According to the report published by BCC Research, the market value of the worldwide nanomedicine industry was $63.8 billion and $72.8 billion in 2010 and 2011, respectively. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 12.5% to reach $130.9 billion by the fiscal year 2016. Read more

In a recent speech I made to business leaders in Boston, I explained that perched atop 26 years of experiences I've stacked up in nanobusiness, I have a pretty good view to the horizon. You know what I see?  Decades of investment by government and the private sector have grown into a field of economic opportunity, now ripe with good jobs. Read more

Radiological Technologies University VT, located in South Bend, Indiana is pleased to announce the approval of the first Master’s of Science in Nanomedicine degree program in the country. The formal approval was granted today through the Indiana Commission for Postsecondary Proprietary Education. Nanomedicine is the medical application of Nanotechnology which focuses its work at the cellular level to do everything from repairing tissue, to cleaning arteries, to attacking cancer cells and viruses like AIDS. Read more

The potential of advanced nanotechnology is getting some attention from mainstream media. Late last year The Guardian web site posted a brief article on the prospects for nanofactories and atomically precise manufacturing, featuring quotes from Christine Peterson and Robert Freitas. Read more

Foresight’s principal focus has been the development of advanced nanotechnology for atomically precise manufacturing, but the incremental development and application of current nanotechnology is also a major interest. Meeting the challenges of incremental nanotechnology development and application includes adequately addressing any potential environmental, health, and safety issues (see Foresight’s “Nanoparticle safety” policy brief.). Read more

The performance of an electrochemical multiwalled carbon nanotube (EC-MWNT) filter toward virus removal and inactivation in the presence of natural organic matter was systematically evaluated over a wide range of solution chemistries. Read more

The Bren School-based authors of a study published Jan. 20 in the journal PLoS ONE have observed toxicity to marine organisms resulting from exposure to a nanoparticle that had not previously been shown to be toxic under similar conditions. Read more

WASHINGTON — Despite extensive investment in nanotechnology and increasing commercialization over the last decade, insufficient understanding remains about the environmental, health, and safety aspects of nanomaterials. Without a coordinated research plan to help guide efforts to manage and avoid potential risks, the future of safe and sustainable nanotechnology is uncertain, says a new report from the National Research Council. The report presents a strategic approach for developing research and a scientific infrastructure needed to address potential health and environmental risks of nanomaterials. Its effective implementation would require sufficient management and budgetary authority to direct research across federal agencies.Read more

With these advances, researchers have heralded both positive and negative effects of nanotechnology. Advocates point to efficient energy consumption, a cleaner environment, and eradicating health problems. Others have noted we do not know enough about how nanomaterials function, how they add potential stressors to the environment, or what chemical reactions may result when nanomaterials meet other particles. Both groups have called for further debate and advanced research into nanotechnology to determine the balance between risks and benefits. Read more

This article analysis the potential consequences of the application of nanotechnology in the Indian context and studies the institutional arrangements for “risk governance” of nanotechnology in other countries. It is argued that nanotechnology governance in India requires a separate agency – similar to the one established for biotechnology – to develop human resources, infrastructure, and research and to monitor issues and concerns in the field. Read more

A challenge-facing hazard identification and safety evaluation of engineered nanomaterials being introduced to market is the diversity and complexity of the types of materials with varying physicochemical properties, many of which can affect their toxicity by different mechanisms. Read more

According to the report published by BCC Research, the market value of the worldwide nanomedicine industry was $63.8 billion and $72.8 billion in 2010 and 2011, respectively. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 12.5% to reach $130.9 billion by the fiscal year 2016. Read more

Food Navigator reports that UK experts are demanding public debate and regulation of nanomaterials in foods.  Without that, they warn, nanotechnology risks “facing the same fate as genetically modified (GM) foods in consumer perceptions.” Read more

Workers with existing allergic conditions have worse reactions when exposed to nanoparticles in the workplace, suggest Chinese scientists. They believe that the response is caused by a Trojan horse known as an exosome, which is present in all of us. Read more

Source: The Bureau of National Affairs Daily Environment Report (15 Dec 2011) Author(s): Pat Rizzuto. Read more

Nanotechnology is an emerging science that offers many new opportunities for the food industry, but food manufacturers should be aware that there are some potential risks with this new technology. Food Manufacturing spoke with Amy Galland of As You Sow about nanotechnology and what processors should consider before implementing this new science into their processes. Read more

SAN FRANCISCO - December 21 - Concerned by the growing body of scientific reports cautioning against the unregulated use of nanotechnology in consumer products, a coalition of nonprofit consumer safety and environmental groups sued the Food and Drug Administration today. The case is the first lawsuit over the health and environmental risks of nanotechnology and nanomaterials. Read more

A coalition of consumer advocacy groups filed suit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Wednesday, the latest move in a long effort to force the agency to regulate sunscreens, cosmetics and other products containing super-small particles. Read more

The purpose of the OECD Series on the Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials is to provide up-to-date information on the diverse activities at OECD related to human health and environmental safety. Read more

Much of the past decade has been spent worrying about the potential toxicity of nanomaterials. We have had numerous government-funded projects, scores of publications by environmental groups, intense lobbying demanding the labelling of nanomaterials, and even a law suit. But while the developed world agonises over the use of nanomaterials, much of the rest of the world is simply getting on with using them. Read more

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is charged by Congress to protect the nation’s natural resources. Under the mandate of national environmental laws, the EPA strives to formulate and implement actions leading to a compatible balance between human activities and the ability of natural systems to support and nurture life. To meet this mandate, the EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) provides data and scientific support that can be used to solve environmental problems, build the scientific knowledge base needed to manage ecological resources wisely, understand how pollutants affect public health, and prevent or reduce environmental risks. Read more

Nanofilm’s Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Scott Rickert has discussed about six nanotechnology topics to be looked at in the fiscal year 2012 and their impact on the US economy in his nanotechnology column in Industry Week. Read more

Intertek Cantox, a company offering regulatory and scientific consulting services, has developed a novel method called the Nano Study Score method to support superior-quality nanotoxicology studies in order to assess the safety of nanomaterial- and nanotechnology-based products. Read more

Concerned by the growing body of scientific reports cautioning against the unregulated use of nanotechnology in consumer products, a coalition of nonprofit consumer safety and environmental groups sued the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today. The case is the first lawsuit over the health and environmental risks of nanotechnology and nanomaterials. Read more

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has issued the world’s first reference material for single-wall carbon nanotube soot. Distantly related to the soot in your fireplace or in a candle flame, nanotube-laden soot is the primary industrial source of single-wall carbon nanotubes, perhaps the archetype of all nanoscale materials. The new NIST material offers companies and researchers a badly needed source of uniform and well-characterized carbon nanotube soot for material comparisons, as well as chemical and toxicity analysis. Read more

In the past decade numerous projects on the risks associated with nanomaterials have been initiated and carried out. In general, they dealt with the subject of how nanomaterials could be used without representing a danger to the environment and human health. However a lack of specialists is preventing further urgently needed studies in the field of nano(eco)toxicology from being undertaken. Read more

More than a year after floating the idea, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has granted the first approval for a pesticide that’s based on a nanoscale material—a Swiss-made antimicrobial nanosilver product used in fabrics. Read more

The European Journal of Law and Technology (EJLT) is a REFEREED open access journal focusing on issues of law and technology in a European context. Read more

The rapid emergence and adoption of nanotechnology has provided an opportunity to examine the formation of public opinion on the risks and benefits of a largely unregulated, new and unique technology. Read more

A first-of-its-kind framework released on December 6th offers recommendations to food and food packaging companies on how to identify and evaluate nanomaterials in products.  Not only is this technology unregulated and untested for its implications on public health, but companies may not even be aware if they are using products made with nanomaterials. Read more

As per the findings from two recent reports on nanotoxicology, most of the studies conducted in the past ten years mainly focused on the application of nanomaterials rather than their risk to the human health and environment. Read more

In order to study the toxic effects on skin by zinc oxide nanoparticles, the commonly used ingredient in sunscreen products, a team of researchers from Switzerland and Australia has devised an optical method to quantitatively examine the zinc oxide nanoparticle concentration level at various skin depths. Read more

Researchers at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) have discovered that nanoparticles of zinc oxide, a widely used chemical in consumer products, are capable of causing cancer.  Read more

Russian company SUN INNOVATIONS has invented ink with nanoparticles of silver which kill malignant bacteria. Read more

A nanoparticle that can destroy drug-resistant bacteria developed by the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN), and the IBM Almaden Research Center, has recently been named one of 10 world changing ideas by Scientific American in its Technology Special Report ('World Changing Ideas – 10 New Technologies That Will Make a Difference', December 2011). Read more

