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Recent Research: Nanotech Safety, Risk and Accountability Issues Raised by National Academies
A recent assessment by the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Nanotechnology Initiative's (NNI) Strategy for Nanotechnology-Related Environmental, Health, and Safety Research concluded the NNI's research plan does not provide a clear picture of the potential risks of nanotechnology, nor does the plan include adequate research goals and comprehensive research needs regarding nanotechnology-specific health and safety issues.The NRC's assessment finds the NNI's strategy for environmental, health, and safety research is lacking in accountability because no single organization or person has responsibility for health and safety results.
The NNI is the coordination mechanism for the nanotechnology-related activities of various federal agencies, each with their own research and regulatory responsibilities. The NNI does not have the authority to make budgetary or funding decisions. According to the report, the aggregate R&D funding for FY 2007 through 12 reporting agencies was $1.43 billion.
The NRC's assessment process compared the NNI research plan for environmental, health and safety to the nine elements the NRC deems as integral to any effective risk-research strategy:
- a statement of purpose
- a series of goals
- an evaluation of the current science
- a road map
- a measure-based evaluation
- a review incorporating new findings
- an assessment of resources
- mechanisms to reaching goals, and
- an accountability component.
Because the NNI research plan was gauged as lacking several of these elements, the NRC has called for a new national strategic plan for nanotechnology-related environmental, health, and safety research. Due to NNI's structure as a coordination mechanism rather than a central authority for decision making, the NRC says that it would be "extraordinarily difficult" for NNI to develop a national health and safety research strategy.
The creation of a new strategic planning process, including initiatives for nanotechnology-specific health and safety issues, was contained in HR 5940, the National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2008. After passing the House last June, it was referred to the Senate's Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, but did not emerge from the Senate before the end of the session.
Reauthorization of the NNI in the 111th Congress, which commenced this week, is included in the agenda of House Committee on Science and Technology. The overview of the Committee's agenda can be found at: http://democrats.science.house.gov/Media/File/ForReleases/111thSTAgenda.pdf
NRC's Review of Federal Strategy for Nanotechnology-Related Environmental, Health, and Safety Research can be accessed at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12559