U.K. commission on nano
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
There is no evidence of environmental or health risks from nanomaterials, and thus no need to ban nanotechnology, the U.K.'s Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution says in a Nov. 12 report. The advisory panel calls for more testing on nanoparticles' functionality, a research program and government flexibility to address nanotechnology and other nascent fields. RCEP Chairman John Lawton calls for extending the coverage of the European Union's REACH chemical regulation to nanomaterials, as "the rate of innovation in this sector far outstrips our capacity to respond to the risks." The European Commission has advised EU members not to research nanoparticles in food and personal care items until more risk assessments are completed (1"The Tan Sheet" Oct. 20, 2008, In Brief)