The National Nanomanufacuring Network (NNN) at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst just published its October newsletter which you can find here. There is a nice article by Barbara Beck and Chris Long from Gradient regarding the recent Song nanoparticle study from China which was my first contributing editor piece for NNN's InterNano. Please read the newsletter and follow NNN's valuable work.
Earlier today, the Guardian printed a letter from the Soil Association criticizing the paper's nanotechnology supplement appearing last Thursday. The letter cites the Song study from China as more evidence supporting its call for a moratorium on nanoscale materials along with "nano-free" standards, which we have previously covered. Key statements from the letter follow:
"Seven women working in a factory [in China] where nanoparticles were used in paint fell ill with serious lung disease and two died. Researchers . . . found nanoparticles deep in the lungs of the women . . . A chemical in the paint, the patients' lung tissue and the liquid surrounding the lungs were all found to contain nanoparticles."
"There should be an immediate freeze on the commercial release of nanomaterials until there is a sound body of scientific research into all the health impacts."
The letter does not attempt to explain any of the severe criticism the Song article has received by most main stream scientists, and is a good example of bad science put to a questionable use.
Nanowerk is reporting that the International Standards Organization (ISO) completed its first step in developing standards for nanotechnology regulation. The definitions are revealed in ISO/TS 27687:2008, Nanotechnologies – Terminology.
The three main materials covered by this first set of definitions and terminology are:
ISO expects this release to be the first of a series of standards for definitions and terms related to the nanotechnology sector.
Because ISO sells the standards it releases (56 CHF (Swiss Francs), about 51USD), publishing the definitions and other portions of the release would be inappropriate here. However, it is encouraging to see the first results of ISO's three year (and counting) effort to establish standards for the sector. As we've opined before, meaningful regulation cannot occur without a standardized set of definitions and language. However, the release of additional definitions now begins to raise the next question/problem: resolving the competing standards in an effort to have standardization in the sector in order to provide certainty when regulation begins.
At today’s session of the International Conference on Nanotechnology Occupational & Environmental Health & Safety in Cincinnati, Ohio, Altairnano President and CEO -- Alan Gotcher -- and Health Safety and Environment Facilitator -- Tabitha Maher -- both gave presentations regarding Altairnano’s environmental, health, and safety (EHS) efforts centered around the company’s use of nanomaterials.
Altairnano is an 80 employee company with facilities in Reno, Nevada, and Anderson, Indiana. The company uses conglomerates of sphere-shaped metal oxide nanoparticles in the production of its products aimed a four (4) markets: power systems; pigments; drug campaigns; and performance materials.The draft agenda for Council's December 5 meeting includes, as "new business," a first reading of an ordinance entitled "Manufactured Nanoparticle Health and Safety Disclosure." This ordinance is an amendment to Berkeley Municipal Code Sections 15.12.040 and 15.12.050, addressing disclosure requirements for hazardous materials and waste management. Those immediately impacted include the University of California-Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, both of which conduct nanotechnology research within Berkeley City Limits. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the amendment is being urged by the Community Environmental Advisory Committee "because so little is understood about the possible impact of the materials on human health."
The draft ordinance is also asking that letters be sent to elected officials asking them to earmark a percentage of funds included in the National Nanotechnology Initiative's annual budget for health and safety research.
Updates on the progress of this ordinance will be posted as they become available.
Enter keywords:
