New Edition of Nanotechnology Law Report

Here is the Summer 2009 edition of Nanotechnology Law Report.  The newsletter contains the below-listed articles (and more):

  • EPA Issues Significant New Use Rules for Carbon Nanotubes
  • Are Nanoparticles Released by Cutting or Compounding Nano-Composites?
  • Annual Nano TiO2 Production Estimated at 44,000 Metric Tons
  • Are Nano Consumer Products Headed Underground?
  • Oversight of Next Generation Nanotechnology
  • Regulating Nanotechnologies
  • More Interesting Nano-Regulatory Developments
  • Nano Tug of War
  • Pumpkins & Nanoparticles
  • Green Nano
  • NanoBiotech 2009
  • Take two silver nanoparticles and call me in the morning
  • International Approaches to the Regulatory Governance of Nanotechnology
  • ETUC Resolution on Nanotechnologies and Nanomaterials
  • Private Spending on Nano Exceeds Government Spending
  • EMERGNANO Released

EMERGNANO Released

Yesterday, Safenano and Defra, UK Government Department for Food & Rural Affairs, released EMERGNANO, the first global review of environmental, health, and safety studies examining the risks of nanotechnology exposure (essentially a study of the ongoing studies).  The review examined more than 250, from approximately 670, studies in the context of the 18 Research Objectives defined by the UK's Nanotechnology Research Coordination Group.  The project's goal was to conduct "a detailed review and analysis of research carried out worldwide on Environment, Health and Safety aspects of engineered nanoparticles, including issues relating to hazard, exposure and risk assessment and regulation, and made an assessment of how far 18 of the [Research Objectives] have been met and which gaps still remain to be filled."

Providing comprehensive reviews and analyses of EHS research to determine exposure risks is another important step in determining the potential risks of engineered nanomaterials.  This review is also likely to help fame future research studies in terms of effectiveness and need.

The full EMERGNANO report is available here.  In addition, a condensed version is also available as well as commentary by EMERGNANO authors.