The Marsh Center for Risk Insights focuses on identifying critical global business risks. A June 2007 survey of Fortune 100 executives inquired regarding the amount of preparation they were taking to address potential emerging business risks. Nanotechnology was included among seven other potential risks: natural disasters, terrorist attacks, oil price spikes, global climate change, housing market collapse, access to water, and pandemics. Marsh concluded from the survey that businesses were not adequately preparing for these risks because they did not believe these risks were relevant to their businesses. While preparing for future business risks is commendable (we often counsel clients in this regard), comparing the potential EHS risks posed by nanotechnology with natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and pandemics is irresponsible. It both understates the seriousness of the latter risks, while over stating the potential risks of the former.