Experts gather this week to discuss the efficient creation and delivery of nanoscale particles of drugs. From targeted cancer chemotherapy to the guarantee of successful organ transplants, the 21st century may prove to be the age of big ideas in medicine.  Read more

A new study from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute demonstrates how graphene foam can outperform leading commercial gas sensors in detecting potentially dangerous and explosive chemicals. The discovery opens the door for a new generation of gas sensors to be used by bomb squads, law enforcement officials, defense organizations, and in various industrial settings. Read more

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Recent studies conducted at Marshall University have demonstrated that nanoparticles of cerium oxide—common diesel fuel additives used to increase the fuel efficiency of automobile engines—can travel from the lungs to the liver and that this process is associated with liver damage. Read more

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University scientists have developed a method for stacking synthetic DNA and carbon nanotubes onto a biosensor electrode, a development that may lead to more accurate measurements for research related to diabetes and other diseases. Read more

The healthcare market is poised to see some of the earliest benefits of nanotechnology. Over the next decade, it will be one of nanotech’s highest growth sectors. Targeted drug delivery therapies for the treatment of cancer is one of the most commonly cited nano-healthcare benefits. Read more

Researchers make magnetic nanoparticles that can latch on to harmful molecules and purge them from the blood. Read more

At first glance, supercomputers, car parts, entertainment systems and radar antennas may not have much in common, but they all stand to benefit from important advances in thermal management technology being achieved by an EU-funded project. Materials developed under the project have been demonstrated in different application sectors, and some are already in use commercially, or likely to be in the near future. Read more

Leonardo Biosystems, Inc. and NanoMedical Systems, Inc. (NMS), two emerging drug delivery companies, today announced that they have signed a development contract in which NMS will develop and establish a commercial process to manufacture nanoporous silicon particles for Leonardo's multi-stage drug delivery system.
"The expertise in the fabrication of massively-parallel nanofluidic structures in silicon gained in the development of our own drug delivery products enables us to support Leonardo in bringing their manufacturing process to a commercial performance level," said Randy Goodall, President and CEO of NanoMedical Systems. "Our medical device engineering quality system is designed to produce an FDA-compliant process that will bring Leonardo to the doorstep of clinical testing of their innovative drug delivery products." Read more

One of the problems affecting the human nervous system is dopamine deficiency. But testing of dopamine concentration is costly and requires sophisticated equipment not available in a doctor's office. Enter a team of Polish scientists who developed a method enabling the detection of dopamine in solutions both easily and cheaply, even in the presence of interferences. The study is an outcome of the NOBLESSE ('Nanotechnology, biomaterials and alternative energy source for the European Research Area (ERA))' project, which is backed with EUR 3.3 million under the 'Regions of Knowledge' Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The results are published in the journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics. Read more

Market Publishers has released a new market research report titled ‘The World Market for Nanocoatings’ prepared by Future Markets. Read more

"Nanotechnology has the potential to create entirely new industries and radically transform the basis of competition in other fields," Rep Honda said.
"But one of the things I have heard from experts in the field is that while the United States is a leader in nanotechnology research, our foreign competitors are focusing more resources and effort on the commercialization of those research results than we are."
Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) introduced a bill this month that attempts to boost the federal government's efforts to foster and commercialize research in nanotechnology. Read more

The folks over at Future Markets, Inc., a technology consultancy firm, have added several new topics to their series of commercialization charts on nanotechnology and nanomaterials. The charts offer a succinct picture of the level of commercialization for nanotechnoogy and nanomaterials, by application and industry. The currently published charts in the series can be found here. The latest charts deal with applications of nanoclays, graphene and nanocoatings: Read more

Researchers at the Purdue University have designed a technology for incorporating carbon nanotubes and synthetic DNA onto a biosensor electrode, paving the way to accurately analyze diabetes and other diseases. Read more

Mesocages, hollow spheres and nanowire-shaped metal oxides could help to protect human health and improve the quality of the environment by monitoring and capturing toxic agents. Reporting their results in the journal Nanotechnology, researchers in Japan have come up with a series of designs dubbed nanopackages that pave the way for highly sensitive and selective detection of extremely toxic gases. Read more

The newly released educational video on nanoscience called "Does Every Silver Lining Have a Cloud?" features the Duke led Center for the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology (CEINT) . This video focuses on CEINT researchers discussing their integrated research initiatives that are designed to link fundamental physical and chemical properties of nano-scale materials with their observed biological and ecosystem effects. Read more

Is the emerging field of nanomedicine a breathtaking technological revolution that promises remarkable new ways of diagnosing and treating diseases? Or does it portend the release of dangerous nanoparticles, nanorobots or nanoelectronic devices that will wreak havoc in the body? A new review of more than 500 studies on the topic concludes that neither scenario is likely. Read more

 TEMPE, Ariz.—As nanotechnology moves (slowly) from the laboratory to the factory, workers are on the front lines—though you wouldn’t know that from the shop floor. Read more

Leonardo Biosystems, Inc., an emerging drug delivery company, announced today that it has received the second half of a $2.5 million award from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund (TETF). The initial investment tranche was received in April 2010. Read more

Within the framework of FP7 NanoCom we are organising a Nanotechnology Investors Forum in Spring 2012. The specific aim of this forum is to present to selected investors (Business Angels, Venture Capitalists) specific investment opportunities based on nanotechnologies. The forum is a European initiative aimed at facilitating the path to success for spin-offs or start-ups where development has been part funded by a public organisation (European, national, regional). This initiative is also supported by other European nanotechnology related networks and platforms. For more information on EU Nano related networks please visit the NANOfutures platform. Read more

Cancer affects about seven million people worldwide, and that number is projected to grow to 15 million by 2020. Most of those patients are treated with chemotherapy and/or radiation, which are often effective but can have debilitating side effects because it's difficult to target tumor tissue. Read more

Purdue University scientists have developed a method for stacking synthetic DNA and carbon nanotubes onto a biosensor electrode, a development that may lead to more accurate measurements for research related to diabetes and other diseases. Read more

Rice University chemists have found a way to load more than 2 million tiny gold particles called nanorods into a single cancer cell. The breakthrough could speed development of cancer treatments that would use nanorods like tiny heating elements to cook tumors from the inside. Read more

Carbon nanomaterials (CNM) are targets of great interest because they have multiple applications in industry but also because of the fear of possible harmful heath effects of certain types of CNM. The high aspect ratio of carbon nanotubes (CNT), a feature they share with asbestos, is likely the key factor for reported toxicity of certain CNT. Read more

TEHRAN (FNA)- Seven nanotechnology-based products succeeded in obtaining supply and distribution certificate from Iran's Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education. Read more

Show of hands: who would like to see computers that are smaller and more powerful? Or a cancer therapy that precisely targets only cancer cells? Or foods with better nutritional value? Or packaging that keeps food fresher and bacteria free for longer? Nanotechnology promises to do all this … and more! Read more

Around 160 researchers from 26 nations have participated in the 2011 International Symposium on Clusters and Nanostructures conducted by the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond to address the function of nanostructures and clusters in resolving the issues faced by health, environment and energy. Read more

The past few years has seen an explosion of interest in silver nanoparticles.  Along with a plethora of products using the particles to imbue antimicrobial properties on everything from socks to toothpaste, nanometer scale silver particles have been under intense scrutiny from researchers and policy makers concerned that they present an emerging health and environmental risk. Read more

The MARINA project is a major new European Commission Framework 7 project to develop reference methods for managing the risk of engineered nanoparticles and engineered nanomaterials (ENM).With very significant economic impact across industrial, consumer and medical products, nanotechnology is now one of the key industries within Europe and worldwide. Key to its long term growth and sustainability is establishing end-user confidence that the technologies developed are safe. Read more

Nanoparticles such as carbon nanotubes (CNT), which are found in an ever-increasing number of products, are ending up more and more frequently in our surroundings. If and how they affect aquatic ecosystems are questions which are still unanswered. An Empa study shows that while CNTs do not have toxic effects on green algae they do inhibit its growth by depriving the plant of light and space. Read more

Inside a laboratory in College Station, Tex., Jaime Grunlan and his students are building a new way to keep food fresh, brick by super-tiny brick. Using clay and biodegradable, food-safe polymers, they’re making what are effectively walls on an atomic scale. Read more

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen are behind the development of a new method that will make it possible to develop drugs faster and greener. This will lead to cheaper medicine for consumers. Read more

Iranian researchers at University of Malayer and Material and Energy Research Institute of Iran used a layer nanohybrid compound to synthesize copper porous metallic nanopowder and they succeeded in the production of copper meso-porous nanopowder as well as carbonic microporous nanoparticles. Read more

