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In support of a balanced view of nanotechnologies, the NIA provides a comprehensive round-up of the latest global nanotechnology news, NIA membership news and press releases, and nanotechnology events.
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NIA submits comments to EC’s Public Consultation on Risk Assessment of Nanotechnologies
The Nanotechnology Industries Association has submitted comments to the European Commission’s Public Consultation in preparation of a Scientific Hearing on Risk Assessment of Nanotechnologies.
Event Annoucement
OECD Conference on Potential Environmental Benefits of Nanotechnology: Fostering Safe Innovation-Led Growth
Venue: OECD Conference Centre
Starts: Wednesday 15th July 2009
Ends: Friday 17th July 2009
The OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (ENV) and OECD Working Party on Nanotechnology (STI) jointly present an OECD Conference on Potential Environmental Benefits of Nanotechnology: Fostering Safe Innovation-Led Growth.
The conference will cover both the opportunities and the challenges of the use of nanotechnologies for potential environmental benefit. The aim is to learn from international expertise and to identify ways in which to improve in a timely manner policies with the potential to enhance both short- and long-term economic growth. [...]
International Conference: "Transatlantic Regulatory Cooperation: Securing the Promise of Nanotechnologies"
Nanotechnology will impact our lives on a global scale. Over the past year experts from the London School of Economics, Environmental Law Institute, Chatham House and the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars have been examining issues of transatlantic regulatory cooperation. Their research findings are to be published in a major report, which will be launched at this international conference on 10-11 September 2009. [...]
For further details on the research project and a conference agenda (available from late June), please see the project website: http://www.lse.ac.uk/nanoregulation.
Participation in the conference is by invitation only. Please send an email to Ms. Carmen Gayoso at nanotech@lse.ac.uk if you would like to attend.
1st Nanosafety Autumn School
The increasing use of engineered nanomaterials, especially nanoparticles (NP), in various applications will likely lead to a significant exposure to these new materials. Over 500 NP-based consumer products are already marketed, such as sunscreens and cosmetics, detergents, pigments, tires, lubricants and healthcare/medical application products. [...]
Target Audience:
Industry, governmental agencies, (post)- graduates and Ph.D. students, dealing with nanotechnologies and related topics.
Follow these links to find out more about the 1st Nanosafety Autumn School, or to download the flyer.
Summary report of EC Scientific Committees published
The European Commission has published a Final Report on the Scientific Committees 2004-2009. The report outlines the mandates, running costs, published opinions and meeting participation by Scientific Committees of the European Commission in 2004-2009:
- Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety
- Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks
- Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks
Follow these links to find out more about the EC’s Scientific Committees, or to download the full Final Report 2004-2009.
EPA includes single- and multi-walled carbon nanotubes in ‘significant new use’-rule
The US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has issues Significant New Use Rules on Certain Chemical Substances (Fedral Register, 24th June 2009), including multi-walled carbon nanotubes and single-walled carbon nanotubes.
The notice explains:
‘A. Rationale: During review of the PMNs submitted for the chemical substances that are subject to these SNURs, EPA concluded that for 4 of the 23 chemical substances, regulation was warranted under TSCA section 5(e), pending the development of information sufficient to make reasoned evaluations of the health or environmental effects of the chemical substances. The basis for such findings is outlined in Unit IV. Based on these findings, TSCA section 5(e) consent orders requiring the use of appropriate exposure controls were negotiated with the PMN submitters. The SNUR provisions for these chemical substances are consistent with the provisions of the TSCA section 5(e) consent orders. These SNURs are promulgated pursuant to § 721.160.
In the other 19 cases, where the proposed uses are not regulated under a TSCA section 5(e) consent order, EPA determined that one or more of the criteria of concern established at § 721.170 were met, as discussed in Unit IV.
- EPA will receive notice of any person’s intent to manufacture, import, or process a listed chemical substance for the described significant new use before that activity begins.
- EPA will have an opportunity to review and evaluate data submitted in a SNUN before the notice submitter begins manufacturing, importing, or processing a listed chemical substance for the described significant new use.
