Nanotechnology – emerging environmental, risk and ethical issues
As part of a technology forecasting on nanotechnology, 2.-0 LCA consultants were asked to prepare a background paper outlining the state-of-the-art of environmental, risk and ethical aspects of nanotechnology.
Although nanotechnology is still at an early stage in its development, there are already products on the market that have been produced by using nanotechnology; e.g. sunscreens, catalysts, hard discs, and paints.
The challenge for an environmental assessment is that conventional knowledge on chemical, physical and biological effects on human beings and the environment is not necessarily useful when operating at the nanoscale. Research on health effects and environmental effects is therefore in high demand both at national and international level.
A project of The Danish Board of Technology seeks to assess whether nanotechnology can be handled within the existing framework of regulation. Furthermore, the project will discuss and give recommendations to how risk assessment of nanotechnology can be systematized. The three main questions for the project to answer are:
- How is research and development of nanotechnology regulated at the moment?
- Can regulation of nano-particles and products be executed within the current law?
- How can risk assessment of nanotechnology be systematized?
Kim Christiansen from 2.-0 LCA consultants is secretary to the working group. The project has been launched in October 2005 and is expected to be finished in June 2006.
Publications
- K Christiansen (2004) · Background paper on environmental and risk aspects of nanotechnology. Copenhagen: Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Project site of The Danish Board of Technology.