(NHI Nanoblog) The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) has released its latest blueprint for fostering the safe development of nanotechnology, giving fresh emphasis to the idea of studying a product or application from birth to death. Read more

Sometimes the seeming conflict between the overflowing optimism for nanotechnology and then the biting skepticism aimed at it creates confusion in its wake. Read more

Nanotechnology has the potential to lead to healthier, safer and better tasting foods, and improved food packaging, but the hesitation of the food industry and public fears in some countries about tampering with nature may be holding back the introduction of nanofoods. Read more

Under the header of Communicating Nanoethics, ObservatoryNano aims to highlight key findings and developments in current dialogues and public engagement activities at EU level and in Member States and other countries. This way, emerging issues not discussed sufficiently and best practices in communication on ethical and societal aspects of nanotechnology can be identified and brought to the attention of policy makers in the fourth annual report on communicating nanoethics to be published online in the spring of 2012. Read more

Consumer groups and Lausanne University have launched a campaign to raise awareness of nanotechnology – its potential, but also possible risks to health and the environment. Read more

Biotechnology companies have expressed general support for FDA's draft guidance defining whether products contain nanomaterials or otherwise involve the application of nanotechnology. But the sector also made its case for less red tape and more leeway, raising issue with some specifics and asking for clarity on other topics. Read more

Presentation slides from the modules for the training Course: Introduction to Nanomaterials and Occupational Health, developed under a grant from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), can be viewed and downloaded at the GoodNanoGuide website. Read more

Carboxylated carbon nanotubes stand as the most promising nanovectors for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications due to their ease of covalent conjugation with eclectic functional molecules including therapeutic drugs, proteins, and oligonucleotides. In the present study, we attempt to investigate how the toxicity of acid-oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) can be tweaked by altering their degree of functionalization and correlate the toxicity trend with their biodistribution profile. Read more

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) researchers have developed new technology capable of removing radioactive material from contaminated water and aiding clean-up efforts following nuclear disasters. The innovation could also solve the problem of how to clean up millions of tonnes of water contaminated by dangerous radioactive material and safely store the concentrated waste. Read more

DTSC Releases Revised “Informal Draft” Safer Consumer Products Regulations Read more

Nanotechnology is one of today's most promising technological developments. The activities of the Joint Research Centre supporting safety assessment of nanomaterials (as shown in this video, issued in October 2011) are aimed at ensuring consumer protection and confidence in many innovative applications and products. Read more

Biotechnology companies have expressed general support for FDA's draft guidance defining whether products contain nanomaterials or otherwise involve the application of nanotechnology. But the sector also made its case for less red tape and more leeway, raising issue with some specifics and asking for clarity on other topics. Read more

Pick your poison from this smorgasbord of recent salmonella outbreaks in the United States: ground turkey; fresh papayas; alfalfa sprouts. That's in 2011 alone, and the list goes on, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But perhaps not for long, thanks to a promising new biosensor nanotechnology that could identify the presence of salmonella bacteria before contaminated food or animals reach the marketplace. Read more

Commenting on the third quarter results, president and chief executive officer Dr. Timothy J. Stultz said, "In a challenging industry environment and rapidly changing business dynamics, we delivered a strong third quarter, in line with the guidance we provided in late July. As we entered the third quarter, we began to see shifting priorities in the semiconductor industry... Read more

Health and environmental impacts of graphene-based materials need to be thoroughly evaluated before their potential applications. Graphene has strong cytotoxicity toward bacteria. To better understand its antimicrobial mechanism, we compared the antibacterial activity of four types... Read more

EUGENE, Ore. -- (Oct. 24, 2011) -- If you've ever eaten from silverware or worn copper jewelry, you've been in a perfect storm in which nanoparticles were dropped into the environment, say scientists at the University of Oregon. Read more

According to a new article published in Small, researchers at South China Normal University demonstrated that phototherapy using a laser light focused on implanted SWeNT Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) will selectively destroy the target mitochondria. Read the rest of the article.

While I was attending the EuroNanoForum 2011 conference earlier this year, I ran into old acquaintance who works at a national nanotechnology laboratory. Read the rest of the article.

Translation of the original article written in French available here) This Tuesday, October 18, the European Commission published its long-awaited definition of nanomaterials after a year of intense negotiations. The reactions were not long in coming, revealing power struggles so far mainly confined to Brussels area.  Read more

This year I have been covering the sometimes-laughable efforts by the European Commission to define what a nanomaterial is in order for them to develop a regulatory framework. Read more

The European Commission had just adopted a “cross-cutting designation of nanomaterials to be used for all regulatory purposes” (link). The definition builds on a draft definition released last year, but includes a number of substantial changes to this. Read more

The term ‘nanotechnology’ covers a very broad range of entities and industrial applications. It is expected that many of the applications will help to improve human health and quality of life. The medical application of nanotechnology is probably one of the fastest growing fields, with developments in therapeutic, diagnostic and imaging uses (e.g. in cancer). Read more

During a joint event held in Brussels today, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) presented the findings of a joint report entitled "Impact of engineered nanomaterials on health: considerations for benefit-risk assessment" (for download, see below). The report summarises the state-of-the-art knowledge on the safety of engineered nanomaterials and concludes that there is only limited scientific evidence to suggest that nanomaterials present a risk for human health. Read more

"Nanomaterials" are materials whose main constituents have a dimension of between 1 and 100 billionth of a metre, according to a Recommendation on the definition of nanomaterial adopted by the European Commission today (*). The announcement marks an important step towards greater protection for citizens, clearly defining which materials need special treatment in specific legislation. Read more

[October 18th, Brussels] - The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) is deeply disappointed by the European Commission’s decision released today to use a narrow definition for the term “nanomaterial”, indicating that industry lobbying has won over the Commission’s own scientific advisors [1]. EEB did however welcome the fact that a recommendation was adopted and hopes this will clear the way for the EU to actually start regulating on this. Read more

Nanotechnology holds the promise of new materials and devices that can be designed and engineered to solve critical questions in almost every sector of our economy – from treating cancer, to cleaning contaminated water, accelerating advanced manufacturing, meeting energy needs, and fixing our roadways and bridges. That's why, for the last 10 years, the United States has engaged in an ambitious effort through the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) to leverage the research programs and resources of Federal agencies and maximize the potential for translating the results of nanotechnology research into products that strengthen the economy and improve our quality of life. Read more

Products that incorporate materials manufactured at the nano scale (i.e., nanoproducts) offer many potential benefits to society; however, these benefits must be weighed against potential “costs” to the environment and public health. Read more

The latest iteration of the US National Nanotechnology Initiative’s Environmental, Health and Safety Research Strategy was released today – downloadable from nano.gov. A draft of the document has been on the streets since last December – this version was compiled after a public comment period on that draft that closed earlier this year (the key comments received are listed here). Read more

The Federal Government today released a national strategy for ensuring that environmental, health, and safety research needs are fully identified and addressed in the fast-growing field of nanotechnology. Read more

During a joint event held in Brussels today, the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) presented the findings of a joint report entitled "Impact of engineered nanomaterials on health: considerations for benefit-risk assessment" (for download, see below). The report summarises the state-of-the-art knowledge on the safety of engineered nanomaterials and concludes that there is only limited scientific evidence to suggest that nanomaterials present a risk for human health. Read more

[October 18th, Brussels] - The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) is deeply disappointed by the European Commission’s decision released today to use a narrow definition for the term “nanomaterial”, indicating that industry lobbying has won over the Commission’s own scientific advisors [1]. EEB did however welcome the fact that a recommendation was adopted and hopes this will clear the way for the EU to actually start regulating on this. Read more

This year I have been covering the sometimes-laughable efforts by the European Commission to define what a nanomaterial is in order for them to develop a regulatory framework. Read more

The European Commission had just adopted a “cross-cutting designation of nanomaterials to be used for all regulatory purposes” (link). The definition builds on a draft definition released last year, but includes a number of substantial changes to this. Read more

The round-shaped tip of a carbon nanotube fools a cell into ingesting it, to death. A rough-hewn end may fix the problem. Christopher Intagliata reports. Read more

I witnessed an American revolution catch fire in Boston, and I feel like a latter-day Paul Revere. "The nanotech economy is coming, the nanotech economy is coming!" and that's good news for the U.S. -- and you -- because we're at the epicenter. Read more

This coming Thursday (Oct 20 2011), the US National Nanotechnology Initiative is releasing the latest version of the Initiative’s federal nanotechnology environmental, health and safety research strategy.  The strategy will be available for download from 10:00 AM Eastern time, with a webinar on the release being held between 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM Eastern (registration required). Read more

