Impact and risk evaluation

• Author: Clemm, Christan; Löw, Clara; Baron, Yifaat; Moch, Katja; Möller, Martin; Köhler, Andreas R; Gensch, Carl-Otto; Deubzer, Otmar
• Pages: 34-34

RoHS Annex II Dossier, final

Indium phosphide

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8 IMPACT AND RISK EVALUATION

The estimated worst-case amounts of InP used for EEE applications in the EU that potentially could

be released in the waste phase to the external environment in an untransformed form are assessed

to be in the range 100 kg / annum, see sections 6.2 and 6.3. Consequently, the possible local

occupational, residential or environmental concentrations will be very low.

Nanosys points out that because of their core-shell structure, manufactured InP/ZnS quantum dots

pose a very low risk of toxicity to humans. Studies have shown that such core-shell InP/ZnS quantum

dots are well-suited for in vivo use in humans. A recent study by the Center for Bio-Molecular

Nanotechnologies and McGill University found that core-shell InP/ZnS posed a “very low” toxicity

risk to humans and offered “good bio-compatibility”.91

Based on worst case exposure scenario assumptions, it is not found meaningful to try to establish

specific risk assessment scenarios or perform risk evaluations for these scenarios. Based on the

available information and the described worst-case assumptions, the overall assessment is that, if

evaluated, the risk to humans and the environment would turn out to be very low / negligible.

91 Cited by Nanosys (2019): Virgilio Brunetti et al, “InP/ZnS as a safer alternative to CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots:

in vitro and in vivo toxicity assessment,” Nanoscale, 2013,5, 307-317