Advances in material science have taken us into the age of nanotechnology. Nanotech issues and ideas metaphorically presented in the movie The Fantastic Voyage in 1963 are here. Nano engineered materials are being incorporated into everyday products such as materials to make them stain or bacteria resistant, tennis rackets to make them stronger and lighter, sunscreens to make them more effective, and drug delivery vehicles for super precise delivery of a drug at a desired site. The promise of nano materials appears to be wide, impacting many industries and products.
With the development of new nano-level technologies, there are significant EHS considerations. Human and environmental health considerations are not well understood for many of these materials. Cutting-edge research is being conducted, but there is a general consensus in the public health field that this research is not keeping pace with materials development. Read More