"Toxicology generally moves at a glacial pace compared to new product development", writes Barnaby Feder in the NY Times (6.10.2005). But this time, regarding nanotech it's different. According to Feder some eminent scientists in toxicology research and nanotech presented a report on how to screen best nanoparticles for health hazards. "The report emphasizes the need to characterize the particles in numerous ways, including shape, surface area, electrical characteristics and how likely they are to quickly form clumps that interact with the body differently than separate particles. It also describes a variety of tests for studying the impact of the materials on different organs and to test the different impacts of eating, breathing or touching the particles", writes Feder.
About a science communications project in Britain reports Niels Boeing in Die Zeit (6.10.2005). The so called NanoJury (at http://www.nanojury.org ) project, a citizens jury, wants to unravel the opinion of the public on nanotech. Some 20 citizens discuss the issue in workshops and seminars with nanotech experts and sociologists. The outcome is fascinating to Boeing: According to the citizens' conclusion governmental funding on nanotech shall focus on health and energy; toxicology issues shall be examined in detail; and nanotech products shall be labeled comprehensibly. The author's recommendation: the same procedure, please, also for Germany. (The Swiss already prepare for a start.)
About a science communications project in Britain reports Niels Boeing in Die Zeit (6.10.2005). The so called NanoJury (at http://www.nanojury.org ) project, a citizens jury, wants to unravel the opinion of the public on nanotech. Some 20 citizens discuss the issue in workshops and seminars with nanotech experts and sociologists. The outcome is fascinating to Boeing: According to the citizens' conclusion governmental funding on nanotech shall focus on health and energy; toxicology issues shall be examined in detail; and nanotech products shall be labeled comprehensibly. The author's recommendation: the same procedure, please, also for Germany. (The Swiss already prepare for a start.)