Nanotechnology Raises The Spectre Of Asbestos Controversy The “huge lack of knowledge” regarding the impact of nanotechnologies on health and the working environment has been condemned in Denmark, with many comparing the hazards of nanoparticles with asbestos. Their website explains: "Engineered Nanoparticles (ENP) are increasingly produced for use in a wide range of industrial and consumer products. Yet it is known that exposure to some types of particles can cause severe health effects. Therefore it is essential to ascertain whether exposure to ENP can lead to possible health risks for workers and consumers. We have formed a consortium of well-known scientists from European Universities and Research Institutes, with over 100 publications in the field of Nanotoxicology. Our aim is to develop an approach for the Risk Assessment of ENP (ENPRA)." The ENPRA project is a major new European Framework 7 project to develop and implement a novel integrated approach for engineered nanoparticle (ENP) risk assessment. The 3 ½ year project is led by the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) in Edinburgh. Worth €3.7 million, it harnesses the knowledge and capabilities of 15 European and 6 US partners including three US Federal Agencies: EPA, NIOSH and NIH-NIEHS. The first newsletter, which explains in detail the problems associated with nanotechnology and health and includes The Exposure-Dose-Response paradigm, can also be downloaded from the E-Library. Simply look under the category of Nanotechnology when searching. The ENPRA website can be found here Source: Croners / NFA / ENPRA
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