Back in 2008 we reported on nanotechnology solution for radioactive waste cleanup, specifically the use of titanate nanofibers as absorbents for the removal of radioactive ions from water. Now, the same group that developed these nanomaterials reports in a new study that the unique structural properties of titanate nanotubes and nanofibers make them superior materials for removal of radioactive cesium and iodine ions in water. Read more

Prior to Congress adjournment for the traditional August recess, Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15th-D) introduced H.R. 2749, "The Nanotechnology Advancement and New Opportunities (NANO) Act", described by Rep. Honda as ". . .a comprehensive bill to promote the development and responsible stewardship of nanotechnology in the United States . . . .[drawing] upon th work of the Bluee Ribbon Task Force on Nanotechnology . . . Read more

Denmark's Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA)  recently released "Survey on basic knowledge about exposure and potential environmental and health risks for selected nanoparticles". The survey was written by Sonja Hagen Mikkelsen, Erik Hansen and Trine Boe Christensen of COWI A/S, Anders Baun and Steffen Foss Hansen of DTU Environment and Mona-Lise Binderup of DTU Food, all working under contract with DEPA. Read more

The novel characteristics of nanomaterials mean that risk assessments developed for ordinary materials may be of limited use in determining the health and public safety of products based on nanotechnology. Read more

NICNAS, the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme of the Australian Government regulator of industrial chemicals, commissioned a review and analysis available literature from 2007-2009 on six industrial nanomaterials, chosen as they were considered to already be in, or close to, commercial use in Australia. Read more

The fate and behavior of nanomaterials (NMs) in environmental media has important consequences for toxicity. The majority of aquatic research to date has focused on NM behavior in freshwater systems. Read more

With today's advancements in technology, we can engineer virtually everything from animals to our children. Now, we can even engineer "better" versions of ourselves. Nanotechnology, the manipulation of matter on atomic and molecular levels, may transform the cars we drive to the medical treatments we receive. Read more

Nanomaterials are now used in many different economic sectors and increasingly also in consumer products such as cosmetics, textiles, and food packaging. The possible consequences of this use have not been sufficiently studied. There is a danger of a widening gap between the technological development and the knowledge about risks. Read more

A decision-directed approach for prioritizing research into the impact of nanomaterials on the environment and human health. Read more

With political action on curbing greenhouse gases stalled, a bipartisan panel of scientists, former government officials and national security experts is recommending that the government begin researching a radical fix: directly manipulating the Earth’s climate to lower the temperature.  Read more

With hundreds of nanoproducts currently being tested in humans, recommendations aim to safeguard trial participants. Read more

From medicine and energy to material science and prevention of bioterrorism, nano-technology developments are occurring at a rate faster than even the field’s most optimistic proponents predicted only a few years ago. Read more

New cures for cancer... more efficient solar cells... even quicker and smaller computers... more energy-efficient lighting. Nanotechnology has huge potential in these and other fields, but there are also risks. And no-one can say whether the risks are enormous, or in fact quite small. Read more

Important elements in these new approaches include life-cycle thinking, public participation and adaptive management of the risks associated with emerging technologies and new materials. Read more

The novel characteristics of nanomaterials mean that risk assessments developed for ordinary materials may be of limited use in determining the health and public safety of products based on nanotechnology. Read more

Research and Markets has added the report titled,The World Market For Nanotechnology: Nanomaterials, Markets and Companies 2011, to their offering. Read more

Online Research Company, Research and Markets has released a report titled, “Global Funding of Nanotechnologies- 2011 Edition”. The investment into nanotechnology research by various governments world- wide over the last 11 years is more than US$ 67 billion. This includes funding for researches that are in various stages namely translation stage, basic stage that require investment in instruments, facilities and other services. Read more

A study by researchers from the schools of science and medicine at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis examines the effects of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) on living cells. This work is among the first to study concentrations of these tiny particles that are low enough to mimic the actual exposure of an ordinary individual. Read more

A new report released by Friends of the Earth (FoE) reveals experts believe that widespread use of nano-silver could breed superbugs, leading to more Australian deaths in hospitals. Antibiotic resistant bacteria (superbugs) in our hospitals claim over 7,000 Australian lives each year. Public health experts have called this one of the greatest health threats of our time. Read more

As super-small particles and materials become increasingly common in manufacturing, how are companies dealing with the potential to expose their workers to invisible hazards? Read more

A study by researchers from the schools of science and medicine at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis examines the effects of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) on living cells. This work is among the first to study concentrations of these tiny particles that are low enough to mimic the actual exposure of an ordinary individual. Read more

It's been long known that asbestos spells trouble for human cells. Scientists have seen cells stabbed with spiky, long asbestos fibers, and the image is gory: Part of the fiber is protruding from the cell, like a quivering arrow that's found its mark. Read more

In a recent letter to the journal Nature (Nature 476; 399), Hermann Stamm of the European Commission Joint Research Centre Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (JRC-IHCP) defended the need to define engineered nanomaterials for regulatory purposes. The letter, titled “Nanomaterials should be defined”, was a direct response to my earlier commentary in Nature “Don’t define nanomaterials”. Read more

It is quite difficult – not least because there is no consensus about a proper definition – to assess the scope of nanotechnology research and its impact on the overall scientific body as well as its commercialization prospects. In a new attempt to put some numbers behind the general perception of a rapidly expanding nanotechnology field, two researchers at UC Davis have trawled scientific databases and come up with some surprising findings.  Read more

The Danish Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA) has initiated the study "Survey on basic knowledge about exposure and potential environmental and health risks for selected nanomaterials". The objective of the study is to provide an overview of the applications of the most commonly used or widespread nanomaterials and to identify areas most likely to have health or environmental problems associated with their use. Read more

Probably the leading team that is driving forward the work on nanogenerators for converting mechanical energy into electricity is Zhong Lin Wang's group at Georgia Tech. So far, we have covered their exciting work in at least half a dozen Nanowerk Spotlights about nanopiezotronics and nanogenerators. Read more

A study by researchers from the schools of science and medicine at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis examines the effects of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) on living cells. This work is among the first to study concentrations of these tiny particles that are low enough to mimic the actual exposure of an ordinary individual. Read more

Recent calls to place warning labels on nano sunscreens are ill advised, says Paul Wright, especially in a country with such a high incidence of skin cancer. Read more

As super-small particles and materials become increasingly common in manufacturing, how are companies dealing with the potential to expose their workers to invisible hazards? Read more

In 2010 the first baby boomers reached official retirement age and an additional 10,000 join the ranks on a daily basis(1). The influx of these 78 million retirees over the next 20 years will dramatically change the U.S. age profile and put a heavy burden on both the retirement and Medicare system. Read more

A forecasted rise in industrial demand for silver from various emerging sectors is often cited by bullish silver analysts as a strong supporting factor — alongside increasing investment demand, of course — for a rosy long-term outlook in the silver market. Read more

Nanoparticle Safety: Excreted nanoparticles containing drugs could pose a threat in the environment. Read more

Denmark's Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA)  recently released "Survey on basic knowledge about exposure and potential environmental and health risks for selected nanoparticles". The survey was written by Sonja Hagen Mikkelsen, Erik Hansen and Trine Boe Christensen of COWI A/S, Anders Baun and Steffen Foss Hansen of DTU Environment and Mona-Lise Binderup of DTU Food, all working under contract with DEPA. Read more

In a recent letter to the journal Nature (Nature 476; 399), Hermann Stamm of the European Commission Joint Research Centre Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (JRC-IHCP) defended the need to define engineered nanomaterials for regulatory purposes. The letter, titled “Nanomaterials should be defined”, was a direct response to my earlier commentary in Nature “Don’t define nanomaterials”. Read more

Prior to Congress adjournment for the traditional August recess, Rep. Mike Honda (CA-15th-D) introduced H.R. 2749, "The Nanotechnology Advancement and New Opportunities (NANO) Act", described by Rep. Honda as ". . .a comprehensive bill to promote the development and responsible stewardship of nanotechnology in the United States . . . Read more

It is quite difficult – not least because there is no consensus about a proper definition – to assess the scope of nanotechnology research and its impact on the overall scientific body as well as its commercialization prospects Read more

Developing countries forging ahead with nanotechnology need regulation and research into local risk patterns, say Alok Dhawan and Vyom Sharma. Read more

The Safety Research WG - chaired by Dr Rob Aitken, Director of SAFENANO and Strategic Consulting at the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) - aims to improve knowledge concerning the risks exposure/toxicology/safety/impact, particularly in relation to risk assessment and to contribute to promote safe, sustainable and socially responsible nanotechnology. Read more

Tasked with the core responsibility of protecting and promoting the health and safety of Americans through enhancing the availability of safe medical products and foods, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released a document titled Advancing Regulatory Science at FDA: A Strategic Plan. Read more

Nanomaterials offer numerous new opportunities for innovation but they can also pose new risks. Nanomaterials are now used in many different economic sectors and increasingly also in consumer products such as cosmetics, textiles, and food packaging. The possible consequences of this use have not been sufficiently studied. There is a danger of a widening gap between the technological development and the knowledge about risks. Read more

Green Chemistry experts have developed a roadmap to ensure emerging nanotechnologies are safe for use by humans before they are introduced into the marketplace. Read more

The unregulated nanotech industry is spreading through the U.S. food system. Read more

Lotions containing inorganic nanoparticles draw attention of toxicologists and ire of some consumer groups. Read more

The latest edition of the report, “Developments in Nanotechnologies Regulation and Standards 2011” has been published. The report is part of the European Commission’s ObservatoryNANO project, and is an evolving document meant to keep pace with changes in the regulatory landscape.

