Time to make your voice heard on nanotech regulation
nano geek | 08.05.2006 23:23 | Bio-technology | Health | Technology
The issues around nanotechnology closely resemble those of GM crops, a powerful new technology being rushed on to the market by profit driven corporations before even basic safety concerns can be addressed. The dangers of getting it wrong with nanotech are far greater and wider ranging than they ever were with genetic modification.
The UK government is currently running a consultation on the regulation of nanotechnology. The only proposal on the table is a voluntary notification scheme for new nanotech products. This will give nanotech companies free reign to introduce nanomaterials into consumer products - unlabelled, untested and unregulated.
It is important that the corporations do not have a free run on the regulation of this new technology, but that everyone has their say in how and whether nanotechnology is introduced into our world. Please take part in the DEFRA consultation, and ensure that every section of society has its voice heard.
Tell DEFRA that their voluntary scheme is unacceptable – tell them that they should act in a precautionary way and heed the warnings on nanotech. Tell them that their voluntary scheme is not good enough, that they should stop giving a green light to nanotech. We need a moratorium on nanotech now!
You can contact the DEFRA Nanotech unit at:
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Chemicals and GM Division
Zone 4/F3,
Ashdown House,
123 Victoria Street,
London
SW1E 6DE
Tel 02070828104
Nano.technology@defra.gsi.gov.uk
To take part in DEFRA’s consultation download details at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/nanotech-vrs/index.htm and submit your response by 23rd June. If you want to express your opinions in person DEFRA are holding nano consultation meetings on Monday 22 May 2006 in London, and Wednesday 31 May 2006 in Liverpool. If you would like to attend contact: nano.technology@defra.gsi.gov.uk.
If you are unfamiliar with the concepts, issues and dangers of nanotechnology, please read the following short introduction to the current situation and follow up the links to further reading.
Ever heard of nano-technology?
Chances are you are already using it on your skin, wearing it in your clothes or maybe even eating it in your food. Despite a long list of danger warnings on nanomaterials (products made from nanotechnology) the UK Government, under pressure from industry, has decided that it does not want to regulate or be careful with this new technology. The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has proposed a rule that would give nanotech companies free reign to introduce whatever nanomaterials they like into consumer products - unlabelled, untested and unregulated. Just as they did with GM Foods, the government is playing for the corporations over a risky new technology. It’s time to cry foul and send nanotech offside. Tell DEFRA today that you want nanotech products taken off the shelves until they have studied the dangers and are prepared to regulate and label them. Remind them they are supposed to protect the public not the nanotech companies.
What is Nanotech?
Nanotechnology involves the manufacture of invisibly small particles and new materials designed so that the atoms are arranged in new ways. By rearranging matter at this tiny scale traditional materials change their properties. For example zinc oxide, a chemical used in sunscreens, becomes transparent instead of white when it is made out of nanosize particles. Other materials become explosive, reactive or extremely toxic as a result of shrinking particles to the nano-size
Which products will use nanotech?
Nanotech particles are already being used quietly in a wide range of consumer products. L'Oreal and Boots use nanoparticles in sunscreens and cosmetics, the Gap and Next are putting nanoparticles in clothes to make them stain and wrinkle resistant, Smith and Nephew are putting them in bandages while chemical company BASF are putting nanoparticles in food additives into drinks. Meanwhile Unilever and Nestle are working on nanoparticle ice cream. Unfortunately products that contain nanomaterials do not have to be labeled and the nanomaterials are far too small for the consumer to detect. The companies who are developing nanotech hope to incorporate nanotechnology across all consumer products in the next ten years.
Is it safe?
Nanotechnology is a new set of technologies and safety studies have only just begun. However there are already a lot of warning signs that nanoparticles in particular are more toxic than larger particles and show the same health problems as particles that come out of car exhausts. For example:
*Metal oxide nanoparticles (such as Zinc oxide) used in sunscreens have been show to produce toxic effects in skin cells and studies are now ongoing to see how deeply they can penetrate the skin.
* A class of nanoparticles known as fullerenes have been shown to cause toxic effects in the lungs of mice, brain damage in fish and kill soil bacteria.
* The Royal Society (the leading organisation of scientists in the UK) has warned that new nanomaterials should be tested as new materials, that environmental uses of nanoparticles should be prohibited and that any nanoparticles escaping from factories should be treated as hazardous. The Royal Society also recommended that any products containing nanomaterials be labeled for consumers.
* In April 2006 a nano cleaning product called 'magic nano' was recalled in Germany after 76 people were admitted to hospital with breathing problems. It’s not clear what caused this but the German Authorities suspect that the nanoparticles in the product may be to blame.
Is it fair?
Nanotech is already changing the way things are made and may put many workers and small farmers out of business. For example, cotton, rubber and copper, on which the economies of several developing nations depend, all stand to be replaced by new nanomaterials. Just as biotechnology’s ability to manipulate genes went hand in hand with the patenting of life, so too nanotechnology’s ability to manipulate molecules has led to the patenting of matter. Corporations are already taking out broad ranging monopoly patents on nano-scale discoveries and inventions.
