In an interim report, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has found its voluntary reporting program on
nanomaterials has failed to gather key environmental and health and safety data
they need to properly assess the safety of nanotechnology.
The report, released this January, examines the EPA's Nanoscale Materials
Stewardship Program (NMSP). The program, established a year ago, invites
voluntary reporting of engineered nanoscale materials by those who manufacture,
import, process or use them.
The EPA has identified more than 1,000 nanomaterials in commercial production
and yet under their voluntary NMSP scheme they received information on only
about 10 per cent of them. Of the submissions received many were incomplete,
most often lacking information on toxicity.
Nanotechnology is the term used to describe the building of products, devices
or structures using nano or very small particles. Many consumer products such as
sunscreen to wrinkle-free clothing are made using this technology.
This latest report validates the concerns of a growing number of health,
safety and environmental activists who believe the precautionary principle
should be applied to the field of nanotechnology. They believe nanomaterials
should not be available for commercial use until sufficient data is supplied to
show they cause no harmful effect on human health and the environment.
The EPA will continue its stewardship program until January 2010. Under the
U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act the EPA has the obligation to ensure
potential risks are understood and controlled to protect human health and the
environment.
Want to
read the EPA's Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program interim report?
Want
to read the latest Canadian research on the health implications of
nanotechnology?
Want to learn
more about nanotechnology from the WHSC, including efforts to address the
issue?
