NEWS

04.05.07
Operational plans for risk assessment projects agreed

Operational plans for six risk assessment projects were agreed at the second meeting of the OECD's Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN). ICMM's Ben Davies attended the meeting which was held in Berlin on 25-27 April.

The market for manufactured nanomaterials is experiencing rapid growth with the development of new materials and applications. This growth is set to continue and in the short term will be driven by demand for metals and metal oxides.

There are concerns from some parties however that there is a lack of data and formal risk assessment to support this growing use of nanomaterials.

Governments and industry alike are keen to develop a framework for assessing their safety while responsibly developing markets and ICMM's input is being co-ordinated by the Integrated Materials Management Task Force in terms of responsible materials stewardship.

The OECD is seeking to address needs relating to the environment and human health risks associated with the growing application of nanomaterials through the work of its WPMN.

The current work program will run until 2008 and will see the OECD take a leading role in international co-ordination on risk-based research relating to the safety of manufactured nanomaterials.

The six project outlines developed at the Berlin meeting will be presented for formal adoption at the Joint Chemicals Committee meeting in July 2007.

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