- EPA will be able to regulate prospective manufacturers, importers, or processors of a listed chemical substance before the described significant new use of that chemical substance occurs, provided that regulation is warranted pursuant to TSCA sections 5(e), 5(f), 6, or 7.
- EPA will ensure that all manufacturers, importers, and processors of the same chemical substance that is subject to a TSCA section 5(e) consent order are subject to similar requirements.’
The substances included are:
PMN Number P–08–177
Chemical name: Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (generic).
CAS number: Not available.
Effective date of TSCA section 5(e) consent order: August 11, 2008. [...]
PMN Number P–08–328
Chemical name: Single-walled carbon nanotubes (generic).
CAS number: Not available.
Effective date of TSCA section 5(e) consent order: September 15, 2008. [...]
The Direct Final Procedures are described as follows:
‘EPA is issuing these SNURs as a direct final rule, as described in § 721.160(c)(3) and § 721.170(d)(4). In accordance with § 721.160(c)(3)(ii) and § 721.170(d)(4)(i)(B), this rule is effective August 24, 2009 without further notice, unless EPA receives written adverse or critical comments, or notice of intent to submit adverse or critical comments before July 24, 2009.
If EPA receives written adverse or critical comments, or notice of intent to submit adverse or critical comments, on one or more of these SNURs before July 24, 2009, EPA will withdraw the relevant sections of this direct final rule before its effective date. EPA will then issue a proposed SNUR for the chemical substance(s) on which adverse or critical comments were received, providing a 30–day period for public comment.'
Follow this link to download the full federal Register Notice.
EPA Threatens Enforcement against Manufacturers of Carbon Nanotubes and Enacts Significant New Use Rules for Two Other Nanoparticles
In October 2008, the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice on the TSCA inventory status of carbon nanotubes and announced that, some time after 1st March 2009, ‘EPA anticipates focusing its compliance monitoring efforts to determine if companies are complying with TSCA section 5 requirements for carbon nanotubes.’ (21st February 2009)
US EPA publishes notice on TSCA inventory status of carbon nanotubes
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published in the Federal Register a notice entitled ‘Toxic Substances Control Act Inventory Status of Carbon Nanotubes’, giving notice of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) requirements potentially applicable to carbon nanotubes (CNTs). (31st October 2008)
US EPA publishes scientific evidence on carbon nanotube inhalation studies
BASF Corporation submitted to the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) (under Section 8(e) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)) results of ‘A Subchronic Inhalation Study in Wistar Rats with Carbon Nano Tube’. (31st October 2008)
Registration for EC Scientific Hearing on Risk Assessment of Nanomaterials now open
The European Commission (DG Health and Consumers) has opened the registration for the Scientific Hearing on Risk Assessment of Nanotechnologies (to be held in Brussels, on the 10 September 2009; Venue: Centre de Conference A. Borschette, Rue Froissart 36, 1040 Brussels).
According to the website, the main objectives of this Hearing are to identify:
- any possible scientific topics which have not been covered in the opinions from the relevant EU Risk Assessment Committees and Bodies;
- what are -according to current scientific knowledge- the main potential risks that could emerge from the use of nanomaterials in the future; and
- provision of relevant background information and comments on those issues.
Follow these links to download a DRAFT Programme of the Hearing, or to register for the Hearing.
Coalition of industries association provides ‘need to know’ documentation to UN discussion on nanomaterials
A coalition of industries association, orchestrated by the Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA), representing nanotechnology producers and users, and CEFIC, representing the European chemical industry, and including Eurometaux, representing the non-ferrous metals industry, and the American Chemistry Council, representing the North American chemical industry, has provided a background paper of comments on the paper entitled ‘Ongoing work on the safety of nanomaterials’ (transmitted by the experts from France) as part of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.
The background paper was not officially submitted to the Committee meeting, but provided as ‘need to know’ material, in case of a detailed discussion of the French paper.
Registered NIA Members can download the full Comments on the paper ‘Ongoing work on the safety of nanomaterials’ (CEFIC/NIA/Eurometaux/ACC) from the ‘Members only’-area on the NIA website, by following the link to ‘Restricted Documents and Publications’.
