Links on Nanotechnologies

1.1 Institutions addressing nanotechnology

• The Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) of the European Commission adopted several opinions on nanotechnology risk assessment methodologies:
  
  • On 28-29 September 2005, SCENIHR adopted an "opinion on the appropriateness of existing methodologies to assess the potential risks associated with engineered and adventitious products of nanotechnologies":  http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/.../scenihr_o_003.pdf
  • On 10 March 2006, it adopted a "modified opinion (after public consultation) on the appropriateness of existing methodologies to assess the potential risks associated with engineered and adventitious products of nanotechnologies":  http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/.../scenihr_o_003b.pdf
  • Very recently, on 29 March 2007, it adopted an "opinion on the appropriateness of the risk assessment methodology in accordance with the technical guidance documents for new and existing substances for assessing the risks of nanomaterials":  http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/.../scenihr_o_004c.pdf
• The Community Health and Consumer Protection of the European Commission published a report in 2004 entitled "Nanotechnologies: a Preliminary Risk Analysis on the Basis of a Workshop Organized in Brussels on 1-2 March 2004 by the Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General of the European Commission":  http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/documents/ev_20040301_en.pdf
• The European Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS) provides an overview of nanotechnology related activities at the European Commission: http://cordis.europa.eu/nanotechnology/ 
• The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) provides information on the safety of nanomaterials: www.oecd.org/department/0,2688,en_2649_37015404_1_1_1_1_1,00.html 
• The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the US Center for Disease Control (CDC) provides information on the safety and health implications of nanotechnologies: www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/nanotech/  

1.2 Q&As and FAQs about nanotechnology

• Nanotechnology Now, a comprehensive site on science, technology and industy, proposes FAQs on nanotechnologies:
  www.nanotech-now.com/FAQ.htm 
• The Defra (UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affaire) note page on nanoscience and nanotechnology presents background information on the topic in the form of Q&As:
   www.defra.gov.uk/science/what/documents/DefraScienceNote1final.pdf
• The Royal Society, the national academy of science of the UK and the Commonwealth, proposes Q&As on nanoscience and nanotechnology:
  www.royalsoc.ac.uk/landing.asp?id=1210 
• The National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), the US program to coordinate the efforts in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology, publishes a series of FAQs on nanotechnology:
  www.nano.gov/html/facts/faqs.html 
• The Foresight Nanotech Institute, whose mission is to ensure the beneficial implementation of nanotechnology, proposes FAQs on nanotechnologies at:
  www.foresight.org/nano/whatisnano.html 

• Greenpeace expresses concerns about the health and environmental safety of nanoparticles and wishes to see a moratorium on the release of nanoparticles to the environment until evidence that it is safe (for the environment and human health) is clear: www.greenpeace.org.uk 
• The Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration expresses concerns about the safety of nanotechnologies and suggests a moratorium be placed on research involving molecular self-assembly and self-replication: www.etcgroup.org/en/issues/nanotechnology.html 
• The Soil Association, a UK organization devoted to organic food and farming, is proposing a ban on nanotechnologies, due to unknown health en environmental effects:
  www.soilassociation.org/ 

• Nano2Life, the first European Network of Excellence in nanobiotechnology, provides a link to the GreenFacts publication on nanotechnologies from its "Useful links" page: www.nano2life.de/links_list.php
• The Observatory for Micro & Nano Technologies (OMNT) provides a link to the GreenFacts publication on nanotechnologies under its " General links" at: www.omnt.fr/index.php?lang=eng&page=contact&section=liens
• Nanoforum aims to provide a linking framework for all nanotechnology activity within the European Community. It serves as a central location, from which to gain access to and information about research programmes, technological developments, funding opportunities and future activities in nanotechnology within the community: www.nanoforum.org/nf06~modul~loadin~folder~337~sent~~step~~.html