A New Frontier: EPA Releases Its Nanotechnology White Paper

This month EPA released its final Nanotechnology White Paper after more than a year-long external peer review period in which the agency took public comment on its draft paper. The final paper is the culmination of almost three years of work by a cross-agency work group charged with identifying key science issues that will allow society to accrue the unique and important benefits offered by nanotechnology, but also to identify and better understand any potential risks nanomaterials and nanoproducts may pose to human health and the environment. EPA's paper makes clear that while much has been learned about nanomaterials in the last few years, much more needs to be learned in regard to their potential for application and risk.