,On 5 March 2026, Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada published the Framework for the Risk Assessment of Manufactured Nanomaterials under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA), outlining a structured approach to evaluate environmental and human health risks posed by nanomaterials (NMs). The framework clarifies that CEPA applies to substances at all scales, including nanoscale materials, and provides guidance for assessing both existing and new nanomaterials listed on the Domestic Substances List or notified under the New Substances Notification Regulations. It emphasises that nanomaterials may exhibit unique physical and chemical properties- such as size, shape, and surface chemistry-which can significantly influence their hazard, exposure, and risk profiles compared to bulk substances. The document adopts established risk assessment principles, including hazard and exposure evaluation, weight of evidence (WoE), and precautionary approaches, while introducing NM-specific considerations. These include characterisation of particle size distribution, transformation across lifecycle stages, and the use of additional data such as aggregation, dissolution, and surface modifications. It also highlights the importance of multiple data sources, predictive tools (e.g., read-across, QSAR), and grouping strategies to address data gaps. Quantitative methods such as risk quotients (RQ) and margin of exposure (MOE) are used to support risk characterisation.
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