Nanotechnology and Environmental, Health, and Safety: Issues for Consideration

This report looks at how congress can work to protect human health, safety, and the environment as nanoscale materials and products are researched, developed, manufactured, used, and discarded. The report looks at the potential benefits nanotechnology is likely to offer for reducing energy consumption, improving health care and remediating environmental damage and helping reduce pollution, as well as worries and preliminary research that seems to point towards some possible health and environmental implications for the widespread use of some engineered nanoscale particles. The report looks in detail at the importance of addressing potential risks, federal investment in risk research in this area, and federal regulation and international engagement on the environmental and health risks of nanoparticles.