(NHI Nanoblog) Want to work with super-small materials and be a good steward of your business, your reputation, and safety? A European research organization has some advice.
The key, according to the new guide released by ObservatoryNANO: Using nanomaterials involves “active responsibility.” The best way to operate is to know what you’re working with, know the consequences of what you’re doing — and communicate with the public about all of it.
The challenges of these materials, which are more and more widespread in products ranging from airplane wings to sunscreens, center on the uncertainty surrounding their safety, the report says. While nanotechnology has the potential to have a far-reaching impact on society, most people don’t seem to know much about it.
While the report notes that regulators are paying attention, it also asserts that it’s the companies behind the products that will be held responsible for problems. So, while the policies catch up with the pace of innovation, thinking ahead is critical.
Nanotechnology leverages the often-unique properties of super-small particles to create products with amazing qualities. These materials can make better batteries or lighter and stronger bike frames, as well as new medical instruments and medicines that can save lives. They’re increasingly common in consumer products, from “mineral-based” sunscreens to stain-repellent pants to boat paints that resist algae growth.
Nanomaterials are believed to hold great promise for a wide variety of applications. But their ultra-tiny size also gives them different properties, and scientists are struggling to figure out whether that can make them dangerous in the process, and how and why it happens.
ObservatoryNANO is funded by the European Union, and is supposed to serve as a clearinghouse for research and analysis on nanotechnology and its potential implications.