Thursday, March 10, 2011

[IWS] CRS: NANOTECHNOLOGY & ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, & SAFETY: ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION [20 January 2011]

IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies----------------- Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations-------- Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor----------------------
Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 -------------------------------Director, IWS News Bureau
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Congressional Research Service (CRS)

 

Nanotechnology and Environmental, Health, and Safety: Issues for Consideration

John F. Sargent Jr., Specialist in Science and Technology Policy

January 20, 2011

http://www.opencrs.com/document/RL34614/2011-01-20/download/1005/

[full-text, 40 pages]

 

Summary

Nanotechnology—a term encompassing nanoscale science, engineering, and technology—is

focused on understanding, controlling, and exploiting the unique properties of matter that can

emerge at scales of one to 100 nanometers. A key issue before Congress regarding

nanotechnology is how best to protect human health, safety, and the environment as nanoscale

materials and products are researched, developed, manufactured, used, and discarded. While the

rapidly emerging field of nanotechnology is believed by many to offer significant economic and

societal benefits, some research results have raised concerns about the potential adverse

environmental, health, and safety (EHS) implications of nanoscale materials.

 

Some have described nanotechnology as a two-edged sword. On the one hand, some are

concerned that nanoscale particles may enter and accumulate in vital organs, such as the lungs

and brains, potentially causing harm or death to humans and animals, and that the diffusion of

nanoscale particles in the environment might harm ecosystems. On the other hand, some believe

that nanotechnology has the potential to deliver important EHS benefits such as reducing energy

consumption, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions; remediating environmental damage;

curing, managing, or preventing diseases; and offering new safety-enhancing materials that are

stronger, self-repairing, and able to adapt to provide protection.

 

Stakeholders generally agree that concerns about potential detrimental effects of nanoscale

materials and devices—both real and perceived—must be addressed to protect and improve

human health, safety, and the environment; enable accurate and efficient risk assessment, risk

management, and cost-benefit trade-offs; foster innovation and public confidence; and ensure that

society can enjoy the widespread economic and societal benefits that nanotechnology may offer.

Congressionally-mandated reviews of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) by the

National Research Council and the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology

have concluded that additional research is required to make a rigorous risk assessment of

nanoscale materials.

 

Contents

Introduction ...............................................................................................................................1

Opportunities and Challenges......................................................................................................3

Importance of Addressing EHS Issues .........................................................................................7

Selected Issues for Consideration ..............................................................................................10

Federal Investment in EHS Research...................................................................................10

Current Funding Level ..................................................................................................10

Alternative Approaches .................................................................................................14

Management of Federal EHS Research..........................................................................16

Federal Regulation..............................................................................................................24

International Engagement....................................................................................................27

Concluding Observations ..........................................................................................................29

Nanotechnology EHS-Related Legislation in the 111th Congress................................................30

Title I, Subtitle A, H.R. 5116 (111th Congress)—National Nanotechnology Initiative

Amendments Act of 2010.................................................................................................30

H.R. 554 (111th Congress)—National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of

2009 ...............................................................................................................................30

S. 1482 (111th Congress)—National Nanotechnology Amendments Act of 2009 ..................31

S. 2942 (111th Congress)—Nanotechnology Safety Act of 2010...........................................32

H.R. 820 (111th Congress)—Nanotechnology Advancement and New Opportunities

Act..................................................................................................................................32

 

Tables

Table 1. NNI EHS Research Funding, FY2006-2010, FY2011 Request ..................................... 11

Table 2. FY2006 NNI Funding for EHS Research by Research Needs Categories.....................12

 

Appendixes

Appendix. Overview of Selected Federal Agencies’ Roles in the Regulation of

Nanotechnology....................................................................................................................33

 

Contacts

Author Contact Information ......................................................................................................37



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This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.

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Stuart Basefsky                   
Director, IWS News Bureau                
Institute for Workplace Studies 
Cornell/ILR School                        
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor             
New York, NY 10016                        
                                   
Telephone: (607) 255-2703                
Fax: (607) 255-9641                       
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu                  
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