Read more

Irene A. Hantman - a legal fellow with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and vice chair, membership, of the American Bar Association Committee on Pesticides, Chemical Regulation, and Right to Know - has authored an article for the Bureau of National Affairs (BNA) Daily Environment Report that explores nanotechnology regulatory policy Read more

Lab experiments find that nickel particles with diameters billionths of a meter wide can trigger a cellular pathway that promotes cancer growth.  Read more

With the curtain about to rise on a much-anticipated new era of “nanoagriculture” — using nanotechnology to boost the productivity of plants for food, fuel, and other uses — scientists are describing huge gaps in knowledge about the effects of nanoparticles on corn, tomatoes, rice and other food crops. Read more

Andrew Maynard argues against defining engineered nanomaterials for regulatory purposes. Read more

The range of food and agricultural nanotechnology applications includes making toxins more bio-available in pesticides, targeting nutrients in smaller doses, improving the texture of ice cream and detecting bacteria in packaged foods. Read more

Nanotechnology has wide applications in many fields, especially in the biological sciences and medicine. Nanomaterials are applied as coating materials or in treatment and diagnosis. Read more

The National Nanotechnology Initiative's (NNI) released four reports today that are the result of a series of workshops focusing on various issues in the nanotechnology environmental, health, and safety (EHS) arena. Read more

The materials that most current regulations were designed to handle are pretty simple by today’s standards. Sure they can do some nasty things to the environment or your body if handled inappropriately. And without a doubt some of the risks associated with these “simple” materials are not yet well understood – especially when it comes to long term and trans-generational impacts. Read more

High profile Australian sunscreen brand Invisible Zinc has been told to remove "not nano" labelling from its website by the sunscreens regulator because they are allegedly scaring the public.High profile Australian sunscreen brand Invisible Zinc has been told to remove "not nano" labelling from its website by the sunscreens regulator because they are allegedly scaring the public. Read more

Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn announced nearly €7 billion to kick-start innovation through research. The European Commission's biggest ever such funding package, under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme for Research (FP7), is expected to create around 174 000 jobs in the short-term and nearly 450 000 jobs and nearly €80 billion in GDP growth over 15 years. Read more

The Government is set to disappoint consumers who are worried about the use of nanotechnology in sunscreens, with documents obtained by PM showing the Government will not opt for mandatory labelling. Read more

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Quantum dots made from cadmium and selenium degrade in soil, unleashing toxic cadmium and selenium ions into their surroundings, a University at Buffalo study has found. Read more

CVD Equipment, a company that designs and manufactures graphene, semiconductors, carbon nanotubes, MEMS, nanowires, and industrial coatings, received orders of nearly $24.6M for the first six months of 2011. Read more

Cientifica, the worlds most respected nanotechnology information and forecasting company has just released the much anticipated 2011 report on global nanotechnology funding and impact. Read more

In the late 1950s, Richard Feynman famously imagined a science where researchers and engineers could achieve remarkable feats by manipulating matter and creating structures all the way down to the level of individual atoms. Read more

Some nanotechnology experts have pushed for more explicit guidelines in the nanotechnology field because it would help spur innovation and commercialization. Read more

Nanotechnology promises great advances for a host of industries, but concerns about health and safety threaten commercialization efforts. Read more

The recent new focus on safety and environment isn't a death knell, just growing pains. Read more

Federal guidelines proposed June 9 for the regulation and oversight of products containing engineered nanoscale materials have gotten a mixed reception from affected industries. The government policies aim to protect public health and the environment without stifling innovation, but some stakeholders see room for improvement. Read more

Electronics.Ca Publications has released a new report titled "Graphene: Technologies, Applications, and Markets". According to a new market research report, the market value for graphene-based products worldwide will be estimated at a value of $67 million in 2015 and is expected to rise to $675.1 million in 2020. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of graphene-based products is estimated to be at 58.7%. Read more

Researchers from Applied Sciences Inc., a world leader in advanced materials, say carbon nanotubes are ideal materials to pair with nano-sized self-healing capsules in thermoset composites. Applied Sciences is exploring this technology under a NASA Phase I SBIR program targeted at developing self healing composite technology using Pyrograf III carbon nanotubes. Read more

Research and Markets has added a report titled "Nanomaterials Market in the US" to its catalogue. The US is a market leader for nanomaterials. By 2018, it is anticipated that traditional nanomaterials such as polymers will generate the majority of demand in the nation. Read more

A novel application of carbon nanotubes, developed by MIT researchers, shows promise as an innovative approach to storing solar energy for use whenever it's needed. Read more

Research and Markets has added a report titled "Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene for Electronics Applications 2011-2021" to its offering. Read more

The new 2011 edition of Nanotechnology Law published by West/Thomson/Reuters is now out.  I update the book every year and the new edition has lots of new stuff.  They make excellent Christmas and Birthday gifts, and are a general cure for insomnia.  All proceeds go to my underprivileged daughters' college fund.  Everyone should have one (or two). 

Graphene, a form of pure carbon arranged in a lattice just one atom thick, has interested countless researchers with its unique strength and its electrical and thermal conductivity. But one key property it lacks — which would make it suitable for a plethora of new uses — is the ability to form a band gap, needed for devices such as transistors, computer chips and solar cells. Read more

The focus of intense scientific research in recent years, graphene is a two-dimensional material, comprised of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. It is the strongest material ever measured and has other remarkable qualities, including high electron mobility, a property that elevates its potential for use in high-speed nanoscale devices of the future. Read more

During the past 20 years, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have become an important industrial material. Hundreds of tons are produced each year. This review is a survey of the scientific literature, motivated by industrial requirements and guidelines for environment, health and safety compliance. Read more

Aquatic sediments form an important sink for manufactured nanomaterials, like carbon nanotubes (CNT) and fullerenes, thus potentially causing adverse effects to the aquatic environment, especially to benthic organisms. Read more

Electronics.Ca Publications has released a new report titled "Graphene: Technologies, Applications, and Markets". According to a new market research report, the market value for graphene-based products worldwide will be estimated at a value of $67 million in 2015 and is expected to rise to $675.1 million in 2020. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of graphene-based products is estimated to be at 58.7%. Read more

Super-small carbon materials are relatively new. Regulators in the United States, and internationally, want new materials and products tested for safety. That testing is expensive and time-consuming. Read more

Nanotechnology promises great advances for a host of industries, but concerns about health and safety threaten commercialization efforts. Read more

A team of researchers in Germany has brought some good news to the debate on nano-material safety. The team took four materials containing nanoparticles or nanotubes and subjected them to high speed sanding, gentle abrasion and UV radiation, and found that the resulting dust was no finer than that from conventional materials. What's more, rats exposed to the fine dust fared no worse whether the material contained nano-components or not. Read more

PORTLAND, Ore.—Nanotubes may not be toxic, as previously reported elsewhere, according to the Semiconductor Research Corp.  (SRC). Rather, contaminants mixed in during their manufacture should be credited with their adverse health effects, according to a University of Texas study funded by SRC. Read more

NEW ORLEANS -- More than 15,000 food scientists, chefs, recipe developers and purveyors of spices, flavorings and additives met here last week to examine the newest innovations in the cook's pot and on grocery shelves. Read more

Europe is once again trying to appease…umh…I mean inform the public about the subject of nanotechnology with another public outreach program entitled Nanochannels. Read more

Tiny fibres used to strengthen items such as bike frames and hockey sticks could pose risks to workers who make them. Read more

The Netherlands delegation submitted a paper entitled “Risks associated with nanomaterials” for discussion during the June 21, 2011, meeting of the Environment Council of the European Union (EU).  The paper states that, under current EU legislation and the precautionary principle, “industry bears primary responsibility for the safety of its products for workers and consumers.” Read more

