“This stage of the lifecycle profile encompasses activities for gathering the needed inputs; thus it includes transport from points of acquisition to the point of processing. For a nanomaterial, activities at this stage are relevant if an input is actually acquired in a nano form to which there is potential exposure or if the specific sources of the starting materials influence the composition, properties, or behavior of the resulting nanomaterial — e.g., by affecting the extent of impurities present.”¹

1. Environmental Defense-DuPont Nano Partnership, “Nano Risk Framework,” at 29 (June 21, 2007)