NANOTECHNOLOGY

Dangers come in small particles
Hundreds of nanotechnology applications are already in commercial production despite a huge health and safety question mark. Hazards looks at how an industry the safety authorities admit they know precious little about has been allowed to grow, unregulated, into the biggest thing since the microchip.
Read the special online report, August 2004, and Hazards 87 feature [pdf]

TUC nanotechnology factsheet
TUC calls for a "precautionary approach" to work with nanomaterials. August 2004

Nanotechnology and workplace safety and health
The US government safety research body NIOSH has produced a short guide to nanotechnology health and safety. The guide concludes: "There are still many knowledge gaps to be filled before we fully understand how to work safely with these materials. Until these and other research questions are answered, it is prudent to proceed with caution when working with nanomaterials."
Nanotechnology and workplace safety and health [pdf] • Risks 177, 9 October 2004

What's the problem with nanotechnology?
ETC answers key questions about the evidence, existing standards and what workers should do. more

NEWS

Europe: Patchy progress on better Euro laws
Leading Socialist Euro MPs have celebrated European Parliament approval this week of a report calling for new measures to protect the health and safety of Europe's workers. They expressed shock, however, after Conservatives and Liberals blocked inclusion of clauses calling for action on crystalline silica, a cancer-causing substance to which over 3 million workers in the European Union (EU) are routinely exposed, and on nanotechnology risks.
European Parliament resolution of 15 January 2008 on the Community strategy 2007–2012 on health and safety at work (2007/2146(INI)) • Risks 339
Hazards news, 19 January 2008

Sweden: Warning on ‘large risks with tiny particles’
Firms developing nanotechnologies must take a precautionary approach to the sector to prevent environment and health risks, the Swedish chemicals inspectorate said in a report released on 31 October. “Companies should apply special precautions in the development and use of nanomaterials,” Kemi said, because of the “rapid development in this area and the great lack of knowledge about risks.”
Kemi news release and report [pdf] • Hazards nanotechnology news and resources
Hazards news, 10 November 2007

Australia: Unions call for strong nano rules
Australia’s top union body has added its voice to that of other campaigners concerned about the risks posed by the unregulated development of a massive nanotechnology industry. ACTU national safety officer Steve Mullins said: “By signing this declaration, the ACTU is sending the clear message that profit at the expense of workers lives will not be tolerated.”
ACTU news release [pdf] and briefing • ICTA Principles for Nanotechnologies [pdf] • Hazards nanotechnology news and resources
Hazards news, 29 September 2007

Global: Nanotech needs strong oversight says coalition
A strong, comprehensive oversight of nanotechnology and its products is urgently required, a broad international coalition of consumer, public health, environmental, trade union and civil society organisations spanning six continents has said. A new statement, ‘Principles for the oversight of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials’, warns that nanomaterials already in use may pose significant health, safety, and environmental hazards.
International Center for Technology Assessment news release.
Principles for the oversight of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials [pdf] • Hazards nanotechnology webpages
Hazards news, 4 August 2007

Global: Groups reject ‘voluntary’ nano checks
The environmental and occupational risks posed by exposure to nano products must not be subject to only voluntary controls, a broad-based coalition has warned. The national and international trade union and civil society groups last week issued a joint public statement condemning efforts by DuPont Chemical Company and the influential US Environmental Defense (ED, formerly Environmental Defense Fund) to promote a voluntary “risk assessment” framework for nanotechnology.
Risks 302, 21 April 2007 • IUF news release and full text of letter [pdf]

Britain: Government ‘failing’ on nano safety
The UK government has failed to fund adequate research into potential health risks posed by nanotechnology, a report by its leading scientific advisers has warned. The Council for Science and Technology’s (CST) ‘Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies Review’ bemoans a “lack of progress on research into toxicology, health and environmental effects of nanomaterials.”
Risks 300, 31 March 2007 • Hazards nanotechnology webpages • FoE Australia nanotechnology project

