| Posted: October 19, 2008 |
Update on nanotechnology's occupational, environmental and health impacts |
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(Nanowerk News) Nanotechnologies are expected to have a profound impact on societies and economies around the world. At the same time, public awareness of nanotechnology is very low. This has led many people to expect that nanotechnology, and especially its nanobio-applications, will be the next major public, NGO, media and political issue after GM food and agriculture and following on others such as with nuclear energy.
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Indeed, nanomaterial products such as metal or metal oxide nanoparticles are now widely produced and used. It cannot be denied that these nanomaterials may have a detrimental effect on health and environment. Consequently, investigations should be accelerated to determine the potential toxicity of nanomaterials developed for industrial applications or for pharmaceutical preparations. In particular, scientists must contribute to this societal problem giving access to rigorous data concerning the toxicity of artificial nanomaterials.
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What are the regulation policies?
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What about risk governance?
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What are the methodologies to estimate toxicity?
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During the second edition of the NanoRisk conference, to be held in Paris next week (October 21-23), researchers, industry and government representatives will address these questions in detail.
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The conference will run in parallel with NanoEnergy 2008.
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