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09/08/2007
A strong, comprehensive oversight of nanotechnology and its products is urgently required, a broad international coalition of consumer, public health, environmental, trade union and civil society organisations spanning six continents has said. A new statement, 'Principles for the oversight of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials', warns that nanomaterials already in use may pose significant health, safety, and environmental hazards.
George Kimbrell of the International Center for Technology Assessment said: 'Since there is currently no government oversight and no labelling requirements for nano-products anywhere in the world, no one knows when they are exposed to potential nanotech risks and no one is monitoring for potential health or environmental harm. That's why we believe oversight action based on our principles is urgent.' Bill Kojola of the US national union federation AFL-CIO commented: 'Even though potential health hazards stemming from exposure have been clearly identified, there are no mandatory workplace measures that require exposures to be assessed, workers to be trained, or control measures to be implemented. This technology should not be rushed to market until these failings are corrected and workers assured of their safety.'
Ron Oswald, general secretary of global food and farming trade union federation IUF, highlighted the importance of defending against the massive intrusion of nano-products into the global food chain, pointing out that 'hundreds of commercially available products - from pesticides to additives to packaging materials incorporating nanotech - are already on the market or just a step away.
Workers, consumers, and the environment must be adequately protected against the multiple risks this development poses to the global food system and the women and men who produce the food we all depend on.' The rapidly growing nano-workforce is predicted to reach two million workers globally by 2015.
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