Who's behind it?
The usual suspects. This technology is being developed first and foremost by the worlds most powerful countries and largest corporations. Not only is nanotech being developed to make large companies bigger profits but will also be used to develop powerful new weapons. Nanotech is dominated by the Fortune 500 companies. From computers to chemicals, from oil to pharmaceuticals, from cosmetics to food the likes of IBM, DuPont, Syngenta, Exxon, Pfizer, L'Oreal and Kraft are all involved in nanotech.
What is the government proposing?
To do nothing! The government admits there is a problem but is afraid to upset the nanotech companies - therefore it is only going to bring in a very weak voluntary registration of nano-products. If there could be a problem all nanotech products should be taken off the shelves until they are properly understood.
What can you do about it?
Tell DEFRA that their voluntary scheme is unacceptable – tell them that they should act in a precautionary way and heed the warnings on nanotech. Tell them that their voluntary scheme is not good enough, that they should stop giving a green light to nanotech. We need a moratorium on nanotech now!
To take part in DEFRA’s consultation download details at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/nanotech-vrs/index.htm and submit your response by 23rd June. If you want to express your opinions in person DEFRA are holding nano consultation meetings on Monday 22 May 2006 in London, and Wednesday 31 May 2006 in Liverpool. If you would like to attend contact: nano.technology@defra.gsi.gov.uk.
Nano further reading:
Nano-background reading
The Big Down and A Tiny Primer on Nano-scale Technologies and The Little Big Down by the ETC Group available online at www.etcgroup.org
May 2003 edition of the Ecologist Nanotechnology Special Report
“Nanotechnology: What it is and how corporations are using it” by Corporate Watch UK available online at
http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=2147
Nano-food and agriculture
Down On The Farm by the ETC Group available online at www.etcgroup.org
Nano-toxicity
Size Matters by the ETC Group available online at www.etcgroup.org
Nano-patents
Nanotech's "Second Nature" Patents by the ETC Group available online www.etcgroup.org
Nano-disruption
“The potential impacts of nano-scale technologies on commodity markets:
The implications for commodity dependent developing countries” available online at http://www.southcentre.org/publications/researchpapers/ResearchPapers4.pdf
Technological Convergence
The Little Bang Theory by the ETC Group available online at www.etcgroup.org
Nano-Regulation
“Nanotech Report Raises Red Flags” and “Government commissions and ignores nanotech report” in Corporate Watch newsletter available online at www.corporatewatch.org
“Corporations make the money, government ducks the issue and the public takes the risks” in Corporate Watch newsletter available online at www.corporatewatch.org
Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies: Opportunities and Uncertainties by the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering www.nano.org.uk
Nano-Products
Woodrow Wilson Institute database of nanotech products on the market www.nanotechproject.org/index.php?id=44
It is important that the corporations do not have a free run on the regulation of this new technology, but that everyone has their say in how and whether nanotechnology is introduced into our world. Please take part in the DEFRA consultation, and ensure that every section of society has its voice heard.
Tell DEFRA that their voluntary scheme is unacceptable – tell them that they should act in a precautionary way and heed the warnings on nanotech. Tell them that their voluntary scheme is not good enough, that they should stop giving a green light to nanotech. We need a moratorium on nanotech now!
You can contact the DEFRA Nanotech unit at:
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Chemicals and GM Division
Zone 4/F3,
Ashdown House,
123 Victoria Street,
London
SW1E 6DE
Tel 02070828104
Nano.technology@defra.gsi.gov.uk To take part in DEFRA’s consultation download details at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/nanotech-vrs/index.htm and submit your response by 23rd June. If you want to express your opinions in person DEFRA are holding nano consultation meetings on Monday 22 May 2006 in London, and Wednesday 31 May 2006 in Liverpool. If you would like to attend contact:
nano.technology@defra.gsi.gov.uk. If you are unfamiliar with the concepts, issues and dangers of nanotechnology, please read the following short introduction to the current situation and follow up the links to further reading.
Ever heard of nano-technology?
Chances are you are already using it on your skin, wearing it in your clothes or maybe even eating it in your food. Despite a long list of danger warnings on nanomaterials (products made from nanotechnology) the UK Government, under pressure from industry, has decided that it does not want to regulate or be careful with this new technology. The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has proposed a rule that would give nanotech companies free reign to introduce whatever nanomaterials they like into consumer products - unlabelled, untested and unregulated. Just as they did with GM Foods, the government is playing for the corporations over a risky new technology. It’s time to cry foul and send nanotech offside. Tell DEFRA today that you want nanotech products taken off the shelves until they have studied the dangers and are prepared to regulate and label them. Remind them they are supposed to protect the public not the nanotech companies.
What is Nanotech?
Nanotechnology involves the manufacture of invisibly small particles and new materials designed so that the atoms are arranged in new ways. By rearranging matter at this tiny scale traditional materials change their properties. For example zinc oxide, a chemical used in sunscreens, becomes transparent instead of white when it is made out of nanosize particles. Other materials become explosive, reactive or extremely toxic as a result of shrinking particles to the nano-size
Which products will use nanotech?
