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According to former EPA official and Project on Emerging
Nanotechnologies (PEN) senior advisor J. Clarence Davies, "The
agency's current practice is inadequate to deal with
nanotechnology. It is essential that EPA move quickly to
recognize the novel biological and ecological characteristics
of nanoscale materials. It can do this only by using the 'new
uses' provisions of TSCA, a subject not mentioned in the EPA's
inventory document. With the approach outlined by EPA and
because of the weaknesses in the law, the agency is not even
able to identify which substances are nanomaterials, much less
determine whether they pose a hazard."
Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies science advisor Andrew
Maynard underlined that "EPA's approach ignores the scientific
research evidence to date that different nanostructures with
the same molecular identity present different hazards."
Nanotechnology is a rapidly growing sector of the economy that
will represent an estimated $2.6 trillion in manufactured
goods by 2014, or about 15 percent of global manufactured
goods output.
In addition to the TSCA document, the agency issued papers for
public comment pertaining to a proposed voluntary industry
Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program (NMSP) -- an effort to
encourage industry to provide the agency on a voluntary basis
with scientific information about the risk management
practices now used by manufacturers of existing nanomaterials.
"Starting the Stewardship program will be a positive step
toward filling in some of the information gaps facing the
agency. But there should be an interplay between modifying
TSCA, such as promulgating a significant new use rule for
nanomaterials, and the voluntary program. A sequential
approach will leave nanomaterials unregulated for far too
long, and will also be less productive than if the two efforts
proceed in tandem," said Davies.
"This voluntary program for nanomaterials is already behind
schedule. The British government put in place a Voluntary
Reporting Scheme in September 2006, and appears to be on a
faster track to develop appropriate controls and to give a
predictable nanotechnology regulatory environment for industry
and consumers," he continued.
"The first generation of nanotechnology applications and
products is here. In an inventory maintained by the Project on
Emerging Nanotechnologies, there are now over 500
manufacturer-identified nanotechnology consumer products being
sold," said Dr. Maynard; see: http://www.nanotechproject.org/consumerproducts.
"This figure does not include nanotechnology products on the
market but not identified as such, or the hundreds of nano raw
materials, intermediate components, and industrial equipment
items used by manufacturers today. In addition, second
generation uses -- in electronics, sensors, targeted drugs and
active nanostructures -- have already begun."
In May 2007, Davies authored the first in-depth analysis of
EPA's nano-tech readiness, EPA and Nanotechnology: Oversight
for the 21st Century. This Project on Emerging
Nanotechnologies report is available at http://www.nanotechproject.org/124/.
The report recommends more than 25 actions that need to be
taken -- by EPA, Congress, the President, the National
Nanotechnology Initiative, and the nanotech industry -- to
improve the oversight of nanotechnologies.
In an opinion piece published in the Boston Globe on Saturday
(July 7, 2007), Davies and EPA's first administrator William
Ruckelshaus wrote, "Today's smallest materials pose a big
opportunity and huge challenge for the Environmental
Protection Agency -- But what do we know about nanotechnology,
about its effects on human health and the environment" Not
much. What are we doing to get these answers" Not enough. Can
the existing regulatory system protect the public from
potential problems with nanotechnology?" Not adequately. It is
time for the EPA to step into the breach and develop a
research and regulatory framework for nanotechnology that
helps us achieve its promise while avoiding or greatly
minimizing any possible dangers." See: http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/07/07/an_epa_for_the_21st_century/
About Nanotechnology
Nanotechnology is the ability to measure, see, manipulate and
manufacture things usually between 1 and 100 nanometers. A
nanometer is one billionth of a meter; a human hair is roughly
100,000 nanometers wide.
J. Clarence (Terry) Davies is a senior advisor at the Project
on Emerging Nanotechnologies and Senior Fellow at Resources
for the Future. Dr. Davies served during the administration of
the first President Bush as Assistant Administrator for
Policy, Planning and Evaluation at the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. Earlier, as a senior staff member at the
Council on Environmental Quality, he wrote the original
version of what became the Toxic Substances Control Act. In
1970, he co-authored the plan that created EPA.
William D. Ruckelshaus, who served as the EPA's first
administrator from 1970-1973 and again from 1983-1985, is
chairman of the Partnership for Puget Sound.
Andrew Maynard serves as the science advisor to the Project on
Emerging Nanotechnologies. He is an internationally recognized
expert on nanotechnology environmental, safety and health
risks. His Ph.D. is from Cambridge University (UK).
The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies is an initiative
launched by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for
Scholars and The Pew Charitable Trusts in 2005. It is
dedicated to helping business, government and the public
anticipate and manage possible health and environmental
implications of nanotechnology. For more information about the
project, log on to http://www.nanotechproject.org/.
The Pew Charitable Trusts (http://www.pewtrusts.org/) is
driven by the power of knowledge to solve today's most
challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical
approach to improve public policy, inform the public and
stimulate civic life. We partner with a diverse range of
donors, public and private organizations and concerned
citizens who share our commitment to fact-based solutions and
goal-driven investments to improve society.
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (http://www.wilsoncenter.org/)
is the living, national memorial to President Wilson
established by Congress in 1968 and headquartered in
Washington, D.C. The Center establishes and maintains a
neutral forum for free, open, and informed dialogue. It is a
nonpartisan institution, supported by public and private funds
and engaged in the study of national and international
affairs. |