‘Nano or not nano’ – no silver for Friends of the Earth
In a joint report entitled ‘Nano & Biocidal Silver’, Friends of the Earth Australia and Friends of the Earth Unites States ‘calls for a immediate moratorium on the commercial release of products that contain manufactured nanosilver until nanotechnology-specific regulation is introduced to protect the public, workers and the environment from their risks, and until the public is involved in decision making.’
The authors of the report point out that ‘undoubtedly silver and nanosilver have useful applications in the medical arena (for instance as coatings for medical devices or as wound care for severe burns victims), [...]’.
The report claims to highlight many examples of the application of silver as a ‘bulk material’, as ‘nanosilver’, and in the form of soluble silver compounds, but the distinction between these is not always clear. Nevertheless, Friends of the Earth conclude with a nano-specific call upon governments to:
- Establish comprehensive and precautionary legislation to manage the risks associated with nanotechnology in general and nanosilver technology in particular.
- All nanomaterials must be subject to new safety assessments as new substances, even where the properties of larger scale counterparts are well-known.
Follow these links to read the press release accompanying the launch of the report, or to download the full report.
EPA exempts silver residues from food contact materials from the requirement of a tolerance
On the 10th June 2009, the US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Final Rule entitled ‘Residues of Silver in Foods from Food Contact Surface Sanitizing Solutions; Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance’. According to Notice in the Federal Register (10th June 2009), the ‘regulation amends the exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of silver (excludes silver salts) in or on all foods when applied or used in public eating places, dairy processing equipment, and foodprocessing equipment. [...] The regulation being established will exempt all foods from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of silver resulting from contact with surfaces treated with solutions in which the end-use concentration of silver is not to exceed 50 parts per million (ppm).’
‘This revised tolerance expression excludes any other silver-containing compounds whether they are other silver salts, complexes with inorganic polymers such as zeolites, or metallic silver in any form or dimension including nanoscale.’
Follow these links read the full Federal Register Notice, or to find out more about the EPA Rule.
Nanotechnology highlighted as priority area for EU-Malaysia cooperation
European Commission Director of International Cooperation in Science and Technology Mary Minch, has called for a full utilisation of the EU New Framework Programme 7. Explaining that the new Framework Programme 7 -- from 2007-2013-- had a total budget of 54 billion Euros, she noted that it was aimed at boosting innovation and research capacity, and that it would, at the same time, enhance EU cooperation with Malaysia.
According to an interview with Bernama.com, Minch said that there were already five projects being undertaken with Malaysia, and that she expected that others would be selected in the near future.
During a 2-day workshop with over 60 Malaysian research institutes at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, ‘participants had an opportunity to learn about the Framework Programme, European policy and EU aspirations in cooperating with Malaysia.’
Minch, who also participated in a number of bilateral meetings with the Malaysian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), said ‘a number of fields, like climate change including technology transfer, carbon capture and storage, bio fuels and renewable energy, nanotechnology and ICT were highlighted as priority areas for EU-Malaysia cooperation.’
Follow this link to read the full interview.
‘Nanotechnology can make a world of difference in virtually every facet of wind and solar energy generation’
An IndustryWeekly.com editorial, entitled ‘Taking the NanoPulse -- Put Some Energy Into It’, revisits the debate around the cost-effectiveness and reliability of renewable energies and finds that ‘opinions seem to be shifting at the speed of wind and sunlight. People are looking in new directions and at new technologies for solutions. At the top of the list: nanotechnology.’
‘For alternative energy,’ he concludes, ‘there's no alternative to nanotechnology.’
In support of this statement, Rickert highlights a few of the many examples in which nanotechnologies already help to make renewable energies reliable and viable:
- nanomaterials for light absorption: [...] By using quantum dots, nanoparticles, nanodots and nanocrystals, the achievable efficiency could climb to 60%.
- environment for solar generation: [...] New self-cleaning and dirt-repelling nano-coatings keep the sun shining through. Others increase the life expectancy of a system with a layer of protection that prevents the micro-scratches and gouges that come from windblown dirt pounding the surface glass day after day.
- wind energy generation: [...] ice-phobic nanocoatings is enabling a surface that impedes ice formation and actually helps shed ice.
Follow this link to read the full editorial on IndustryWeekly.com.