The rapid pace of nanotechnology development has sparked fierce debate in recent years around the risks and benefits to society of extremely small technologies. While nanometre-scale structures have not yet progressed much beyond the test tube stage, some industrial applications have already developed in areas like advanced medical technologies, and even consumer goods like paint and sun lotions.

While nanotechnologies may bring major benefits to society, they also raise many concerns about the potential risks posed to our health and the environment.

The tragedy of asbestos, a microscopic mineral fibre whose �miracle� properties were once also hailed by industry and some scientists, taught labour unions to be wary of substances invisible to the unaided human eye. The health consequences for workers who handle nanomaterials are still shrouded in unknowns.

The ETUI-REHS Health and Safety Department has since September 2006 been involved in the NANOCAP project, which also includes universities, environmental protection NGOs and trade unions from several European countries. The aim is to expand our knowledge of nanotechnologies and what their rapid development will mean for society. The NANOCAP partners also aim to push industry and the scientific community to make risk management central to nanotechnology development and marketing.

• Social implications of nanotechnologies
  Pieter Van Broekhuizen, NANOCAP coordinator
• Website
• Poster

Nanotechnology refers to the study and fabrication of materials and devices on a nanometre scale (nm), a billionth of a metre in size. These materials, known as nanomaterials, are made up of nanoparticles under 100 nm in size. For comparison, the average human hair has a diameter of 80 000 nm. Their small size endows these nanoscale materials with singular properties. They have a much bigger surface area to volume ratio than more macroscale materials; this can give them a higher chemical reactivity and influence their electrical or mechanical properties. Also, quantum mechanical effects may become dominant in the behaviour of materials reduced to nanosize, altering their optical, electrical and magnetic properties.

• Introduction to nanotechnology

ETUC wants precautionary principle applied to nanotechnologies (Press release, 26/06/2008) ETUC Resolution on nanotechnologies and nanomaterials (25/06/2008)

Nanotechnologies are rapidly expanding in different industrial sectors such as pharmacy, microchips and chemical industry, which means that the number of workers exposed to nanomaterials is likely to rise sharply in the coming years. But their impact on health and safety at work is hard to predict as yet. While much effort is being put into the development and marketing of nanomaterials, research into the potential risks of these products to workers is still in its infancy. Relatively little is known about their toxic effects.

Available data, however, suggest that some nanomaterials can cross the different protection barriers, spread throughout the body and accumulate in different organs. Toxic effects have already been reported in the lungs, heart, reproductive system, kidneys, skin and cells. The most likely exposure pathways in workplaces are through the lungs and skin.

The reported toxic effects in animals and the physico-chemical characteristics of nanomaterials are good reasons for adopting a precautionary approach and, starting now, taking all appropriate steps to limit exposure and protect the health of potentially exposed workers.

In these conditions, establishing strict preventive procedures is the only way to protect the researchers and students engaged in developing these materials, and workers involved in synthesising, processing or using nanomaterials, against developing occupational diseases.

• Nanoparticles: Actual knowledge about occupational health and safety risks and prevention measures
  IRSST, 2006
• Health effects of nanoparticles
  IRSST, 2006

Described in some quarters as �driving the next industrial revolution�, nanotechnologies have considerable potential for development and applications, especially in the biotechnologies, materials, communication and information technologies. The governments of industrialised countries have clearly grasped this. Public spending on nanotechnologies in the United States and Europe is rising steadily year over year. The European Union has decided to plough 3.5 billion euros into nanotechnology research between 2007 and 2013. Then, there is private investment. The most frequently-cited estimate puts the world market in nanotechnologies rising to $1 000 billion by 2015.
In terms of new jobs, it is estimated that 2 million workers will be needed between now and 2015, mostly working in start-ups and SMEs.

• The economic development of nanotechnology
  European Commission, DG Research, November 2006

On 17 June 2008, the Commission adopted a Communication on regulatory aspects of nanomaterials. Based on a regulatory review of EU legislation in relevant sectors, it concluded that the potential health, safety and environmental risks in relation to nanomaterials are "in principle" covered under current EU laws on chemicals, health and safety of workers, different product safety requirements and the environment. However, the EU executive stated that current legislation may have to be modified "for example as regards thresholds used in some legislation," leaving the door open to possible amendments to REACH.

