Lack of worker safety data hindering nanotech development

Filed in archive Regulation on December 6, 2006

Yesterday I took part in the Industry Forum at the International Conference on Nanotechnology Occupational and Environmental Health & Safety in Cincinnati. The forum focused on risk management in the nanotech industry and featured a wide range of participants from industry, academia, and government, as well as attorneys and insurers.

By far the most emphatic theme of the forum was the call for more data on worker safety in the nanotech industry. It seems there's almost no data available on the effects of nanoparticles on those working with them every day. That's bad news for the workers, of course, but it's bad news for the rest of us as well.

A representative from one of the world's largest nanotube manufacturers, for instance, told how commercialization is being hindered as they encounter increasing resistance from lawyers and capitalists who don't feel they have enough health and safety information to base their business decisions on.

Workforce development could also be hindered, as a manager from the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory pointed out that their workers are increasingly concerned over the lack of data on the health effects of working with nanoparticles.

But work is moving ahead on clarifying some of these issues, and if you'd like to take part you can provide feedback on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health document, Approaches to Safe Nanotechnology. (photo Ritsumeikan University)