Navigation Links
US government delays nanotechnology safety measures
Date:10/31/2007

WASHINGTONWant to buy a bag of carbon nanotubesin quantities from a few grams to hundreds of kilograms (100 kilograms = approximately 220 pounds)? With a credit card and Internet access, you can. But is the U.S. government doing enough to ensure the safety of these materials and the hundreds of other nanotechnology commercial and consumer products currently on the market?

The answer is a resounding no, says Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies chief scientist Andrew Maynard. The materials safety data sheet for carbon nanotubeswhich provides workers and safety personnel with information on proper handling procedurestreats these substances as graphite, the material used in pencils. But carbon nanotubes are as similar to pencil lead as the soot on my barbeque grill at home is to diamonds.

According to Maynard, This is just one example of the yawning knowledge gap between the nanomaterials entering commerce now and their safety. And this uncertainty over how to develop nanotechnologies safely, hamstrings regulators, hinders nanobusiness, and confuses consumers.

Dr. Maynards remarks are from his testimony today at a hearing held by U.S. Congresss House Science Committee. A copy of his written statement is available online at www.nanotechproject.org.

According to Maynard, filling this knowledge gap will not be easy, but it is essential and must be done quickly if nanotechnology is to succeed. He recommends the following necessary steps:

  • Establish a clear, top-down risk research strategy with the resources required to ensure its implementation;
  • Create a new federal advisory committee to allow transparent input and review from industry, scientists, labor groups, nongovernmental organizations and other stakeholders;
  • Allocate approximately 10 percent of the U.S. governments nanotechnology research and development budget to goal-oriented nanotechnolog
    '/>"/>