As researchers and regulators focus on how to safely make, sell and use carbon nanotubes, Philip Wallis is working to apply each new lesson to his own workforce—and his customers. Read more

The scene around nanotechnology regulatory frameworks has been frantic (by comparison with any other time period during the 3 years I’ve been blogging about nano) in the last month or so. This is my second attempt this month at pulling together information about nanotechnology regulatory frameworks. Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s newly released sunscreen rules fail to meaningfully consider the risks posed by nanoscale ingredients, according to public interest groups including Friends of the Earth, The International Center for Technology Assessment and Consumers Union. Read more

More than 1,300 products now on the market claim to incorporate Engineered Nanomaterials (ENMs), whose very tiny size yields novel properties, such as making products, lighter, stronger, and better able to retain moisture and deliver pesticides. None of these products have undergone a pre-market safety assessment. Read more

nanoTox Inc. and AssuredNano Limited announce today that they have concluded an agreement which will lead to a merger of the two companies creating a global Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Standard for engineered nanomaterials. The integration of these two well established brands will provide global coverage for all issues relating to the occupational hygiene and toxicology of nanomaterials and nano-enabled products. Read more

Readers may be interested in learning about a new subscription website devoted to nanoscale carbon -- Read more

The removal of oxidation debris from the oxidized carbon nanotube surface with a NaOH treatment is a key step for an effective functionalization and quality improvement of the carbon nanotube samples. Read more

Major barriers to delivery of biomolecules are crossing the cellular membranes and achieving a high cytoplasmic concentration by circumventing entrapment into endosomes and other lytic organelles.

Read more

Absorption is expected to be poor via all routes for the carbon nanotubes based on test data for
chemicals with similar molecular structures and chemicals with similar physical/chemical
properties. Read more

Nanomaterials such as multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are applied to various industrial products and thus may be released to soils, but their potential environmental impacts remain largely undetermined. Read more

Our data demonstrate that multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are internalized by macrophages, subsequently activating them to produce interleukin (IL)-12 (IL-12). Read more

Carbon nanomaterials have multiple applications in various areas. However, it has been suggested that exposure to nanoparticles may be a risk for the development of vascular diseases due to injury and dysfunction of the vascular endothelium. Read more

Super-small carbon materials are relatively new. Regulators in the United States, and internationally, want new materials and products tested for safety. That testing is expensive and time-consuming.

Read more

The fibrous shape of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) raises concern that they may pose an asbestos-like inhalation hazard, leading to the development of diseases, especially mesothelioma. Read more

Carcinogenicity of carbon nanotubes is a major concern but has not been well addressed due to the lack of experimental models. Read more

It must be Nanotechnology Regulation week in Washington DC.  Yesterday, two federal agencies and the White House released documents that grapple with the effective regulation of products that depend on engineered nanomaterials.

Read more

During the past 20 years, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have become an important industrial material. Hundreds of tons are produced each year. This review is a survey of the scientific literature, motivated by industrial requirements and guidelines for environment, health and safety compliance.

Read more

A recent study conducted in conjunction with the Division of Endocrinology at the Brown Medical School Department of Medicine in Providence, Rhode Island has found that the most common causes of granulomatous inflammation are persistent pathogens and poorly-degradable irritating materials, such as nanoparticles and asbestos. Read more

An oversight system specifically concerned with nanomaterials should be flexible enough to take into account the unique aspects of individual novel materials and the settings in which they might be used, while recognizing that heretofore unrecognized safety issues may require future modifications. This article considers a question not explicitly considered by the project team: what is the risk that uncertainty over how regulatory oversight will be applied to nanomaterials will delay or block the development of this emerging technology, thereby depriving human health of potential and substantial benefits? Read the full study

A few weeks ago, the US National Nanotechnology Initiative website, www.nano.gov, underwent a much-needed facelift.  The NNI’s web portal was creaky when I was part of the Initiative several years ago now.  And it’s somewhat ironic that the world’s leading interagency initiative on one of the most prominent cutting edge technology platforms has relied on a website that is the antithesis of technology innovation for over a decade.  So I was pleasantly surprise to see the other week that the site has been updated, streamlined, and made more accessible, attractive, and – dare I say – useful.

Depending on whom you ask, nanoparticles are, potentially, either one of the most promising or the most perilous creations of science. These tiny objects can deliver drugs efficiently and enhance the properties of many materials, but what if they also are hazardous to your health in some way? Now, scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have found* a way to manipulate nanoparticles so that questions like this can be answered. Read the full article

This Policy Brief addresses the need for a governance response from the European bodies to
establish a registry of nanomaterial-containing articles. Better comprehensive data is urgently
needed to improve knowledge of what is on the market, who is exposed and what should be
regulated. Member States welcome such inventories and have developed their own initiatives
while at the same time exhorting the European Commission to step in on the process. Achieving
harmonisation of the national initiatives is crucial, for proper regulation is needed to ensure proper protection of human and environmental health, as well as an adequate level of risk management. Read the brief --

Check the label on a sunscreen for sale in this Whalley Avenue pharmacy aisle, and you’ll get advice for applying it, a warning not to get it in your eyes and a list of ingredients.

You won’t learn whether the lotion contains newfangled super-tiny particles.

That’s a problem, according to consumer and environmental advocates who keep tabs on the burgeoning field of nanotechnology. Read more

ISO has announced new general liability classifications for alternative energy sources and nanotechnology. ISO is introducing most of the new classifications with accompanying estimated loss potentials. Read more

This document provides a snapshot of information on current/planned activities related to the safety of manufactured nanomaterials in OECD member countries and other delegations that attended the 8th meeting of OECD’s Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (Paris France, 16-18 March 2011). There are also written reports on current activities from other International Organisations such as the ISO, the FAO and the WHO. Read more

For those who might like a small primer on the topic, the EU believed it necessary to define what nanotechnology is before developing regulations for it and it all seemed to make sense until the process got stuck in the mud on the issue of “how much” or “how many” nanoparticles. Read more

In December 2009 the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) published an opinion advising against use of nanosilver in food and everyday products.  Industry and other groups, including the Silver Nanotechnology Working Group (SNWG), repeatedly requested BfR to reconsider this extreme position and BfR subsequently organized a workshop ostensibly to consider alternative views on nanosilver.  Despite BfR assurances that follow-up dialogue would occur after the workshop, BfR subsequently issued a press release re-stating the original position of the initial opinion. This re-stating of the original opinion essentially ignores the facts presented to BfR during the workshop. Read to comments

On May 3rd and 4th, representatives of ministries, agencies, industry, science and civil organisations from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein met in Berlin at the invitation of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety to discuss current developments in the governance of nanotechnologies. The main topics discussed at the 5th International Nano Authorities Dialogue were the results of the NanoKommission Germany 2009-2011 as well as ongoing national and international developments in regulation, registration and information transfer regarding nanomaterials of those countries participating in the Dialogue. The Authorities Dialogue has been organised by the Innovation Society, St.Gallen, since 2008 in cooperation with the German-speaking authorities and ministries in the area of health and the environment.  Read more

Among the scores of researchers hustling to study the impact of nanotechnology on people, animals and the environment, a debate is growing: How much of the super-small stuff should they use to test for safety? Read the entire article

Report of a 2-day workshop organised in April 2010 by the IHCP Nanobiosciences Unit (overview of various aspects of hazard, exposure and risk assessment of nanomaterials).  Read the report

The European Food Safety Authority has today published a guidance document for the risk assessment of engineered nanomaterial (ENM) applications in food and feed. The guidance is the work of the Authority’s Scientific Committee and is the first of its kind to give practical guidance for addressing potential risks arising from applications of nanoscience and nanotechnologies in the food and feed chain. The guidance covers risk assessments for food and feed applications including food additives, enzymes, flavourings, food contact materials, novel foods, feed additives and pesticides. Read the full article

Categorising nano-based materials into hazard bands is the core of a new risk assessment technique put forward by French authorities as regulatory bodies continue to explore ways to manage possible threats from the ground-breaking technology. Read the full article

The Nanodermatology Society ("NDA" or "the society"), an organization of doctors, scientists, and researchers, was founded with the mission to "promote a greater understanding of the scientific and medical aspects of nanotechnology in skin health and disease." The society recently addressed concerns about the use of nano materials to formulate nanoparticulate titanium dioxide and zinc for use in sunscreen. These ingredients are already common ingredients in sunscreens in their traditional forms. Upon a rigorous review of scientific literature and the latest safety data, the NDS reported in a position statement that the use of these nano materials in sunscreen was safe. The statement noted that "[s]tudies of newer sunscreens [formulated with nanoparticles] show that they are either coated to minimize reactivity, clump in aggregates, or do not penetrate the skin." Other organizations have claimed that nano-based sunscreens are unsafe. NDS hopes that its position statement "[a]s the first of its kind to be released by a scientific society" will encourage more research in the nanotechnology arena. Full Article

The EPA has issued a new multi-walled carbon nanotube significant new use rule in the federal register. It applies only to the specific carbon nanotubes that were the subject of PMN P-08-199, and binds anyone who intends to manufacture, import, or process the specific chemical substance. It is largely consistent with past SNURs and Consent Orders for other CNTs. For those wondering, "processors" and "processing" is broadly defined under TSCA. It has been used in the past to include repackaging for commercial purposes, using the material in the manufacturing of new mixtures, and/or the production of articles using the substance. Full article

The Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment (PRHE) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is part of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Services located in UCSF’s School of Medicine. PRHE just published its "Recommendations for Addressing Potential Health Risks from Nanomaterials in California” which was commissioned by California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHA). The document is designed to provide the State with an overview of nanotechnology materials and their potential exposures and human health risks, and proposes a selection of policy options for addressing potential hazards and risks from nanotechnology. Full article

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has published a report of consumers' views on the use of nanotechnology in food and food packaging. The focus group research, which asked participants about their views on nanotechnology in late 2010 and early 2011, was carried out as part of the FSA's programme of work on nanotechnology.

In its opinion on toxicity aspects of nano silver, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) had recommended to waive the use of nano silver in foods and articles of daily use until the data situation allows for a final assessment of the health risks. Mainly industry objected to this assessment by BfR that enough data were available for the evaluation of the health risks of nano silver in consumer products and foods. For that reason BfR had invited experts from research and science as well as representatives of associations and industry to a workshop in order to discuss existing risks and possible options for a comprehensive consumer protection. "The discussion confirmed the words of caution of BfR", said BfR President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel, "because the situation continues to be characterised by the fact that not enough secured scientific findings about the specific effects of nano-sized silver particles are available."

Although more research is needed to solidify the environmental and occupational risks, the Nanodermatology Society believes that nano-based sunscreens do not pose serious health risks to consumers and agrees with regulatory agencies like the Environmental Working Group, which states: “Zinc and titanium-based formulations are among the safest, most effective, sunscreens on the market”. Read the 2011 Nanodermatology Society Position Statement on Sunscreens.

Scientists from the Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (IHCP) of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) performed basic risk assessments for four types of nanomaterials: fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, nano-silver and metal-oxides (nano-titanium dioxide and nano-zinc oxide) following the methodology described in the REACH guidance.

Engineered nanomaterials present regulators with a conundrum – there is a gut feeling that these materials present a new regulatory challenge, yet the nature and resolution of this challenge remains elusive. But as the debate over the regulation of nanomaterials continues, there are worrying signs that discussions are being driven less by the science of how these materials might cause harm, and more by the politics of confusion and uncertainty. Read the entire article by Andrew Maynard on the Risk Science Blog.

The paper examines the progress made in nanotechnology development since 2000, achievements at ten years, and opportunities in research, education, innovation and societal outcomes by 2020 worldwide.

The NanoSafety Consortium for Carbon just submitted a proposed toxicity testing agreement to EPA under Section 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act covering a range of nanoscale materials including multi-walled carbon nanotubes, double-walled carbon nanotubes, single-walled carbon nanotubes, and graphene. For additional information click here.

Workers in all countries face new risks from manufacturing applications of rapidly advancing new technologies based on nanometer-scale atomic structures known as nanomaterials. For additional information click here.

A new study finds that the general public thinks getting a suntan poses a greater public health risk than nanotechnology or other nanoparticle applications. The study, from North Carolina State University, compared survey respondents’ perceived risk of nanoparticles with 23 other public-health risks. For additional information click here.

In an announcement by Porter Wright earlier today, the NanoSafety Consortium for Carbon just submitted a proposed toxicity testing agreement to EPA under Section 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act covering a range of nanoscale materials including multi-walled carbon nanotubes, double-walled carbon nanotubes, single-walled carbon nanotubes, and graphene.

Queen’s researchers have discovered that nanoparticles, which are now present in everything from socks to salad dressing and suntan lotion, may have irreparably damaging effects on soil systems and the environment.

The European Commission's hesitance to define nanotechnology underscores diverging opinions among stakeholders and is causing uncertainty in the sector, it emerged this week. Read more about the difficulty in establishing regulatory definitions here.

California's Green Ribbon Science Panel is reconvening to see what can be done to revive implementation of the Green Chemistry Initiative.

Following a request from the European Commission the Scientific Committee was asked to deliver guidance on risk assessment concerning potential risks arising from applications of nanoscience and nanotechnologies to food, feed and pesticides.

Guidance on risk assessment concerning potential risks arising from applications of nanoscience and nanotechnologies to food and feed

ISO 10808:2010 specifies requirements for, and gives guidance on, the characterization of airborne nanoparticles in inhalation exposure chambers for the purpose of inhalation toxicity studies in terms of particle mass, size distribution, number concentration and composition.

Characterization of nanoparticles in inhalation exposure chambers for inhalation toxicity testing

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $5.5 million to three consortia to support innovative research on nanotechnology. EPA, in collaboration with the United Kingdom’s Natural Environment Research Council, are leading this scientific research effort to better understand the potential risks to people’s heath and the environment. The scientific information developed from the research can help guide EPA and other agencies in decisions about the safety of new materials and products that are made using nanotechnology.

The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO), on behalf of the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology (NSET) Subcommittee of the Committee on Technology, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), will hold a workshop on March 10-11, 2011, to provide an open forum and engage in an active scientific discussion about environmental health and safety questions for nanomaterials and nanotechnology-enabled products, to encourage joint US-EU programs of work that would leverage resources, and to establish communities of research practice, including identification of key points of contact/interest groups/themes between key US and EU researchers for near-term and future collaborations.

Announcement

Workshop Agenda

Nanotechnology presents the insurance and risk management industries with significant challenges and opportunities. Read more>>>

Despite rumors to the effect that nanomaterials will be exempt under proposed Green Chemistry regulations, nanomaterials will still be regulated as any other chemical substance.

The original draft regulations from the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) would have created a definition of nanomaterials that engulfed virtually every bulk powder in existence. DTSC officials quickly realized that calling any substance as large as 1,000 nanometers (1 micron) a nanomaterial would create an incredible burden by classifying all of those substances as ‘chemicals of concern’. In addition, the agency attempted to include a term ‘nanoscale phenomena’ to capture any substance, regardless of size, that exhibits properties different at the nanoscale from its bulk counterpart. Unfortunately, the agency was unable to craft a definition of nanomaterials that would allow a regulatory framework to appropriately identify intentionally manufactured nanomaterials in a way that differentiates them from bulk materials with a measurable nanoscale component.

At the same time, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) attempted creation of a new nanomaterial hazard trait which essentially would have declared all nanomaterials to be hazardous. The size of a nanomaterial, correctly identified as being in the nanoscale, can be considered a physical trait of a substance but there is no scientific evidence to date indicating that all substances at the nanoscale are hazardous. Hazard traits are properties of chemicals that fall into broad categories of toxicity, adverse environmental effects, physical hazards, or exposure potential characteristics. It’s appropriate to be concerned about specific physical hazards such as explosivity, flammability, oxidization, self-reactivity and radioactivity. The term nanomaterial is not consistent with the others as this term effectively describes a physical property which is not a hazard. Since size can contribute to hazard it may be appropriate to include size as a consideration in evaluating other listed hazards.

In the most recent drafts of proposed regulations from DTSC and OEHHA the nano-specific language was removed clearing the way for nanomaterials to be evaluated and regulated as traditional chemical substances.

Always on the edge of occupational safety, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has established an occupational exposure level for carbon nanotubes.

The Current Intelligence Bulletin, Occupational Exposure to Carbon Nanotubes and Nanofibers, was released solely for peer-review and comment and does not establish any agency determination or policy. Noting that “while there are no scientific reports of ‘adverse health effects in workers producing or using carbon nanotubes…or carbon nanofibers’”, NIOSH also expressed concern over the potential for worker exposure.

NIOSH's carbon nanotube recommended exposure limit (CNT REL) is set at 7 μg/m3 for these preliminary purposes. NIOSH explained the benchmark by indicating the “REL is based on the available subchronic and short-term animal dose-response data of early-stage fibrotic and inflammatory lung re-sponse to CNT exposure. Benchmark dose (BMD) estimates from the animal data (and the 95% lower confidence limit estimates of the BMD) have been extrapolated to humans by accounting for species differences in alveolar lung surface area. Working lifetime exposure concentration have been calculated based on estimates of either the deposited or retained alveolar lung dose of CNT assuming an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) work shift exposure during a 40-hour work week, 50 weeks per year, for 45 years.”

