Published: December 08, 2005
U.S. Environment Agency Issues Draft Road Map for Nanotechnology
Final paper on risks, benefits of nanotech scheduled to be issued in 2006
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a draft nanotechnology report December 7 identifying critical questions that must be addressed to reap the environmental, health and economic benefits of nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology is the science of creating or modifying materials at the atomic and molecular level to develop new or enhanced materials and products. Nanotechnology involves a range of materials and industry sectors.
More than 700 nanotechnology products are already on the market, according to a survey by Small Times, a media company that specializes in nanotechnology, but research into the full lifecycle of nanotechnology products - including their effects on the environment and on human health - is in the early stages.
The EPA draft paper presents anticipated benefits and proposed management of potential negative impacts of nanotechnology.
In a December 7 press release, EPA said it will accept public comments on the draft white paper until January 9, 2006, then provide the comments to external reviewers. EPA plans to issue a final white paper in early 2006, after the expert review is completed.
The draft paper identifies data gaps that need to be filled and research EPA will need to conduct to fully grasp the applications and implications of nanotechnology. Research results would be used to create regulatory safeguards for nanotechnology, according to the agency.
The draft paper also details the latest nanotechnologies and potential environmental benefits, outlines risk management issues and EPA statutory mandates, and recommends next steps for addressing science policy issues and research needs.
The draft white paper is available on the EPA Web site.
Text of the EPA press release follows:
Environmental Protection Agency
[Washington, D.C.]
Press release, December 7, 2005
EPA Nanotechnology Draft White Paper
EPA has issued the Draft Nanotechnology White Paper, a road map that identifies critical questions that must be addressed in order for the United States to reap the potential environmental and economic benefits of nanotechnology. Along with presenting the anticipated benefits of nanotechnology, the paper also deals with risk management of possible negative impacts of the new technologies. EPA will accept public comments on the draft white paper until Jan. 9, 2006, and then provide those comments to external reviewers for their consideration.
Nanotechnology is the science of creating or modifying materials at the atomic and molecular level to develop new or enhanced materials and products. In December 2004, EPA's Science Policy Council created a cross-agency work group to identify and describe the issues EPA must consider to ensure protection of human health and the environment as this new technology is developed. The draft white paper on nanotechnology is the product of the work group.
The white paper identifies data gaps that need to be filled and the research that EPA will conduct to fully grasp the applications and the implications of nanotech. Those research results will inform the appropriate regulatory safeguards for nanotechnology. The latest nanotechnology and potential environmental benefits of nanotechnology are detailed. Risk management issues and the agency's statutory mandates are outlined, following an extensive discussion of risk assessment issues. The white paper concludes with recommendations on next steps for addressing science policy issues and research needs.
Following the expert review, EPA will issue a final white paper on nanotechnology in early 2006. To obtain additional information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/osa/nanotech.htm
Source: U.S. Department of State
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