(NHI Nanoblog) In a new, scathing report, an advocacy group that has repeatedly questioned the safety of nanotechnology products strongly criticizes governments across the world for failing to do more to regulate the growing industry.
The report, issued by the ETC Group, basically argues that nano advocates, particularly companies that manufacture products using nanomaterials, are winning the geopolitical war against regulation. That’s true, the report says, in Europe, India and other places, as well as the U.S.
Nanotechnology, a fast-growing industry which uses super-small particles with hugely useful properties, is already in items like bike frames, skin creams and cancer treatment. But few “hard” regulations exist to govern the use of nanomaterials, either in manufacturing or in products themselves.
There’s a burgeoning effort to explore the health and safety implications of these materials — at least some of which can accumulate in the body or the environment, depending on their size and makeup. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is looking hard at carbon nanotubes and nanosilver, among other substances. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health recently released draft exposure limits for carbon nanotubes, which could be a precursor to formal workplace regulations from other government agencies.
And yet, as the ETC report notes, there is unquestionably tension between those who see nanotechnology applications as a huge boon — in terms of creating jobs, promoting greener development, and expanding scientific knowledge — and those who emphasize the need for caution. Some nano experts believe these two positions can coexist better. Others favor pushing manufacturers to police themselves while governments get their arms around the problem.
The ETC report scoffs at many of those non-government efforts, such as the British-led “Responsible Nanocode,” as “discount governance,” arguing that these schemes let industry off the hook.
But, given the general lack of interest among federal legislators, at least in the U.S., it’s hard to see the government filling the gap quickly. A moratorium on nano-related products, which the ETC report calls for, seems even less likely. So while the report is sure to incite debate, it’s unclear whether even this tough language will have much of an effect.