The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars' Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN) recently published a short pamphlet intended to steer "nano firms" down the path towards commercial prosperity.
D. Lekas, "How to Reduce Your Firm's Risk and Increase Revenues Related to Nanotechnology," Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, PEN Brief No. 4, April 2008.
PEN's "8 Step Program for Small Firms" is: 1. focus on the bottom line; 2. become or develop a champion within your firm; 3. incorporate life cycle thinking and operations and product development; 4. seek information and assistance on EHS implementation; 5. follow best practices for worker health and safety precautions; 6. prepare for potential nano-specific regulations; 7. increase educational efforts; and 8. seek continued improvement.
The new pamphlet is somewhat superficial and lacks the detail provided in PEN's numerous regulatory papers. Additionally, regular readers will note that steps 3-6 in particular have been advocated by PEN in one form or another since its inception. However, two of our friends received nice plugs under step 6 where PEN suggests that "[t]o keep up with the latest developments, firms may wish to subscribe to various listservs, including . . . www.nanoregnews.com . . . [and] . . . www.smalltimes.com."
Mark your calendar for the one-day conference “NanoBiotech 2008” set for September 15, 2008 which is being co-sponsored by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY) and Bawa Biotechnology Consulting LLC (Ashburn, VA). This is the fifth in a series of international conferences they have conducted dating back to 2003 on the converging areas of nanotechnology and biotechnology.
From the conference's website: "The conference will feature 20+ speakers, including 2 keynotes and a networking luncheon. All presentations (20-30 minute Power Points) will be fast-paced, focused and will rely upon extensive color graphics and animations to reach the diverse audience. Raffle drawings will be held throughout the day."
You can find the agenda from last year's highly recommended conference here.
This Article Was Authored and Contributed by the American National Standards Intititute
As the nanotechnology industry evolves, the need for globally relevant standards – from particle properties and terminology to health, safety, and the environment – is becoming increasingly apparent. This article, the first in a series, introduces how the U.S. is influencing nano-related standards on the international scene.
Continue Reading...A February 2008 study published by six Stanford scientists examined the long term fate of intravenously injected carbon nanotubes in mice. The scientists' goal was to measure the circulation of SWCNTs in the bloodstream and to determine whether they accumulate in organs and/or tissues. At the same time, the scientists also studied the effects of functionalizing SWCNTs with polymers. They found that functionalizing the SWCNTs with polyethyleneglycol enabled full blood circulation in 1 day, yet there was little uptake by the liver and spleen. Additionally, near complete clearance from main organs occurred in about two months through the excretion of urine and feces. No toxic side effects were observed. The authors further found that the SWCNTs became more biologically inert as they increased the number of functionalized polymer branches.
The scientists concluded that this and other studies "provide a strong indication of the lack of toxicity of well functionalized SWNTs in mice before clearance from the body. In contrast to a previous study of nonfunctionalized pristine carbon nanotubes causing fiber toxicity to mice, our well functionalized SWNTs are highly biocompatible for in vivo applications."
Z. Liu, et al., "Circulation and long-term fate of functionalized, biocompatible single-walled carbon nanotubes in mice probed by Roman spectroscopy," PNAS, Vol. 105, No. 5 at 1410-1415 (February 5, 2008).
There have been a number of articles published since May 20 regarding a possible link between carbon nanotubes and the development of precursors of mesothelioma because of a recent letter published in Nature Nanotechnology.
C. Poland, et al., "Carbon nanotubes introduced into the abdominal cavity of mice show asbestos-like pathology in a pilot study," Nature Nanotechnology, May 20, 2008.
As we previously reported here, Rice University's International Council on Nanotechnology is starting a "Nano Good Practices Wiki." Well, its moving along nicely, and they are now calling on occupational health experts and stakeholders to help start the building process.
For information on the wiki and to participate in the survey process, go to ICON's website here and suggest away! ICON would like to have the wiki up and running by the end of the year.
