards?

As a rule, cookware non-stick coatings have nothing to do with the nanoparticles discussed hereunder but consist of very heat-resistant polymers applied in layers. The effect of the surfaces obtained that way is similar to the well-known roll-off effect of the lotus plant. Since manufacturers mostly make a mystery (patent) out of these kinds of coatings, there is no exact information about their possible hazards. However, since only „safe consumer products“ are allowed on the market, the non-stick coatings are assumed to be safe as well.

There are some Websites that list producs with nanotechnology, for example:
Nanoproducts.de - the nanotechnology product database (in German and Englisch): http://www.nanoproducts.de
The Project of Emerging Nanotechnologies (in Englisch): http://www.nanotechproject.org/inventories/consumer/browse/products

Shopping for shoes, I came across some kind of a nanobased shoe care spray. The substances contained are distributed as aerosols whose potential hazards are discussed in numerous articles. Considering this and the present state of knowledge, is it justified to have such sprays approved?

Since consumer safety has priority, the approval of such products is subject to legal regulations. In spite of this, however, legislation cannot always check and verify all substances, and dubious products may well appear on the market. Due to the very fine aerosols and containing solvents and active components compressed-gas sprays are often labeled as hazardous to health and should be used according to instructionsClassification and approval have been required even before such “nanosprays” have been existing. Serious accidents already happened in the70s of the 20th century with leather sprays or textile sprays, i.e. with surface-active substances applied to leather or to textiles. The fine mists of these products are easily inhaled by the consumer to settle down in parts of the lung tissue and impair health. This is also true for sprays containing the alleged “nanoparticles”, since sprays of that kind also depend on the use of additives and solvents. The pressurized dispensers are marked ”harmful to health“ and should be used outdoors, protected from the wind! To our knowledge, there are not any sprays available that really contain nanoparticles.

The EU sees nanotechnology as one of the leading technologies. See also the Lund paper as pdf for download.

After consulting an international manufacturer of chocolate bars, neither nanotechnologies at all nor nanoparticles were and are used in conjunction with their chocolate.
A patent contains a method for coating in the "plasma", but this meas that the chocolate melts. The patent was never applied! Other foods can not be exposed to a plasma too.