• Commission Communication on regulatory aspects of nanomaterials
  COM(2008) 366 final
• Commission staff working paper accompanying document to Commission Communication on regulatory aspects of nanomaterials
  SEC(2008) 2036

On 7 February 2008, the Commission adopted a recommendation on a code of conduct for responsible nanosciences and nanotechnologies research. Based around 7 general principles covering issues such as sustainability, precaution, inclusiveness and accountability, the Code of Conduct invites Member States to take concrete action, involving universities, research institutes and companies, for the safe development and use of nanotechnologies.

• Commission recommendation on a code of conduct for responsible nanosciences and nanotechnologies research
  C(2008) 424 final

In May 2004, the European Commission adopted its Communication �Towards a European strategy for Nanotechnology�, setting the aim of strengthening European research and development in nanotechnologies while addressing societal, public health, and environmental protection concerns.

The Commission went a step further in June 2005 by adopting an action plan on nanosciences and nanotechnologies for the period 2005-2009. The plan requires the carrying out of risk assessments related to human health, the environment, consumers and workers at all stages of the lifecycle of the technology (conception, manufacture, distribution, use, recycling).

In March 2006, the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR), a scientific advisory body set up in 2004 by the Commission, gave an opinion on existing risk assessment methods for nanotechnology products.

• Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies: An action plan for Europe 2005-2009. First Implementation Report 2005-2007
  COM(2007) 505 final
• The appropriateness of existing methodologies to assess the potential risks associated with engineered and adventitious products of nanotechnologies
  Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR), March 2006
• Communication from the Commission - Nanosciences and nanotechnologies: An action plan for Europe 2005-2009
  COM(2005) 243 final
• Communication from the Commission - Towards a European strategy for nanotechnology
  COM(2004) 338 final

• Draft opinion of the Scientific Committee on the potential risks arising from nanoscience and nanotechnologies on food and feed safety
  European Commission the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), October 2008
• Mounting evidence that carbon nanotubes may be the new asbestos
  Friends of the Earth Australia, August 2008
• Space elevators, tennis racquets, and mesothelioma
  The Lancet Oncology, vol. 9, July 2008
• Safe Nanotechnology in the Workplace An Introduction for Employers, Managers, and Safety and Health Professionals
  NIOSH, 2008
• Evaluation and control of occupational health risks from nanoparticles
  Thomas Schneider et al., TemaNord, 2007
• Opinion on the ethical aspects of nanomedicine
  The European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies to the European Commission, 17 January 2007
• Safe handling of nanotechnology
  Nature, 15 November 2006
• The potential risks of nanomaterials: A review carried out for ECETOC
  Particle and Fibre Toxicology, vol. 3, no 11, 2006
• Review of safety practices in the nanotechnology industry. Phase one report: Current knowledge and practices regarding environmental health and safety in the nanotechnology workplace
  University of California, October 2006
• Nanotech raises worker-safety questions
  Washington Post, April 8, 2006
• Imaging nanotechnology: cultural support for technological innovation in Europe and the United States
  Public Understanding of Science, 2005 
• Report of the OECD workshop on the safety of manufactured nanomaterials
  Washington D.C., United States, 7th-9th December 2005
• Nanotechnologies : A preliminary risk analysis
  European Commission � DG Health and consumer protection, March 2004
• Nanoscience and nanotechnologies: Opportunities and uncertainties, summary and recommendations
  The Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering, London, 2004
• ASECO opinion on nanotechnology

• NanoCap
  "Nanotechnology Capacity Building NGOs" European project
• Commission�s Europa website on nanotechnologies
• CORDIS
  The European Commission�s dedicated nanotechnology site
• CTA
  International Center for Technology Assessement
• ETC Group�s (Canadian NGO)
  Nanotechnology issues report
• Friends of the Earth Australia
  Special site on nanotechnology project
• Friends of the Earth USA
  Special campaign by the environmental NGO
• UK Hazards Magazine�s special HSW report on nanotechnology
• Nanocenter
  University of South Carolina�s nanotechnology research centre
• Nanoforum
  The network on nanotechnology set up by the European Union
• Nanomaterials and safety
  French site on nanotechnology risks control
• NanoOffice
  Center for Interdisciplinary Technology Studies (ZIT) at Darmstadt Technical University
• Nanosafe
  Website of the European Nanosafe project
• Nanotechnology Law Blog
  Law firm blog focusing on regulatory and legal developments involving nanotechnologies
• Nanotechproject
  Inventory of nanotechnology-based consumer products
• French Nanotechnology Observatory site