Nanotech particles are already being used quietly in a wide range of consumer products. L'Oreal and Boots use nanoparticles in sunscreens and cosmetics, the Gap and Next are putting nanoparticles in clothes to make them stain and wrinkle resistant, Smith and Nephew are putting them in bandages while chemical company BASF are putting nanoparticles in food additives into drinks. Meanwhile Unilever and Nestle are working on nanoparticle ice cream. Unfortunately products that contain nanomaterials do not have to be labeled and the nanomaterials are far too small for the consumer to detect. The companies who are developing nanotech hope to incorporate nanotechnology across all consumer products in the next ten years.
Is it safe?
Nanotechnology is a new set of technologies and safety studies have only just begun. However there are already a lot of warning signs that nanoparticles in particular are more toxic than larger particles and show the same health problems as particles that come out of car exhausts. For example:
*Metal oxide nanoparticles (such as Zinc oxide) used in sunscreens have been show to produce toxic effects in skin cells and studies are now ongoing to see how deeply they can penetrate the skin.
* A class of nanoparticles known as fullerenes have been shown to cause toxic effects in the lungs of mice, brain damage in fish and kill soil bacteria.
* The Royal Society (the leading organisation of scientists in the UK) has warned that new nanomaterials should be tested as new materials, that environmental uses of nanoparticles should be prohibited and that any nanoparticles escaping from factories should be treated as hazardous. The Royal Society also recommended that any products containing nanomaterials be labeled for consumers.
* In April 2006 a nano cleaning product called 'magic nano' was recalled in Germany after 76 people were admitted to hospital with breathing problems. It’s not clear what caused this but the German Authorities suspect that the nanoparticles in the product may be to blame.
Is it fair?
Nanotech is already changing the way things are made and may put many workers and small farmers out of business. For example, cotton, rubber and copper, on which the economies of several developing nations depend, all stand to be replaced by new nanomaterials. Just as biotechnology’s ability to manipulate genes went hand in hand with the patenting of life, so too nanotechnology’s ability to manipulate molecules has led to the patenting of matter. Corporations are already taking out broad ranging monopoly patents on nano-scale discoveries and inventions.
Who's behind it?
The usual suspects. This technology is being developed first and foremost by the worlds most powerful countries and largest corporations. Not only is nanotech being developed to make large companies bigger profits but will also be used to develop powerful new weapons. Nanotech is dominated by the Fortune 500 companies. From computers to chemicals, from oil to pharmaceuticals, from cosmetics to food the likes of IBM, DuPont, Syngenta, Exxon, Pfizer, L'Oreal and Kraft are all involved in nanotech.
What is the government proposing?
To do nothing! The government admits there is a problem but is afraid to upset the nanotech companies - therefore it is only going to bring in a very weak voluntary registration of nano-products. If there could be a problem all nanotech products should be taken off the shelves until they are properly understood.
What can you do about it?
Tell DEFRA that their voluntary scheme is unacceptable – tell them that they should act in a precautionary way and heed the warnings on nanotech. Tell them that their voluntary scheme is not good enough, that they should stop giving a green light to nanotech. We need a moratorium on nanotech now!
To take part in DEFRA’s consultation download details at www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/nanotech-vrs/index.htm and submit your response by 23rd June. If you want to express your opinions in person DEFRA are holding nano consultation meetings on Monday 22 May 2006 in London, and Wednesday 31 May 2006 in Liverpool. If you would like to attend contact:
nano.technology@defra.gsi.gov.uk. Nano further reading:
Nano-background reading
The Big Down and A Tiny Primer on Nano-scale Technologies and The Little Big Down by the ETC Group available online at www.etcgroup.org
May 2003 edition of the Ecologist Nanotechnology Special Report
“Nanotechnology: What it is and how corporations are using it” by Corporate Watch UK available online at
http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=2147 Nano-food and agriculture
Down On The Farm by the ETC Group available online at www.etcgroup.org
Nano-toxicity
Size Matters by the ETC Group available online at www.etcgroup.org
Nano-patents
Nanotech's "Second Nature" Patents by the ETC Group available online www.etcgroup.org
Nano-disruption
“The potential impacts of nano-scale technologies on commodity markets:
The implications for commodity dependent developing countries” available online at
http://www.southcentre.org/publications/researchpapers/ResearchPapers4.pdf Technological Convergence
The Little Bang Theory by the ETC Group available online at www.etcgroup.org
Nano-Regulation
“Nanotech Report Raises Red Flags” and “Government commissions and ignores nanotech report” in Corporate Watch newsletter available online at www.corporatewatch.org
“Corporations make the money, government ducks the issue and the public takes the risks” in Corporate Watch newsletter available online at www.corporatewatch.org
Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies: Opportunities and Uncertainties by the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering www.nano.org.uk
Nano-Products
Woodrow Wilson Institute database of nanotech products on the market www.nanotechproject.org/index.php?id=44
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