On Aug.15, the federal government issued a list of prioritized nanotechnology risk research needs. These new priorities are drawn from its September 2006 report, "Environmental, Health, and Safety Research Needs for Engineered Nanoscale Materials."

What characterizes nanotechnology is its ability to measure, manipulate and manufacture products with dimensions that are typically between 1 and 100 nanometers. This technology was incorporated into more than $50 billion in manufactured goods in 2006. By 2014, an estimated $2.6 trillion in manufactured goods globally will use nanotechnology — or 15% of the total global output of goods produced.

Already thousands of new nanotechnology materials are being developed. When nanometer-sized particles are created, it is to be expected that these materials will be inhaled and that they will behave differently than if they were large particles. Size too is important, as is the chemistry and the shape, when evaluating toxicity.

As Andrew D. Maynard, chief science advisor for the Wilson Center's Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, sees it many of the safety issues are somewhat speculative. But what if researchers and others working with these materials breathe them in, what if they ingest them, what if they get on the skin?

Last year, the government identified 75 nanotechnology issues and prioritized them. This year, they have narrowed the list to 25, which in their judgment deserve top priority. Said Maynard, "What is really important is making sure that the materials and new products that are already being developed by industry are as safe as possible and that we don't create a legacy of harm that future generations will have to clear up."

"This is a new technology – we have a great chance of getting it right in the beginning, understanding what makes these materials safe, what make them harmful and ensuring that we build in safety right from the start," he concluded.

The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies is an initiative by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and The Pew Charitable Trust that was launched in 2005. It is dedicated to helping business, government and the public anticipate and manage possible health and environmental implications of nanotechnology.

RSS    Save to Del.icio.us  Digg This