Nanotech Safety Bill Reintroduced
Legislation to strengthen and provide transparency to the multi-agency National Nanotechnology Initiative, which passed the House in the 110th Congress 407-6 but stalled in the Senate, was reintroduced Thursday by House Science Committee Chairman Bart Gordon. It requires departments participating in the effort to develop a plan for understanding the potential environmental, health, and safety risks of nanotechnology -- and a roadmap for implementing it.
The bill would require near- and long-term goals and the funding required, by goal and by agency. It would also seek to leverage private sector investments in nanotechnology and facilitate technology transfer by strengthening public/private partnerships. "The range of potential applications of nanotechnology is broad -- from solar cells to sunscreen, from electronics to energy transformation and storage, to medicine and health," Gordon said, noting it is important to address the potential downsides of the technology early and in a straightforward and open way.
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