| Posted: June 1, 2007 |
France to study effects of nanoparticles and nanomaterials on health and the environment |
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(Nanowerk News) The Observatory for Micro and Nano Technologies (OMNT), based at the Minatec center in the immediately vicinity of the "Nanosciences at the limits of nanoelectronics" RTRA, has announced the setting up of a multidisciplinary working group responsible for providing a scientific watch on the effects of nanoparticles and nanomaterials on health and the environment. The aim is to enable non-specialists to keep up-to-date with developments in this field through summary reports objectively presenting key results from around the world.
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The OMNT is a joint service unit of CEA and CNRS, responsible within France for providing a scientific and technological watch in the micro and nano technologies. To do this, it relies on a network of more than 200 French and European scientists. Minatec is Europe's leading center for micro and nanotechnologies. The "Research Partnership" Program Act of April 18, 2006 introduced the concept of the advanced research subject network (RTRA).
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This multidisciplinary group, which will meet three times a year, consists of 14 experts from various public research bodies: CNRS, Universities, INERIS, CEA, INRS, INSERM, IRSN, etc. The disciplines they represent will cover not only the results of nanotoxicology studies, but also other fields concerned by the effects of nanoparticles: health, detection and characterization of nanoparticles, evaluation of doses and sources of exposure, means of protection and prevention, regulations and standardization, the life cycle of nanoparticles and evaluating risks.
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It should ultimately collaborate with similar groups at European level currently being set up under the 7th European Framework Program for Research & Development, thereby increasing the quality of its analyses.
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This watch project launched by the OMNT will enable all those concerned by the micro and nanotechnologies to add to their knowledge in this field. Researchers, research managers in nanosciences and nanotechnologies, industrial manufacturers and users of nanoparticles and nanomaterials, public authorities, investors in innovation and prevention professionals can therefore conduct their business as informed professionals.
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