Nanotechnology Project

Publications

Publications

Project Reports

  • November 4, 2010 PEN 19 - Voluntary Initiatives, Regulation, and Nanotechnology Oversight Charting a Path Enough voluntary initiatives for nanotechnology have been implemented so they can be looked at together, in a comparative sense, and historically, in terms of their relationship to programs that have preceded them. This report provides that analysis for the first time. Dr. Daniel J. Fiorino
  • April 28, 2009 PEN 18 - Oversight of Next Generation Nanotechnology Existing health and safety agencies are unable to cope with the risk assessment, standard setting and oversight challenges of advancing nanotechnology. J. Clarence Davies
  • January 27, 2009 PEN 16 - Nanotechnology: The Social and Ethical Issues “It is crucial to address social and ethical issues now as we consider both the substantial potential risks of nanotechnology and its possible significant contributions to our well-being and environmental sustainability,” says report author Ronald Sandler. PEN 16 emphasizes ways in which these issues intersect with governmental functions and responsibilities, including science and technology policy, as well as research funding, regulation and work on public engagement. Ronald Sandler
  • January 14, 2009 PEN 17 - A Hard Pill to Swallow Barriers to Effective FDA Regulation of Nanotechnology-Based Dietary Supplements Historically, the regulation of dietary supplements has been a significant challenge for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the fact that some of these products are now being manufactured using nanotechnology creates an additional layer of complexity. Is FDA equipped to meet the emerging regulatory challenge of dietary supplements that use engineered nanomaterials? William B. Schultz and Lisa Barclay
  • September 9, 2008 PEN 15 - Silver Nanotechnologies and the Environment Old Problems or New Challenges? Widespread use of nanoscale silver will challenge regulatory agencies to balance important potential benefits against the possibility of significant environmental risk, highlighting the need to identify research priorities concerning this emerging technology, according to a new report released today by the Project. Samuel N. Luoma
  • August 21, 2008 PEN 14 - The Consumer Products Safety Commission and Nanotechnology The inability of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to carry out its mandate with respect to simple, low-tech products such as children’s jewelry and toy trains bodes poorly for its ability to oversee the safety of complex, high-tech products made using nanotechnology, according to E. Marla Felcher. E. Marla Felcher
  • July 23, 2008 PEN 13 - Nanotechnology Oversight An Agenda for the Next Administration Few domestic policy areas that the new administration must address will have greater long-range consequences than nanotechnology — a new technology that has been compared with the industrial revolution in terms of its impact on society. If the right decisions are made, nanotechnology will bring vast improvements to almost every area of daily living. If the wrong decisions are made, the American economy, human health and the environment will suffer. J. Clarence (Terry) Davies
  • June 25, 2008 Assuring the Safety of Nanomaterials in Food Packaging The Regulatory Process and Key Issues Engineered nanoscale materials (ENMs), which contain novel properties that offer potential benefits for use in food packaging, raise new safety evaluation challenges for regulators and industry. The report examines the path of a number of hypothetical nanotechnology food packaging applications through the current regulatory system. Michael R. Taylor
  • April 9, 2008 PEN 11 - Room at the Bottom? Potential State and Local Strategies for Managing the Risks and Benefits of Nanotechnology State and local governments often have adopted trailblazing initiatives to address environmental, health and safety concerns in advance or in lieu of federal action. With nanotechnology, an emerging field of science with unknown risks, this practice is continuing, a landmark study has found. Suellen Keiner
  • January 4, 2008 Looking Back on the First Two Years Biennial Report This report reviews the Project’s major activities, key contributions, and most significant impacts over its first two years. Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies