Room at the bottom? Potential state and local strategies for managing the risks and benefits of nanotechnology

In the absence of actions taken at the federal level to address the environmental, health, consumer and worker safety issues that may be posed by nanotechnology , some state and local governments are beginning to investigate their own options to ensure the oversight of nano research and development. This report discusses possible options for states and localities to oversee the responsible development of nanotechnology, and looks at some existing state authorities and experiences that might be applied to oversight, including issues posed by air quality control, waste, water pollution, labeling, and workplace safety. The report ends with four recommended scenarios for potential action by states or localities to fill these current gaps in the federal oversight of nanotechnology.