Mini Good News | September 30, 2009 | 12 comments

Nanomaterials under study by the E.P.A.

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/30/science/earth/30nano.html

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The Environmental Protection Agencydetailed its plans on Tuesday for research into the possible health and environmental risks of nanomaterials, tiny substances that are finding growing use in products like sunscreens and industrial adhesives.

The document, issued in draft form in June, calls for work to identify sources of nanomaterials, which can measure as little as perhaps one-10,000th the width of a human hair. Research will also center on how they move in the environment, the problems they might cause for people, animals and plants, and how these problems could be avoided or mitigated.

The federal National Nanotechnology Initiative is charged with coordinating research by various agencies on the issue. But in a highly critical report last year, the National Academy of Sciences dismissed its effort as inadequate.

Little is known about whether substances engineered at the nano scale persist and accumulate in the environment in unusual and potentially harmful ways. In August, a coalition of groups including Friends of the Earth and Consumers Union issued a report urging people to avoid sunscreens containing nano-forms of zinc oxide, saying their risks were unknown.

On the other hand, “the universe of possible health impacts” could be reduced as scientists learn more, said Andrew D. Maynard, chief science adviser for the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. He described the strategy mapped out by the E.P.A. as “a very good document.”

Jeffrey T. Morris, program director for nanotechnology at the E.P.A., said the agency was cooperating with other organizations, including some that fall under the National Nanotechnology Initiative’s umbrella and groups abroad including the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a group of industrialized nations.

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Source: The New York Times
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12 comments // Nanomaterials under study by the E.P.A.

  • caverat101
    • 0
      caverat101  

    • ITS A CONSPERACY the EPA creates these nanoparticals or says they're dangerous, so that accusations can be directed at selected companies to put them out of bussiness and others can say their products are NANO-FREE and charge more money

    • 2 years ago
  • copperdog
    • 0
      copperdog  

    • NANOTECHNOLOGY - big risks, big rewards.
      UPSIDE - by coating water molecules in butter using this, did you know we will be able to make a stick of butter looking and tasting like butter but with a fraction of the calories?
      DOWNSIDE - every element on the periodic table behaves differently at a nanoscopic level.. eg. gold acts as a catalyst. Also, nanoparticles have been found to 'go missing', eventually found to accumulate in nasal cavities and the like..
      It's comforting to know money is being spent to safeguard us should our beautiful innovations turn sour.

    • 2 years ago
  • RyanM4
  • maisry
  • carmalite
  • Nettle
    • 0
      Nettle  

    • Good. I'm glad they're taking steps into researching the product even though there isn't any definitive proof that it's harmful. Just the idea that it could be harmful should always warrant more studying.

    • 2 years ago
  • JanforGore
  • masterzip
  • neocongo
    • 0
      neocongo  

    • Conservatives have spent decades filling the EPA with industry leaders who do not give a fuck about the environment.

      Your off topic post is embarassing. Hide in shame.

    • 2 years ago
  • hunzedog
  • neocongo
  • hunzedog
    • 0
      hunzedog  

    • the new and improved asbestos ! why isnt the EPA out cleaning up the mess CLEAN COAL makes.? we tore down the mountain but we left a sludge pond full of surfactants for you. NEXT !

    • 2 years ago
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