There is a great deal of concern about the health effects of nanoparticles emitted unintentionally into the air, largely from combustion processes. For example the 500% increase in respiratory illness and allergies in the UK has been associated in part with particles emitted by diesels and other combustion processes. Focus has been on diesel emissions, but attention is turning to other potential sources such as power generation, incineration, nuclear power generation and aircraft emissions. The US EPA is becoming increasingly concerned about gasoline engine emissions. Data on exposure, and sources of nanoparticle sizes, number and composition would be the basis of developing standards and emissions regulations.

Investigation of these effects has been hampered by inadequate instrumentation which can only measure in the micro range. The cost, inconvenience and lack of robustness of some existing instruments means they cannot easily be deployed in-situ and so their application in this area is limited. The insights from the studies on exposure and links to health risks are therefore limited.

Naneum instruments, including the remote monitors under development are ideally placed to allow accurate, timely and cost effective environmental monitoring.