Update on the safety of nanotech

Like most countries, the USA is lumbering into action on the safety of nanotechnology with lots of "scoping" studies under way and lobby groups screaming foul before the game has kicked off. The latest contribution tot he discussion comes from The Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology (NSET) Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council's Committee on Technology.

 

NSET has released a document "identifying environmental, health, and safety (EHS) research and information needs related to understanding and management of potential risks of engineered nanoscale materials".

 

The accompanying press release tells us that "The document will be used by Federal agencies participating in the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) to inform and guide research programs. It also communicates to industry, universities, and other non-government research entities approaches for obtaining the knowledge and understanding necessary to enable risk assessment and management of nanomaterials."

 

We'd like to quote a bit from the report, but the PDF file is locked up and does not allow this. So you will have to read it yourself.