nanotechnologyandmanufacturednanomaterials.docVIP

Nanotechnology and manufactured Nanomaterials: Opportunities and Challenges IFCS Forum VI Thought Starter Objective of the plenary session: The objective is to exchange information in order to help raise the awareness of participants to the potential new opportunities, the new challenges and the new risks posed by nanotechnology. The meeting will provide a forum to share information on known and emerging issues, on the work of the OECD, ISO and UNESCO on nanotechnology and to foster an understanding of issues (applications and implications). The Forum will also be an opportunity to discuss the potential contributions of nanotechnology to sustainable development and pollution prevention, and to discuss how to achieve an equitable distribution of benefits and risks and role of responsible stewardship in addressing nanotechnology. Table of Contents: 1 Background 3 2 Ethical considerations 4 3 Social utility of nanotechnology 4 4 The state of the knowledge about the risks of nanomaterials 5 5 Communication and public dialogue 5 6 Activities of International Organisations 6 7 Activities of non-governmental organizations 7 8 National activities, interests and priorities on nanotechnology and manufactured nanomaterials 8 Belarus 8 China 9 European Commission 9 Germany 14 Korea 15 Nigeria 16 Slovenia 16 Switzerland 17 Thailand 18 United Kingdom 19 9 Annex 20 9.1 Definitions and types of manufactured nanomaterials 20 9.2 Health risks 21 9.3 Occupational health 22 9.4 Environmental risks 23 9.5 Ethical issues 24 Background Nanotechnology is an enabling technology that is expected to result in major changes across many industry sectors and to contribute to novel materials, devices and products. Depending on the area of application there are different timelines for the beginning of industrial prototyping and nanotechnology commercialization. First generation products are already on the market such as paints, coatings and cosmetics. More pr