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Info meeting 9
NanoCap
Coordination
Action FP6
Coordinator:
IVAM UvA, dept Chemical Risks
Roeterstraat 33 NL-1018 WB Amsterdam Contact person: Pieter
van Broekhuizen (pvbroekhuizen@ivam.uva.nl)
Tel:
+31 20 525 6324 Project
period: September 2006 – September
2009 Summary
Nanotechnology is a major growth area in research and industry. Applications of nanotechnology include advanced materials, textiles, prosthetic implants, food and drugs. Nanosizing products has many benefits. However, there is also a serious debate about the potential hazards of nano-particles (<100 nm), when introduced into the environment and the workplace. The NanoCap[1]
Coordination Action (CA) is a European project that is set up to deepen the
understanding of environmental, occupational health and safety risks and
ethical aspects of nanotechnology by organising a structured discussion between
NGOs, academic researchers and other stakeholders. This CA will enable
environmental NGOs and trade unions to participate in a debate on
nanotechnology at European level. It will improve their understanding of this
new technological field, and it will give them the opportunity to formulate
their positions within their actual policy context supported by scientific
input, to inform their members and the general public and to discuss the
issues. In addition to NGOs and trade unions, NanoCap will develop recommendations to
enable public authorities to address the health, safety and environmental risk
issues related to the rapid introduction of nanotechnology into society. At the
same time it is the goal of this CA to give also industry the tools to
introduce a “responsible nanotechnology”, i.e. to stimulate industrial and
academic R&D performers to focus on source reduction regarding
nano-particles and to make risk assessment an important dimension in their
work. NanoCap is a
consortium of 5 environmental NGOs, 5 trade unions and 5 universities (see list of participants) that will hold a
series of focused working conferences, in which a structured enhancement of
stakeholder capacities is planned. The universities take care of scientific
input for the conferences. NGOs and trade unions will bring in their
preliminary positions after discussions with their members. A portfolio on
ethical issues and a position concerning “responsible nanotechnology” will be
prepared and actively disseminated. The three-year project is carried out along a series of
four (closed) working conferences, followed by an international conference for
the general public. At the working conferences external experts may be invited
by the NanoCap organisation. The following, subsequent theme’s for the conferences will be considered: ·
building a level playing field
of nanotechnological definitions, techniques, setting borderlines, addressing
fields of interests, identifying interesting new developments ·
fundamental and applied
nanotechnological R&D at universities and in industry ·
Environmental implications,
external risks ·
Occupational safety and health,
risk assessment ·
Test systems for nano particles,
implications for agreed testing systems within REACH and for standard setting
(OELs) ·
Ethics, nanotechnology and
nano-R&D ·
Role of NGOs versus role of
R&D and role of the industry ·
Drawing criteria for the
assessment of nanotechnology materials: research, production and use In this respect contacts will be made with industry, international consortia and boards involved in discussions about nanotechnology. Dissemination of the criteria will be performed by the partners within their own organisations and by using their own existing channels towards the authorities making European policy.
List of Nanocap
partners
IVAM Amsterdam, August 2006 |
