FoE Nano News July 2005
Friends of the Earth Australia Nano News
29 July 2005
1. New nanotechnology pages on FoE Australia website
2. Senate inquiry into workplace exposure to toxic dust and nanoparticles deadline 5 August 2005
3. ETC Group launches new report into the geopolitics of nanotechnology
1. New nanotechnology pages on FoE Australia website
New nanotechnology pages will be added to the FoE Australia website over the weekend. Check out the national campaign pages at www.foe.org.au for briefing sheets on the following topics:
• Introduction to nanotechnology
• Evidence of probable harm
• The near future of nanotech food
• Nano exposure in the workplace – the new asbestos
• The social impacts of nanotechnology
Send us your feedback about what you would like to see on the website and the nano questions you would most like answered: georgia.miller@foe.org.au
2. Senate inquiry into workplace exposure to toxic dust and nanoparticles deadline 5 August 2005
Please consider making a short submission to the senate inquiry into workplace exposure to toxic dust, which includes exposure to nanoparticles. You can address any or all of the terms of reference,depending on what interests you. Send your submission to: community.affairs.sen@aph.gov.au
Details for how to make a submission can be found at: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/clac_ctte/toxic_dust/index.htm
Useful information about the risks of workplace exposure to nanoparticles can be found at Hazards Magazine www.hazards.org
Your submission could include the following points.
• The similarities between health risks presented by workplace exposure to nanoparticles and asbestos have been noted by parties as diverse as global reinsurance giant Swiss Re and the Workers’ Health International News (Hazards Magazine)
• There is a long lag time between exposure to both asbestos and to nanoparticles and the potential onset of serious harm. If we do not regulate workplace exposure to nanoparticles now, we risk significant human and financial costs due to injury, as has resulted from asbestos exposure
• Very few toxicological studies have been published into the impacts of nanoparticles on human health and safety and the environment. However there is a growing body of evidence that nanoparticles are toxic, highly reactive and highly mobile
• Irrespective of their chemical composition, nanoparticles are potent inducers of inflammatory lung injury
• There are critical knowledge gaps required to enable risk assessment, in particular to determine whether acceptable exposure limits exist
• There are no effective control methods to safeguard against exposure to nanoparticles and other nanomaterials
• No data exist on the incidence of Australian workplace exposure to synthetic nanoparticles, however tens of thousands of workers may be at risk
• There is an urgent need for a moratorium on the research, development and production of synthetic nanoparticles and other nanomaterials while regulations are developed to protect the health and safety of workers, the public and the environment from the harmful impacts of nanotechnology
3. ETC Group launches new report into the geopolitics of nanotechnology
The action group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration (ETC Group) is the world’s leading civil society critic of nanotechnology. On 28.07.05 it released a new 48-page report on the geopolitics of nanotechnology. "NanoGeoPolitics" offers an in-depth survey of the current state of nanotechnology policy debates ranging from regulatory initiatives to social dialogues and from G8 statements to CSO activism (civil society).
ETC describes three main approaches being adopted by nano players: the so-called optimists, realists, and skeptics. Seven current issues/areas of rapid change and ample controversy are also discussed, including efforts to develop nanotech standards, safety protocols, the role of nano-ethicists and public relations firms, and more. In conclusion, ETC Group puts forward a civil society proposal to create a UN International Convention for the Evaluation of New Technologies (ICENT).
The full text of the 48-page report, is available on the ETC Group website in PDF format: http://www.etcgroup.org
For further information about the Friends of the Earth nanotechnology project please contact Georgia Miller georgia.miller@foe.org.au
