Nanomaterials: Risks and Benefits (NATO Science for Peace and Security Series C: Environmental Security) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1402094906 ISBN 13: 9781402094903

Publisher: Springer, 2008

Synopsis

Many potential questions regarding the risks associated with the development and use of wide-ranging technologies enabled through engineered nanomaterials. For example, with over 600 consumer products available globally, what information exists that describes their risk to human health and the environment? What en- neering or use controls can be deployed to minimize the potential environmental health and safety impacts of nanomaterials throughout the manufacturing and product lifecycles? How can the potential environmental and health benefits of nanotechnology be realized and maximized? The idea for this book was conceived at the NATO Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) on “Nanomaterials: Environmental Risks and Benefits and Emerging Consumer Products. ” This meeting – held in Algarve, Portugal, in April 2008 – started with building a foundation to harmonize risks and benefits associated with nanomaterials to develop risk management approaches and policies. More than 70 experts, from 19 countries, in the fields of risk assessment, decision-analysis, and security discussed the current state-of-knowledge with regard to nanomaterial risk and benefits. The discussion focused on the adequacy of available risk assessment tools to guide nanomaterial applications in industry and risk governance. The workshop had five primary purposes: Describe the potential benefits of nanotechnology enabled commercial products. Identify and describe what is known about environmental and human health risks of nanomaterials and approaches to assess their safety. Assess the suitability of multicriteria decision analysis for reconciling the benefits and risks of nanotechnology.

About this title

Review

From the reviews:

"This book deals with the main issues of nowadays debate about nanomaterials. It encompasses the papers presented at the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on ‘Nanomaterials: environmental risks and benefits and emerging consumer products’ held in Faro, Portugal, April 2008. ... In conclusion, we highly recommend the book to all scientists, policy makers, and stakeholders addressing the environmental and toxicological implications of nanomaterials." (Hanna Maes, Andreas Schaeffer, Henner Hollert and Hans Toni Ratte, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Vol. 16, 2009)

Synopsis

There are many potential questions regarding the risks associated with the development and use of wide-ranging technologies enabled through engineered nanomaterials. For example, with over 600 consumer products available globally, what information exists that describes their risk to human health and the environment? What engineering or use controls can be deployed to minimize the potential environmental health and safety impacts of nanomaterials throughout the manufacturing and product lifecycles? How can the potential environmental and health benefits of nanotechnology be realized and maximized?The book's chapters clearly illustrate that while existing chemical risk assessment and risk management frameworks may provide a starting point, the unique properties of nanomaterials adds a significant level of complexity to this process. The focus of many chapters is on identification of strategies and tools that could currently be implemented to reduce technical uncertainty and prioritize research to address the immediate needs of the regulatory and risk assessment communities.

Papers in the book illustrate application of advanced risk assessment, comprehensive environmental assessment, risk characterization methods, decision analysis techniques, and other approaches to help focus research and inform policymakers benefiting the world at large.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1402094906
• ISBN 13: 9781402094903
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 483
• Editor: Linkov Igor, Steevens Jeffery A.