NANOTECHNOLOGY RISK RESEARCH UNDERFUNDED IN U.S., REPORT SAYS

While the U.S. heads the global pack in nanotechnology research, not enough money is being spent on studying the environmental, health and safety (EHS) risks nanotechnology presents, according to a report by the National Research Council assessing the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) for Congress.

"While federal agencies have funded some research on the EHS implications of nanotechnology, they need to support far more," the report states. According to the report, 11 federal agencies have allocated $38.5 million to R&D centered on the risks of nanotechnology, and $42.6 million to R&D on ethical and legal issues and public communication. These funds represent 8 percent of all federal funds devoted to nanoscale materials and devices. Companies, nongovernmental agencies and the NanoBusiness Alliance trade group have asked Congress to increase funding to study the risks of nanotechnology. In fiscal 2006, 3.7 percent of the NNI budget was targeted for risk research.

The report noted that an analysis of current EHS research by the NNI's Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology subcommittee found "results of EHS research to date and data on the EHS impacts of nanotechnology are inconclusive, and risk assessment protocols have to be further developed and more research has to be done to assess the potential for EHS hazards from nanomaterials Obtaining valid EHS data will require an expanded research effort to support the important continuing dialog on these issues."

Nanomaterials are particles with one or more dimensions smaller than 100 nanometers; a nanometer is one billionth of a meter. These particles "have unusual and useful properties," the report says, "but their unique attributes make nanomaterials a double-edged sword: they can be tailored to yield special benefits but also can have unknown and possibly negative impacts, such as unexpected toxicological and environmental effects." Nanotechnology is used in several FDA-regulated products, including cosmetics and sunscreens. The FDA was recently petitioned by several environmental groups that demanded the agency require toxicity testing and mandatory product labeling to address potential health risks associated with sunscreens and other products containing engineered nanoparticles.