Review of the Federal Strategy for Nanotechnology-Related Environmental, Health, and Safety Research (2009) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 1-12
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From page 3... ...
The increasing use of engineered nanoscale materials in industrial and consumer products will result in greater exposure of workers and the general public to these materials. Responsible development of nanotechnology implies a commitment to develop and to use these materials to meet human and societal needs while making every reasonable effort to anticipate and mitigate adverse effects and unintended consequences.
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From page 4... ...
The committee was charged to conduct a scientific and technical review of the federal strategy and to comment in general terms on how the strategy develops information needed to support EHS risk-assessment and risk-management needs with respect to nanomaterials. Assisted by information-gathering sessions that included representatives from NNI agencies, policy experts from the European Commission, and such stakeholders as manufacturing industry, nongovernment organizations, and the insurance sector, the committee evaluated the federal strategy, asking such questions as the following: • What are the elements of an effective nanotechnology risk-research strategy?
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From page 5... ...
In conducting this study, the committee identified nine elements that are integral to any effective risk-research strategy and that informed its evaluation of the 2008 NNI document: • Vision, or statement of purpose. What is the ultimate purpose of conducting research on potential risks associated with nanotechnology?
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From page 6... ...
does not have the essential elements of a research strategy -- it does not present a vision, contain a clear set of goals, have a plan of action for how the goals are to be achieved, or describe mechanisms to review and evaluate funded research and assess whether progress has been achieved in the context of what we know about the potential EHS risks posed by nanotechnology. The NNI document contains various statements of purpose, but it does not provide a clear vision as to where our understanding of the EHS implications of nanotechnology should be in 5 or 10 years.
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From page 7... ...
This is problematic because most of the listed FY 2006 research projects were focused on understanding fundamentals of nanoscience that are not explicitly associated with risk or the development of nanotechnology applications.4 In addition, there is no clear statement of how the FY 2006 research projects would address the identified research needs and inform an understanding of potential human health and environmental risks posed by engineered nanoscale materials. The 2008 document does provide some information on time frame and sequencing for achieving the research needs (see Figures 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 of NNI [NEHI 2008]
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From page 8... ...
The listed research needs in the five categories are similarly valuable but incomplete, in some cases missing elements crucial for progress in understanding the EHS implications of nanomaterials. For example, the subject of environmental exposure received insufficient emphasis in the exposure-assessment discussion, and characterization of chemical and biologic reactivity of nanoparticles was not included as a research need.
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From page 9... ...
In the "Nanomaterials and the Environment" category, the committee questioned whether resources could be used more efficiently through the characterization of exposure and transformation processes prior to characterization of organisms as well as higher-level ecosystem effects. Although many of the NNI's identified research needs support riskassessment and risk-management needs, the committee concluded that failure to identify important research needs, the lack of rationale for and discussion of research priorities, and the flaws in the gap analysis undermine the ability to ensure that currently funded research adequately supports EHS risk-assessment and risk-management needs and provides critical data for the federal agencies.
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From page 10... ...
There remains an urgent need for the nation to build on the current research base related to the EHS implications of nanotechnology -- including the federally supported research as described in the 2008 NNI document -- by developing a national strategic plan for nanotechnology-related environmental, health, and safety research. A national strategic plan for nanotechnology-related EHS research would identify research needs clearly and estimate the financial and technical resources required to address identified research gaps.
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From page 11... ...
Having reviewed the 2008 NNI strategy document and discussed what is needed for a path forward, the committee presents the following recommendations: A robust national strategic plan is needed for nanotechnology-related environmental, health, and safety research that builds on the five categories of research needs identified in the 2008 NNI document. The development of the plan should include input from a broad set of stakeholders across the research community and other interested par ties in government, nongovernment, and industrial groups.
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From page 12... ...
CONCLUDING REMARKS A robust national strategic plan for addressing nanotechnology-related EHS risks will need to focus on promoting research that can assist all stakeholders, including federal agencies, in planning, controlling, and optimizing the use of engineered nanomaterials while minimizing EHS effects of concern to society. Such a plan will ensure the timely development of engineered nanoscale materials that will bring about great improvements in the nation's health, its environmental quality, its economy, and its security.
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