Yesterday, Safenano and Defra, UK Government Department for Food & Rural Affairs, released EMERGNANO, the first global review of environmental, health, and safety studies examining the risks of nanotechnology exposure (essentially a study of the ongoing studies). The review examined more than 250, from approximately 670, studies in the context of the 18 Research Objectives defined by the UK’s Nanotechnology Research Coordination Group. The project’s goal was to conduct "a detailed review and analysis of research carried out worldwide on Environment, Health and Safety aspects of engineered nanoparticles, including issues relating to hazard, exposure and risk assessment and regulation, and made an assessment of how far 18 of the [Research Objectives] have been met and which gaps still remain to be filled."
Providing comprehensive reviews and analyses of EHS research to determine exposure risks is another important step in determining the potential risks of engineered nanomaterials. This review is also likely to help fame future research studies in terms of effectiveness and need.
The full EMERGNANO report is available here. In addition, a condensed version is also available as well as commentary by EMERGNANO authors.