Contact: Sharon McCarter
sharon.mccarter@wilsoncenter.org
202-691-4016
Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Canadas new government invests $200M in the fight against the mountain pine beetle
2. Noise And Delays Explain Why Some Genes Oscillate In Activity
3. Sexual reproduction delays aging in a mammalian species
4. Resveratrol prolongs lifespan and delays onset of aging-related traits in a short-lived vertebrate
5. Revolutionary nanotechnology illuminates brain cells at work
6. Nanotechnology to provide portable genetic risk detection
7. Nanotechnology may find disease before it starts
8. Nanotechnology being used to improve biocompatibility of human prosthetics and implants
9. Silver bullet: UGA researchers use laser, nanotechnology to rapidly detect viruses
10. Nanotechnology propels advances in regenerative medicine research
11. New nanotechnology able to examine single molecules, aiding in determining gene expression
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:3/18/2010)... can live for twenty years, fertilizing millions of eggs ... activity. , Danish researchers who have studied ants ... 1992 discovered that in both ant and bee species ... fluid favors the survival of its own sperm over ... stored, leafcutter ant queens neutralize male-male sperm competition with ...
(Date:3/18/2010)... available in Spanish . , Feeding ... as part of their regular diet makes them ... a study by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists ... and overall behavioral activity among young female pigs ... acquired through diet, is the precursor for the ...
(Date:3/18/2010)... Biotech, Inc., ( www.genwaybio.com ) the US-based diagnostic company ... is expanding this cancer testing program internationally. An ... YouTM Cancer Assessment in Greece starting in April. ... as well. GenWay currently offers this test in ... Sergey Sikora, Vice President of Business Development, said, "The ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Females shut down male-male sperm competition in leafcutter ants 2Tryptophan-enriched diet reduces pig aggression 2Moravia Worldwide Names George Krawczyk as Sales Director for Ireland and UK 61905 1Moravia Worldwide Names George Krawczyk as Sales Director for Ireland and UK 61905 2Barbara Fentress Designer of the Denver International Airport and Convention Center Offers Her Private Mansion at Absolute Auction 61902 1Barbara Fentress Designer of the Denver International Airport and Convention Center Offers Her Private Mansion at Absolute Auction 61902 2Ophthalmic Equipment Distributor Latham 26amp 3B Phillips SE Division Unveils Website 61899 1Ophthalmic Equipment Distributor Latham 26amp 3B Phillips SE Division Unveils Website 61899 2Ophthalmic Equipment Distributor Latham 26amp 3B Phillips SE Division Unveils Website 61899 3
... often succeed at initially eliminating the bulk of ... are eventually thwarted because they cannot eliminate a ... stem cells, which ultimately become the source of ... scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of ...
... bees found in Cairns have been cleared of carrying the ... the beginning of a serious threat to Australian honey bee ... way into Australian ports at least half a dozen times ... Javanese strain of the bee and because the latest incursion ...
... University shows that the function of all genes in ... rhythms. The study, publishing in PLoS Computational Biology on ... percent to 15 percent of all genes were affected ... circadian rhythms regulate the behavior of the living, the ...
Other Biology News:Cancer stem cells similar to normal stem cells can thwart anti-cancer agents 2Warning from Asian bees 2Research finds that circadian rhythms dominate all life functions 2Research finds that circadian rhythms dominate all life functions 3
(Date:3/16/2010)... Stock Exchange Symbol: MS , ... , , ... ... EDMONTON , March 16 ... ...
(Date:3/16/2010)... PharmAthene, Inc. (Amex: PIP ) a biodefense company developing medical countermeasures against biological and chemical threats, announced today that its financial results ... ... , ... ... ...
(Date:3/16/2010)... March 16 The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation (GCF) and the Claudia ... as the first recipient of the $50,000 GCF/Claudia Cohen Prize for Outstanding ... (SGO) 41st Annual Meeting on Women,s Cancer, meeting in San Francisco ... ... ...
(Date:3/16/2010)... (LSE: SHP,NASDAQ; SHPGY), announces that it has received a Paragraph IV Notice ... New Drug Application ("ANDA") for a generic version of Shire,s 1,mg, 2mg, ... ... ... , ...
Breaking Biology Technology:BioMS Medical Announces 2009 Year End Results 2BioMS Medical Announces 2009 Year End Results 3BioMS Medical Announces 2009 Year End Results 4BioMS Medical Announces 2009 Year End Results 5BioMS Medical Announces 2009 Year End Results 6BioMS Medical Announces 2009 Year End Results 7BioMS Medical Announces 2009 Year End Results 8BioMS Medical Announces 2009 Year End Results 9BioMS Medical Announces 2009 Year End Results 10PharmAthene to Host Year-End 2009 Earnings Conference Call and Webcast on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 2PharmAthene to Host Year-End 2009 Earnings Conference Call and Webcast on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 3Paul Goodfellow, PhD, Awarded First GCF/Claudia Cohen Prize for Outstanding Gynecologic Cancer Researcher 2Paul Goodfellow, PhD, Awarded First GCF/Claudia Cohen Prize for Outstanding Gynecologic Cancer Researcher 3Paul Goodfellow, PhD, Awarded First GCF/Claudia Cohen Prize for Outstanding Gynecologic Cancer Researcher 4Paul Goodfellow, PhD, Awarded First GCF/Claudia Cohen Prize for Outstanding Gynecologic Cancer Researcher 5Shire Receives INTUNIV (TM) Paragraph IV Notice Letter From Teva Pharmaceuticals 2Shire Receives INTUNIV (TM) Paragraph IV Notice Letter From Teva Pharmaceuticals 3Shire Receives INTUNIV (TM) Paragraph IV Notice Letter From Teva Pharmaceuticals 4
... in 2006, ALLERCA,s hypoallergenic cats have established a unique place in ... ... WILMINGTON, Calif., Oct. 23 ALLERCA, the company that,developed the first scientifically ... deliveries to,eager customers. Since then, the company has delivered dozens of the,ALLERCA ...
... Systems, Inc.,(OTC: ABOS) today announced that it has ... Inc., whereby NxStage will,manufacture the SEPET(TM) Liver Assist ... failure. Arbios is currently seeking permission from the,US ... pivotal clinical,trial for SEPET(TM). Under the terms ...
... 2007 Scientific ... ... October 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/,-- TopSpin Medical (TASE: TOPMD) announced today that ... Intravascular,Magnetic Resonance Imaging System During Coronary Endovascular,Catheterization (TOPIMAGE) demonstrated the ...
Other Biology Technology:One Year On, ALLERCA Hypoallergenic Cats Bring 'Sneeze Free' Companionship to Allergy and Asthma Sufferers 2One Year On, ALLERCA Hypoallergenic Cats Bring 'Sneeze Free' Companionship to Allergy and Asthma Sufferers 3Arbios Announces SEPET(TM) Manufacturing Agreement With NxStage Medical 2Arbios Announces SEPET(TM) Manufacturing Agreement With NxStage Medical 3Arbios Announces SEPET(TM) Manufacturing Agreement With NxStage Medical 4Clinical Study Findings Show Safety and Procedure Success for TopSpin IntraVascular MRI Catheter for the Coronary Arteries 2Clinical Study Findings Show Safety and Procedure Success for TopSpin IntraVascular MRI Catheter for the Coronary Arteries 3
...
... Experion HighSens reagents and supplies, for ... supplies sufficient to perform high-sensitivity RNA ... on the Experion automated electrophoresis system. ... 20 microliters RNA HighSens stain, 20 ...
MAb to Verotoxin II (SLT-2a) Verotoxin II (Shiga-like) A subunit (SLT-2a)...
... White walled plates enhance luminescent signals ... fluorescence,• Not treated (or medium binding) ... and binds biomolecules through passive interactions,• ... of large molecules, such as antibodies, ...
Biology Products: