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German Environment Agency: Don't use nano-materials!
25/10/2009

Advocates of nanotechnologies claim its potential is great, for applications such as improved energy generation and information storage capacity. For example, nanotechnology is used in order to save energy by reducing the weight of plastics and in long-life LED lights (light emitting diodes). However, the German Federal Environment Agency, Umweltbundesamt (UBA), has warned against the use of nanomaterials until more about the environmental impacts of nanomaterials and nanotechnology is known. 

A large research effort is underway on how to make use of the 'new' materials which fall into the field of nanotechnologies. In Germany alone, over 800 firms are exploring the field commercially in fields like mechanical engineering, automotive etc. The nanomaterials industry is growing rapidly in the production of IT components and there are many studies indicating toxicity. Key applications of nanotechnology are found in nano-electronics, which is an area developed to increase the speed of computing or chip performance, in environmental technology and in energy technology (solar cells, batteries, fuel cells, etc.).

The problem according to the UBA is that nano-technology and -materials are so small, that normal safety testing methods do not apply and we cannot be sure of the environmental risks. On that basis, Umweltbundesamt has warned about over excessive use until more findings of effects are at hand. 

According to German newspaper 'The Spiegel', the press release and accompanying background paper 'Nanotechnik für Mensch und Umwelt - Chancen fördern und Risiken mindern' Nanotechnology for mankind and environment - seizing opportunities and reducing risk (currently only available in German), prompted an extreme response from the media and public, and officials at the UBA to state that the documents have been misunderstood. They claim the posting is neither a warning nor a new study, merely a background paper and compilation of issues UBA had already raised. Reflecting on the response, UBA scientist Wolfgang Dubbert (a contributing author to the paper in question), said he felt the discussion sparked after the update was heading in the wrong direction. "You can't just talk about the risks - you also have to look at the opportunities," he said.

Although the paper expresses plenty of reservations about nanotechnology, many of its suggestions are logical - such as that calling for a register of products that use nanotechnology as well as a recognizable consumer labelling indicating that a product contains nano-particles. For this, UBA's primary motivation was to "increase transparency." They argue that new EU directives require the registration of chemicals in products, and the same ought to be applied to nanoproducts. "So that people have the freedom of choice," the Federal Environmental Agency said, "we need to strive for a suitable labelling system that informs without suggesting a danger." On a political level, the call was welcomed by Germany's Green Party.

In the opinion of many people in the industry, nanotechnology holds not only prospects for business, but also for improvements in environmental and health protection. “Nanotechnology has considerable and irrefutable potential to provide environmental relief, some of which is already being applied now," said René Zimmer, an expert at the Independent Institute for Environmental Concerns (UfU). Generally, most researchers will agree that their outlook is more related with concern about lack of information on the subject, rather than an outright wish to ban the technology. A balanced approach is required, unfortunately, criticism formulated by the UBA researchers and amplified by the press now remains part of the public perception for the time being at least.
 
Sources: prepared using materials from Umweltbundesamt and Spiegel Online
 


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