Hazard communication is important aspect of handling any chemical substance and until now there's been little to guide manufacturers in preparation of safety data sheets for nanomaterials.

The guidelines, Safety data sheet (SDS): Guidelines for synthetic nanomaterials, were published by the Switzerland State Secretary for Economic Affairs (SECO) in December 2010. The guidelines were developed to: demonstrate which information is necessary to ensure the safe handling of nano-objects and products which contain nano-objects; offer assistance on how the relevant information can be identified and in which form in which place they are to be listed in the SDS; and contribute to making employees of companies which produce or process synthetic nano-object aware of the particular properties of these materials.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving forward with a series of new rules and reporting requirements for nanoscale materials.

In late December the EPA published its regulatory agenda with several notices concerning nanoscale materials. In addition, several regulatory officials have been making the rounds with industry groups providing additional information about several actions the agency intends to take in 2011.

The actions range from broad reporting requirements for certain nanoscale materials to Test Rules for specific substances. One of the actions included is a Test Rule under Section 4(a) of TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act) to require manufacturers and processors of multi-wall carbon nanotubes and certain clays including halloysite, bentonite, and montmorillonite to develop test data for health effects, ecological effects, environmental fate data, and characterization data. That rule is expected to be proposed in April 2011.

Under section 8(a) the EPA is planning a broad reporting requirement for nanomaterials of particular interest for information that would include production volumes, methods of manufacture and processing, exposure release information, and available health and safety data. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) is expected in February 2011.

Under Section 5, the Agency will issue a Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) to require manufacturers and importers to submit notices at least 90 days before producing any new nanomaterial. The NPRM for the SNUR is expected to be issued in February 2011.

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) isn't resting on its laurels when it comes to collecting information on nanoscale materials.

Like last year's data call in for carbon nano tubes, the agency transmitted a letter to 40 companies and academic institutions seeking information on nano silver, nano zero valent iron, nano cerium oxide, nano titanium dioxide, nano zinc oxide, and quantum dots. According to the letter sent by Jeffrey Wong, DTSC Chief Scientist, the agency is “specifically interested in information related to analytical test methods for these chemicals in environmental matrices, including water, air, soil, sediment, sludge, and chemical waste.’

Recipients of the letter are required to provide information in writing to DTSC no later than Wednesday, December 21, 2011.

Citing the complexity and demands of AB 1879, the California Environmental Protection Agency is asking the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to take a second look at the proposed regulations.

Linda Adams, Secretary for Environmental Protection, transmitted a letter to Assembly Member Mike Feuer informing him of the delay. “I have asked DTSC and its regulation development team to reconvene the Green Ribbon Science Panel early next year to further vet the programmatic issues that have been brought to our attention via the public comment process. This additional time and expertise will help ensure that the vision behind this component of the Green Chemistry Initiative and implementing statute AB 1879, is fully realized” said Ms. Adams.

Ms. Adams indicated that a wide range of stakeholders, including those from industry, environmental groups, scientists, and legislative leaders, “have raised substantive and valid concerns about the most recent draft of the regulations.” The regulations were roundly criticized by industry for a proposed definition of nanomaterials and the establishment of a nanomaterial hazard trait.

The Green Ribbon Science Panel is made up of experts who provide advice on scientific matters, chemical policy recommendations and implementation strategies. Meetings of the Panel are scheduled as needed but generally meet at least two times each year. No indication was given for when the Panel will convene.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Pesticide Programs has another petition to investigate a nanoscale pesticide.

The International Center for Technology Assessment (ICTA) petitioned the EPA to examine three registration applications submitted by Osmose, Inc. for micronized copper carbonate. Micronized materials are often below 1 micron (1,000 nm) and can be smaller than 100 nm which would be considered nanoscale.

The petition by ICTA is the second involving nanoscale pesticides. The first petition on nanosilver in 2008 led to formation of an advisory panel and a public meeting on safety issues related to nanosilver but the EPA has yet to take any action on the petition. ICTA cited studies which indicate that nanoscale copper may be more toxic than its bulk counterpart and the organization is asking the EPA to review all other forms of nanoscale copper in addition to those used by Osmose.

In the meantime, however, the EPA has taken a position that all nanoscale materials in pesticides are considered to be ‘new’ and must undergo a full review even if they have been previously approved. The Office of Management and Budget is still considered the Agency’s revised guidance on pesticide products containing nanoscale materials but has not yet completed its assessment of the revised policy.

A new report by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) categorizes the various nanotechnology voluntary programs and analyzes three different types for their role in oversight.

The report, Voluntary Initiatives, Regulation, and Nanotechnology Oversight: Charting a Path, examines voluntary initiatives which represent three specific types of programs; 1) Government agencies sponsor an initiative and invite others to participate; 2) Business firms organize to achieve an environmental goal or to improve their practices and performance; and 3) Business firms create partnerships with non-government organizations. The specific initiatives identified to represent these types of programs include EDF and DuPont’s Nano Risk Framework, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program, and the Responsible Nano Code, a multi-party collaboration.

The definition of nanomaterial has been a hot topic globally and at least one European scientific committee thinks the current definition is too restrictive on size when evaluating the safety of nanomaterials.

The Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) was asked to provide an opinion on “the essential scientific elements of an overarching working definition for the term ‘nanomaterial’ for regulatory purposes.” In the recently released final opinion, SCENIHR rejected the commonly-accepted nanomaterial definition of 1 to 100 nm indicating that “There is no scientific justification for a single upper and lower size limit…that can be applied to adequately define all nanomaterials; There is scientific evidence that no single methodology (or group of tests) can be applied to all nanomaterials; and Size is universally applicable to define all nanomaterials and is the most suitable measurand [sic].” The recommendations went on to indicate that “an understanding of the size distribution of a nanomaterial is essential and the number size distribution is the most relevant consideration.”

The opinion recommends a tiered regulatory structure which considers all materials as large as 1,000 nm and suggests consideration of other factors such as size distribution (Using the number size distribution, materials might be defined as being a nanomaterial when more than 0.15% of the material has a size below 100 nm). The opinion also acknowledges the challenge of such a regulatory definition for the some industries and it suggests that “appropriate adaptations might be necessary within a regulatory context dealing with areas such as food/feed and pharmaceuticals.”

An interesting change has taken place in Australia. If we are to take the information at face value, it would appear that more nanomaterials were produced in the country in 2006 than in 2008.

In 2006 the National Industrial Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) asked for a voluntary submission of information from nanomaterial producers on the types of nanomaterials produced, their volumes and their uses. Two years later a second call for information was issued to assess changes in the original submitted data and to determine the extent of health and safety data held by nanomaterial producers.

In the 2006 effort 22 companies reported on 21 different types of nanomaterials while the 2008 call for information resulted in only 7 responses on 6 nanomaterials. All six of the reported nanomaterials were used in commercial applications that have a bulk conventional form. Despite acknowledging limitations to the latest call for information, NICNAS indicates the call-in is still useful in identifying nanomaterials of interest for further scientific assessment.

Read the NICNAS Information Sheet for details.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has released a Current Intelligence Bulletin (CIB) regarding the occupational safety of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with sound advice for employers working with them.

The CIB, Occupational Exposure to Carbon Nanotubes and Nanofibers, recommends minimizing exposures until additional safety data can be developed. The draft document summarizes the adverse respiratory health effects that have been observed in laboratory animal studies with single-walled carbon nanotubes, multi-walled carbon nanotubes and nanofibers and provides recommendations for the safe handling of these materials.

NIOSH will hold a public meeting on February 3, 2011 in Cincinnati, Ohio to discuss and obtain comments on the draft document.

In a continuing effort to get stakeholder input on an environmental, health and safety (EHS) research strategy, the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) has made its latest draft strategy available for public comment.

The draft NNI EHS research strategy “includes a scientific framework that incorporates the research needed to assess the environmental, health and safety of nanomaterials” according to the portal web site. Developed with input from stakeholders through a series of public meetings, additional comments may be provided through January 6, 2011.

The current draft replaces the NNI EHS Strategy of February 2008. Both documents focus on five key elements that shape EHS research: (1) Nanomaterial Measurement Infrastructure; (2) Human Exposure Assessment; (3) Human Health; (4) the Environment; and (5) Risk Assessment and Management Methods. The strategy evaluates the state of the science for each of these topics and includes an analysis of the FY 2009 Federal EHS research portfolio.