Global: Five-step check for nano safety
A team of experts has drawn up five “grand challenges” to evaluate the safety of nanotechnology. Writing in the journal Nature, the team says that fears about nanotechnology's possible dangers may be exaggerated, but not necessarily unfounded.
Risks 284, 25 November 2006

Britain: Will nano products come off the rails?
If you thought nanotechnology was space age, think again. It could be going down the Tube. Rail union ASLEF reports that Transport for London (TfL) is considering the use of nano-based anti-flu disinfectants on its trains, with reports they could be applied on an industrial scale in both mainline and tube trains and stations.
Risks 280, 28 October 2006

Britain: Design a nano-hazard symbol
They’ve all got one – everyone can recognise the nuclear hazard symbol and even the Cap’n Jack Sparrow generation are more likely to think “toxic” than “pirate” when they see a skull-and-crossbones. But there’s nothing out there to warn you when you are about to dip into a barrel of nano-nasties – so top nano-hazards campaigning organisation ETC Group has launched an international design challenge.
Risks 278, 14 October 2006 • Further details of the Nano-Hazards symbol design competition

Britain: TUC warning on take-it-or-leave it nanotech scheme
The TUC has said that a new voluntary scheme on reporting of nanotechnology related risks is not sufficiently robust a system. The TUC warning came after last week’s Defra launch of its Voluntary Reporting Scheme.
Risks 276, 30 September 2006

Britain: Nanotechnology probe announced
A nanotechnology policy review has been ordered by the government, two years after an officially commissioned report raised safety concerns. Ministers have asked the Council for Science and Technology (CST) to undertake an independent review of the government's response to a 2004 report which called for a precautionary approach and concluded the existing laws on safety and nanotechnology - products produced using microscopic engineering of substances - were not up to the job and must be reviewed, with additional requirements introduced on testing and labelling.
Risks 265, 15 July 2006

Britain: Toxic warnings for nano industry
Hundreds of nanotechnology products about to hit shop shelves have not been properly tested for their safety, a top workplace and environmental health expert has warned. Edinburgh-based Professor Anthony Seaton said concerns tiny particles from the products might cause respiratory, cardiac and immune problems had not been properly assessed.
Risks 256, 13 May 2006

Global: Workplace nanotech concerns grow
Workers are guinea pigs in a massive and potentially dangerous nanotech experiment, new reports from Germany and the US suggest.
Risks 252, 15 April 2006

USA: Call for nanotechnology safety controls
Amid growing evidence that some of the tiniest materials ever engineered pose potentially big health, safety and environmental risks, momentum is building in the US Congress, environmental circles and in the industry itself to beef up federal oversight of the new nanomaterials, which are already showing up in dozens of consumer products.
Risks 236, 10 December 2005

Australia: Unions say nano-loopholes may hurt workers
Unions are warning that thousands of Australian workers could be being exposed to potentially dangerous nanoparticles. They are calling for urgent regulation and say they could even press for nanoparticle production to stop.
Risks 223, 10 September 2005

Britain: Government orders another nanotech review
Demands for action on the potential health risks of nanotechnology have been met with another government review. Science minister Lord Sainsbury said this would ensure current regulations that safeguard the environment and people's health remained robust.
Risks 197, 5 March 2005

Resources

Health and Safety Executive nanotechnology webpages

FoE Australia nanotech website

HSE report highlights nanotech problems HSE-backed research has shown that TUC concerns about nanoparticle safety are clearly justified. [23 October 2004]

National Resources Defense Council Nanotechnologies: Tiny particles promise much, but could pose big risk.

ETC group - action group on erosion, technology and concentration.

International Center for Technology Assessment

First International Symposium on Nanotechnology and Occupational Health Final Report, available online 1 July 2005.

US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health nanotechnology and health topic page.

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition nanotech webpage

Nanotechnology and nanoscience. Royal Society and Royal College of Engineering website.

Cordis nanotechnology website, European Commission.

Nanoforum.org European Nanotechnology Gateway.