W1 PM Overview of Manufactured Nanomaterials and the Environment
Wednesday, 16 November 2005: 1:50 PM - 5:30 PM in Ballroom 1

(NOR-1122-320465) Nanotechnology Workplace Issues - National and International.

Woebkenberg, M.¹, ¹ NIOSH

ABSTRACT- Safe working practices are essential to the development of responsible nanotechnology. The "newness" of engineered nanostructure materials presents new challenges to ensuring occupational safety and health in-so-far as the purposely engineered nanostructured materials and devices demonstrate new, unique and non-scalable properties and behaviors. Current information can be used effectively to develop initial working practices; however, many critical knowledge gaps still need to be addressed. Government, industry, academia and other organizations are working towards addressing critical issues, and developing an appropriate framework for addressing potential impact. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) along with its partners has developed a strategic plan for addressing critical workplace issues in nanotechnology. The challenge is to determine if the nature of engineered nanostructures materials and devices present new safety and health risks, and to determine how the benefits of nanotechnology can be realized while proactively minimizing the potential risk.

Key words: Nanotechnology