The acting Secretary of Acquisition, Technology and Logistics for the Department of Defense recently circulated an internal DoD memorandum reminding military science and technology managers, acquisition program managers, and EHS professionals about the possible EHS risks accompanying the use of some nanoscale materials in certain settings. Although the Secretary acknowledged that insufficient science exists to draw any broad conclusions about nano-related EHS issues, he advised recipients to "exercise due diligence" when working with or acquiring nanoscale materials. The memorandum also directs recipients to support EHS "research to close information gaps in developmental efforts using nanomaterials," and to ensure that EHS "hazards are identified and the associated risks managed pursuant" to existing military standards and DoD policy requirements. Finally, recipients were also directed to "maintain current knowledge of [the EHS] risks for engineered nanomaterials" and follow relevant standard military risk management options when using nanoscale materials. Source: Inside Defense Newsstand.
Nine researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara conducted an international survey of nanomaterial firms and laboratories concerning their nano-related workplace practices.
J. Conti, et al., "Health and Safety Practices in the Nanomaterials Workplace: Results from an International Survey," Environmental Science & Technology, XXXX, xxx, 000-000.
The study was conducted by telephone and internet from June through December of 2006. Of the 357 total international invitees, 25 North American Companies elected to participate. The most pertinent survey results for the North American participants (only) follow:
Nano-specific workplace training: 88% of North American respondents provide some type of formal nano-specific EHS training for workers. Engineering controls: Only 4% of North American respondents use no engineering controls to limited possible workplace exposure to nanoscale materials, while 16% use fume hoods, and 80% use fume hoods plus some additional type of additional engineering controls. Personal protective equipment: 80% of North American respondents require the use of PPE in the nano-workplace, 8% recommend its use, and only 12% make no PPE recommendations to workers. Gloves: 88% of North American respondents require or recommend that workers wear safety gloves when handling nanoscale materials. Respirators: 44% North American respondents require workers to use respirators when handling nanoscale materials in the workplace, 12% require the use of both respirators and dust masks, 4% require the use of dust masks only, while 40% do not require the use of respirators or dust masks at all. Eye protection: 88% of North American respondents recommend the use of eye protection to their workers using nanoscale materials, only 12% make no recommendation. Monitoring: 56% of North American respondents monitor the workplace for ambient nanoparticles, while 44% do not. Disposal: 78.3% of North American respondents dispose of nanowastes as hazardous materials, while 21% do not.
As a nonscientist lawyer (and a non-pollster), the statistics regarding respirator/dust mask use and workplace air monitoring are most intriguing. It would be interesting to learn whether the entities that reported not using respirators/dust masks are the same or different from those which reported not monitoring ambient nanoparticles -- and more importantly, whether either group is actually using some form of respirable nanoscale materials in the workplace. (The Society for Risk Analysis defines "respirable particle" as "particle of the size (<5.0 µm) most likely to be deposited in the pulmonary portion of the respiratory tract.)
The Washington Post recently published the article "Safety Studies on Nanoparticles Lag Behind Technology." The article focuses on the apparent time lag between the use of certain nanoscale materials in consumer products and the publication of research regarding the potential EHS implications of possible human and environmental exposure to same.
The article takes aim at nanoscale silver's possible harmful effects on wasterwater treatment facilities, fish and algae in waterways, and the use of sewage sludge containing nanoscale silver as fertilizer. Also receiving attention are the use of nanoscale metal oxides in sunscreens and the use of nanoscale iron particles in ground water remediation.
While the article draws no conclusions and advocates paying closer attention to these issues, it could have benefited from at least a quick look at some of the most recent studies in some of these areas. For example, researchers at Purdue University -- which was interviewed for the article -- recently published a study assuaging some of the initial fears surrounding the potential impact of fullerenes on anaerobic waste-water treatment sludge. Readers would no doubt be interested.
Regarding the time lag between nano-products and data, we are publishing an article in the next edition of Risk Analysis (a Journal of the Society for Risk Analysis) focusing on this issue. We will be sure and post a link to the article here when it hits the press: "Nano Risk Governance: Current Developments and Future Perspectives," Igor Linkov, F. Kyle Satterstrom, John C. Monica, Jr., Steffen Foss Hansen, and Thomas A. Davis.
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