Five 'Grand Challenges for Safe Nanotechnology'
Expert group sets out framework for delivery of 'safe' Nanotechnologies
Five 'Grand Challenges for Safe Nanotechnology' have been published in 'Nature' today by an international team of independent experts in the field.
The group, led by Andrew Maynard of the Woodrow Wilson Institute Project for Emerging Nanotechnologies, and including co-authors from the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) and the SnIRC initiative (Safety of nanoparticles Interdisciplinary Research Centre), call for the pursuit of sustainable nanotechnology development through 'sound science' - an implementation of strategic and integrated research programs over the next 15 years.
The authors express their views on how little is truly known about the safety of nanotechnology, and the potential harm this could bring to the future of an industry expected to be worth over $100 Billion on the Global Market over the next 10 years. They warn that the development of nanotechnology will be seriously hindered unless 'independent and authoritative information is developed on what the risks are and how to avoid them'
Using cautionary examples such as G.M. foods and Asbestos, they stress that as the number of nanotechnology containing products available increases exponentially, construction of a basic framework to tackle this lack of knowledge is imperative.
To address this, five 'Grand Challenges' are presented together with varying timeframes for the completion of each task. These range from development of instrumentation to assess exposure to engineered nanoparticles, to carrying out health impact assessments in the Nano workplace. The importance of communicating research on nanotechnology based risks and benefits to people outside of the scientific community, and the need for international and interdisciplinary collaborations, together with Government support is also noted as essential for the industry's progression.
Dr Philip Woodhead, CEO of the IOM said 'Nanotechnology is poised for explosive growth, and those of us who focus on the health, safety and environmental consequences of nanotechnology must approach our task from the perspective of assisting rather than inhibiting this growth. This is why it is vital that a strategic research programme in this area is established sooner rather than later. The IOM is delighted to be part of an international team driving this agenda forward, and we will continue to work closely with government, industry and academia to make this research a reality."
The Commentary is the outcome of a workshop held at the I.O.M in Edinburgh earlier this year. Dr Andrew Maynard, who is internationally recognised as a leading researcher in the field of Nanoparticle safety, is a close collaborator with the SnIRC initiative. Other authors also include several of the leading members of SnIRC: Prof Anthony Seaton, Dr Lang Tran and Dr Rob Aitken (IOM), Prof Vicki Stone (Napier University) and Prof Ken Donaldson (Edinburgh University).
Prof. Anthony Seaton, Chairman of the SnIRC initiative said "Nanotechnology offers huge opportunities for industry and for society, not least in helping address the challenges of global climate change. Experience with other technological advances suggests that it will not be free of risk, but that such risks can be foreseen and action taken to prevent or reduce them. This paper points to the means and the need for international collaboration in addressing hazard and reducing risk. SnIRC is ready to play its part in this vital process."
The full article is available as a free download at: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v444/n7117/pdf/444267a.pdf