The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has published a notice requesting public comment on the National Nanotechnology Initiative’s draft “Strategy for Nanotechnology-Related Environmental, Health, and Safety Research.” Comments are requested by January 6, 2011. The draft describes the research that 25 federal agencies believe is needed to adequately assess the environmental, human health and safety aspects of nanomaterials, and includes information about the state of the science and an analysis of the gaps and barriers to achieving the necessary research. The core research areas involved are nanomaterial measurement, human exposure assessment, human health, the environment, and risk assessment and risk management methods.
Tag Archives nanotechnology
Beyond Pesticides, a Washington, D.C.-based organization opposed to the use of pesticides, has issued a call for comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP) supporting recommendations by the National Organic Standards Board that would prohibit the use of engineered nanomaterials from certified organic products. According to the organization’s blog, the board passed the recommendations during its October 25-26, 2010, meeting. Among other matters, the recommendations include a working definition for engineered nanomaterials and propose that engineered nanomaterials be prohibited in both organic production processing and packaging. The board also called for NOP to schedule a symposium on the topic to consider whether the definition is adequate and enforceable and the best regulatory approach to address the matter. Beyond Pesticides is concerned about the unknown “long-term impacts of nanomaterials on human health and the environment.”
The European Commission (EC) has solicited feedback on its proposed definition of the term “nanomaterial.” In response to a European Parliament request, the EC’s draft recommendation recognizes the need for a definition “at the global level, to serve as a basis also for EU regulation and implementing measures and instruments.” The proposal defines a nanomaterial as that material which meets at least one of the following criteria: (i) it consists of particles with one or more external dimensions in the size range of 1 nanometer to 100 nanometers for more than 1 percent of their size distribution; (ii) it has internal or surface structures in one or more dimensions in the size range of 1 nanometer to 100 nanometers; or (iii) it has a specific surface area by volume greater than 60 square meters by per cubic centimeter, excluding materials consisting of particles with a size smaller than 1 nanometer.…
ASTM International, formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials, has announced the formation of a subcommittee to develop standards for nanoparticle-enabled consumer products, such as goods that contain nanoscale silver. The new “Subcommittee on Nano-Enabled Consumer Products” (E56.06) will be part of “Committee 56 on Nanotechnology,” established in 2005 to develop standard terms, toxicity test methods, workplace handling guidance, and other voluntary standards for organizations working with nanoengineered materials. ASTM seeks subcommittee members with expertise in analytical chemistry, measurement methods, textiles, consumer product safety, exposure assessment, and environmental chemistry. They will “develop standards for determining the presence of engineered nanomaterials in consumer products and understanding the potential for exposure from the use of these consumer products.” Planned projects include standards for measuring and evaluating the form of silver in textiles and liquids and standards for assessing nanosilver exposure potential from use of textile and liquid consumer products. See…
Researchers with the University of Massachusetts Food Science Department have reportedly developed a technique to create transparent, food-grade nanoemulsions using high-pressure homogenization methods. Cheng Qiana and David Julian McClements, “Formation of Nanoemulsions Stabilized by Model Food-Grade Emulsifiers using High Pressure Homogenization: Factors Affecting Particle Size,” Food Hydrocolloids, October 2010. According to the study, “Nanoemulsions are finding increasing utilization in the food and beverage industries for certain applications because of their unique physicochemical and functional properties: high encapsulation efficiency; low turbidity; high bioavailability; high physical stability. “ Because the nanoparticles can be made transparent, the new technology could act as a delivery system “for non-polar functional components, such as lipophilic bioactive lipids, drugs, flavors, antioxidants, and antimicrobial agents.” In a related development, a European non-profit media agency specializing in science and technology news has issued a summary that characterizes how NGOs have responded to nanotechnology. Citing Greenpeace Research Laboratories, Friends of the Earth,…
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the National Science Foundation Center for High-rate Nanomanufacturing (CHN) have announced a partnership to help companies identify and address potential health and safety concerns related to nanotechnology. NIOSH and CHN—a collaboration of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Northeastern University and the University of New Hampshire—will provide onsite evaluations and recommend solutions to small- to medium-sized companies and research laboratories across the country. “There is an intense demand from industry to evaluate nanomaterial exposures and develop appropriate control strategies, practices, guidelines and medical surveillance,” stated CHN’s manager of environmental health and safety in a September 22, 2010, NIOSH press release. “Our team has conducted innovative research on nanomaterial toxicology, exposure and control that will help companies develop strategies to protect workers from the potential health effects of nanomaterials, thus paving the way for the commercialization of nano products.”
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), concerned about potential hazards to human health and the environment, has issued a final rule that will require anyone intending “to manufacture, import, or process either [multi-walled or single-walled carbon nanotubes] for a use that is designated as a significant new use by this final rule to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity.” Effective October 18, 2010, the rule applies to chemicals identified generically (for confidentiality reasons) as PMN P-08-177 and PMN P-08 328. The notice requirement will give EPA the opportunity to evaluate any proposed new use and regulate prospective manufacturers, importers or processors before the use occurs. Among other matters, those working with the substances will be required to use protective equipment, such as full-face respirators, gloves and protective clothing. According to a news source, this is EPA’s first rule for significant new uses of carbon nanotubes, which are…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) has announced an October 25-28, 2010, public meeting in Madison, Wisconsin, to review proposed recommendations for the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances, which governs the use of synthetic and non-synthetic materials in organic production and handling. NOSB will accept written comments and requests for oral presentations until October 12, 2010. The agenda covers petitioned material and sunset review recommendations for a number of substances, as well as proposed guidance on nanotechnology, “Made With” organic claims and changes to the NOSB policy and procedure manual. In particular, the meeting will address the NOSB Materials Committee’s recommendations for prohibiting engineered nanomaterials in organic production, processing and packaging. According to the committee, concerns about nanotechnology include “the ability of the regulatory agency, the National Organic Program (NOP), to fully control two of the major sources of contamination in final organic food…
The Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) has issued five regulatory proposals to respond to consumer and safety needs regarding nanomaterials found in mass-produced consumer products including food, electronics and cosmetics. During a recent workshop in which representatives from 12 member states met to prepare for a regulatory review of nanomaterials by the end of 2011, Belgian officials proposed that the EU (i) “define the obligation to inform the consumer of the presence of nanomaterials in consumer products”; (ii) “ensure the traceability of the chain so as to be able to return to the source, if necessary” by maintaining a nanomaterials register; (iii) “identify the most appropriate regulatory path at the EU level for risk evaluation and management,” (iv) “encourage member states, during this transitory period, to take up the responsibility and draw up integrated national strategies and concrete measures in favor of risk management, information and…
Concerned about regulatory coordination issues, the omission of new environmental data and an apparent failure to recognize collaborative stakeholder efforts, nanotech industry interests have reportedly urged Cal/EPA’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) and researchers with the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) to revise a draft April 2010 report on nanomaterial regulation. Additional information about the report appears in Issue 346 of this Update. The draft report contains broad recommendations for state regulation of nanoscale materials, and industry is apparently concerned that its findings do not account for rapidly emerging developments. According to a letter submitted to the agency in August 2010, the draft report fails to recognize the efforts of industry, government agencies and other stakeholders to address many of the questions raised in the report, nor does it discuss the “virtual explosion of research, information and real progress in addressing these matters over the past…
