With the joint release today of Principles for the Oversight of Nanotechnologies and Nanomaterials, a broad international coalition of consumer, public  health, environmental, labor, and civil society organizations spanning six continents  called for strong, comprehensive oversight of the new technology and its products.  The manufacture of products using nanotechnology - ­a powerful platform for manipulating matter at the level of atoms and molecules in order to alter properties - ­has  exploded in recent years. Hundreds of consumer products incorporating nanomaterials  are now on the market, including cosmetics, sunscreens, sporting goods, clothing, electronics, baby and infant products, and food and food packaging. But evidence indicates that current nanomaterials may pose significant health, safety, and  environmental hazards.  In addition, the profound social, economic, and ethical challenges posed by nano- scale technologies have yet to be addressed.

As Chee Yoke Ling of the Third World Network explained, "Materials engineered at the  nano-scale can exhibit fundamentally different properties - ­including toxicity - ­with  unknown effects.  Current research raises red flags that demand precautionary action and further study."  She added, "As there are now hundreds of products containing  nanomaterials in commerce, the public, workers, and the environment are being exposed  to these unlabeled, and in most cases, untested materials."

George Kimbrell of the International Center for Technology Assessment continued, "Since there is currently no government oversight and no labeling requirements for nanoproducts anywhere in the world, no one knows when they are exposed to potential nanotech risks and no one is monitoring for potential health or environmental harm.   That's why we believe oversight action based on our principles is urgent."

This industrial boom is creating a growing nano-workforce which is predicted to reach two million globally by 2015.  "Even though potential health hazards stemming from  exposure have been clearly identified, there are no mandatory workplace measures that  require exposures to be assessed, workers to be trained, or control measures to be implemented," explained Bill Kojola of the AFL-CIO.  "This technology should not be rushed to market until these failings are corrected and workers assured of their safety."    "Nanomaterials are entering the environment during manufacture, use, and disposal of hundreds of products, even though we have no way to track the effects of this potent new  form of pollution," agreed Ian Illuminato of Friends of the Earth. "By the time  monitoring catches up to commerce, the damage will already have been done."

Ron Oswald, General Secretary of international trade union IUF, highlighted the  importance of defending against the massive intrusion of nano-products into the global  food chain, pointing out that "hundreds of commercially available products - ­from  pesticides to additives to packaging materials incorporating nanotech - ­are already on the  market or just a step away. Workers, consumers, and the environment must be adequately  protected against the multiple risks this development poses to the global food system and  the women and men who produce the food we all depend on."

"The makers of these materials are winning patents based on novelty and uniqueness, but  industry then turns around and says their nano- products do not need to be regulated  differently because they are the same as bulk materials," pointed out Kathy Jo Wetter of  ETC Group, an international civil society organization based in Ottawa, Canada.  "This  contradiction benefits industry, but it cannot stand.  Mandatory, nano-specific regulatory  oversight measures are required."

"Although governments worldwide spent over $6 billion on nanotech R&D last year,  research spending on risks and social effects comprises only a 'nano' portion of that,"  noted Rick Worthington of the Loka Institute an organization that promotes public  participation in all matters related to science and technology.  "We've seen the outcome of unregulated 'miracle technologies' such as synthetic chemicals before in the toxic  pollution of entire communities.  A portion of the nano research on social and  environmental issues should involve active participation by communities, whose insights  can help us avoid the catastrophic problems experienced in the past."

The coalition's declaration outlines eight fundamental principles necessary for adequate  and effective oversight and assessment of the emerging field of nanotechnology.

I.  A Precautionary Foundation: Product manufacturers and distributors must bear  the burden of proof to demonstrate the safety of their products: if no independent  health and safety data review, then no market approval.
II.  Mandatory Nano-specific Regulations: Nanomaterials should be classified as new  substances and subject to nano-specific oversight.  Voluntary initiatives are not  sufficient.   
III. Health and Safety of the Public and Workers: The prevention of exposure to  nanomaterials that have not been proven safe must be undertaken to protect the  public and workers.
IV. Environmental Protection: A full lifecycle analysis of environmental impacts  must be completed prior to commercialization.
V.  Transparency: All nano-products must be labeled and safety data made publicly  available.
VI.  Public Participation: There must be open, meaningful, and full public participation  at every level.
VII.  Inclusion of Broader Impacts: Nanotechnology's wide-ranging effects, including  ethical and social impacts, must be considered.
VIII.  Manufacturer Liability: Nano-industries must be accountable for liabilities  incurred from their products.

"We're calling upon all governmental bodies, policymakers, industries, organizations,  and all other relevant actors to endorse and take actions to incorporate these principles,"  said Beth Burrows of the Edmonds Institute, a public interest organization dedicated to  education about environment, technology, and intellectual property rights.  "As new  technologies emerge we need to ensure new materials and their applications are benign  and contribute to a healthy and socially just world. Given our past mistakes with 'wonder  technologies' like pesticides, asbestos, and ozone depleting chemicals, the rapid  commercialization of nanomaterials without full testing or oversight is shocking.  It is no  surprise that the public of the 21 st century is demanding more accountability."

The complete document is available at numerous endorsing organizations websites,  including http://www.icta.org.  Organizations can endorse the principles by emailing  gkimbrell@icta.org.

The initial endorsing organizations are:    Acción Ecológica (Ecuador),  African Centre for Biosafety,  American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations  (U.S.), Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union, Beyond Pesticides (U.S.),  Biological Farmers of Australia,  Canadian Environmental Law  Association, Center for Biological Diversity (U.S.),  Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (U.S.),  Center for Food Safety (U.S.),  Center for Environmental Health (U.S.),  Center for Genetics and Society (U.S.),  Center for the Study of Responsive Law  (U.S.),  Clean Production Action (Canada),  Ecological Club Eremurus (Russia),  EcoNexus (United Kingdom),  Edmonds Institute (U.S.),  Environmental Research Foundation  (U.S.),  Essential Action (U.S.),  ETC Group (Canada), Forum for Biotechnology and Food  Security (India),  Friends of the Earth Australia, Friends of the Earth Europe, Friends of the Earth United States, GeneEthics (Australia), Greenpeace (U.S.),  Health and Environment Alliance  (Belgium),  India Institute for Critical Action- Centre in Movement, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (U.S.),  Institute for Sustainable Development  (Ethiopia), International Center for Technology  Assessment (U.S.), International Society of Doctors for the  Environment (Austria), International Trade Union Confederation,  International Union of Food,  Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant,  Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers'  Associations,  Loka Institute (U.S.),  National Toxics Network (Australia), Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (U.S.),  Science and Environmental Health Network (U.S.),  Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (U.S.),  Tebtebba Foundation - Indigenous  Peoples' International Centre for Policy Research and Education (Philippines),  The Soils Association (United Kingdom), Third World Network (China), United Steelworkers (U.S.),  Vivagora (France)

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