Strategic Plan for NIOSH Nanotechnology Research and Guidance: Filing the Knowledge Gaps

摘要

Nanotechnologythe manipulation of matter on a near-atomic scale to produce new materialshas the potential to transform many industries, from medicine to manufacturing, and the products they produce. Research in nanoscale technologies continues to expand worldwide. By 2015, the National Science Foundation estimates that nanotechnology will have a $1 trillion impact on the global economy and employ two million workers, one million of whom will likely reside in the United States. While this emerging technology holds great promise, it also presents unknown risks, especially to the health of workers. Many questions remain about how to best manage and control the potential hazards associated with the safe handling of nanomaterials. Thus for the period 20092012, NIOSH will collaborate with stakeholders at home and abroad to fill knowledge gaps related to nanotechnology, to identify and characterize hazards associated with nanomaterials, and to develop guidance for workers exposed to nanomaterials. Protecting the health of workers involved with nanotechnology is a global issue that requires international cooperation, commitment, and collaboration.