NEEDS FOR REGULATIONS, TRAINING, AND EDUCATION FOR HEALTH PROTECTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY OF NANOTECHNOLOGIES

摘要

This paper discusses the literature, definitions, possible applications, future benefits, and arising concerns related to nanotechnology. Assuring safe nanotechnology is a society demand. Science has to provide valuable guidance to the safe handling of nanoparticles and other safe approaches to nanotechnology, but government bodies must approve and implement human health and environment protection regulations. It will allow new products resulting from nanoscience to be introduced and used safely. It should be acknowledged that it will not be possible to undertake full toxicity testing for all nanomaterials, and therefore there is a necessity in short-term strategies to address potential toxicity. Researchers should refine these strategies as data accumulate. There is a need for a deeper understanding of the biological responses of a selected set of nanomaterials, in order to ensure that the data contribute to the broader understanding of the toxicity of nanomaterials. There is a need for a minimum standard physical characterization of the materials being tested and for internationally harmonized standard reference nanomaterials. Exposure data should be combined with medical screening data to facilitate epidemiological studies on nanomaterials. There is a need for standard, validated test methods for monitoring nanoparticles and in particular at the workplace.