Addressing nanotoxicological risks in green hydrogen technologies: a safety by design perspective

Green hydrogen offers a key solution for decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries and heavy-duty transportation, supporting global climate targets and the European Union’s Clean Industrial Deal. Its large-scale production and use increasingly rely on nanomaterials, which, while enhancing performance, raise concerns about potential nanotoxicological risks that remain largely unexplored. If not properly addressed, these risks could translate into significant regulatory barriers, slowing the widespread deployment of green hydrogen technologies. This perspective assesses these challenges and proposes strategies to mitigate them through the Safety-by-Design approach. Addressing safety during early material development can help avoid future regulatory obstacles and promote safer, more sustainable technological advancements.