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The World Today - June issue
22 May 2008
In this month's The World Today, Robert Falkner exposes the weak regulatory system of nanotechnology in Nanotechnology Dangers: Who's Afraid of Nanotech?
In a little-noticed announcement, Britain's Soil Association declared that any foods containing nanotechnology additives can no longer be labeled 'organic'. This is the first ban on nanotechnology of its kind worldwide and comes after scientists are becoming increasingly concerned that nanoscale particles may react in unexpected ways, potentially causing harm to the human body and environment. And yet, few consumers realize that manufactured nanoparticles have been in commercial use for years and can be found in a wide range of products - skincare cream, sports clothing, cooking oil and wall coatings.
Regulatory oversight of the new technology is patchy and underdeveloped. As so often in modern industrial history, regulators are struggling to keep up with technological innovation. Scientists were the first to raise concerns about the speed with which nanotechnology products were emerging on the market without adequate guarantees on their safety. Now, the insurance industry has added its voice to the chorus calling for more regulatory oversight. All agree that a wider public debate is needed as well as better government regulatory oversight.
Existing environmental and consumer protection is not enough. None of the leading nanotech countries wants to undercut the high growth and innovation potential that nanotechnology presents. But as pressures grow for regulators to act on safety concerns, the search for the right balance between regulatory precaution and technology promotion is bound to become more complicated.
Full list of contents:
Food Prices: Feeding the Ten Billion
Alex Evans
Asian Rivers - Food and Power: Dams It Is!
David Fullbrook
Lebanon: Futile Victory
Nadim Shehadi
Nanotechnology Dangers: Who's Afraid of Nanotech?
Robert Falkner
G8 Summit and the International Economic Crisis: Shocks, Summits, Solutions
DeAnne Julius
G8 and Russian Foreign Policy: Overcoming Shortcomings
John Lough
Japan, Africa and the G8: Beyond Daydreams
Elizabeth Donnelly
Angola: Fuelling Friendships
Indira Campos
The British Economy: Bumpy Ride for Britain?
Vanessa Rossi
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