The benefits provided by the advancement of nano-technologies are expected to have more widespread effects than any other recent innovation. Frequently hailed as the next general-purpose technology, nanotechnologies promise to enable technological breakthroughs, which will impact the entire global economy in a way beyond that of the steam engine and electricity.

Like any other new technology, however, early applications and implementations of nanotechnologies are surrounded by uncertainties and worries about the potential effects on environmental and human health and safety. In particular, the manufacture and application of nanomaterials has been a recent cause for concern that has initiated a number of public debates.

ADOPTING STANDARDS
One of the challenges for manufacturers and users of nanomaterials is that, until recently, there has been no published guidance on the handling and disposal of nanoparticles and other nanoscale entities. Recognizing this gap, BSI, the British Standards Institution, has recently published a Guide to safe handling and disposal of manufactured nanoma-terials (PD 6699-2).¹ Reflecting current concerns about potential risks posed by new nanoscale materials, including nanoscale forms of certain existing materials, the guide proposes that companies adopt a cautious approach to handling and disposal and recommends that, in the absence of sufficient information to the contrary, all such materials are considered potentially hazardous. The guide is one of a suite of nine documents that BSI published at the end of 2007, all of which are available free of charge.¹ These documents—six sector-specific terminologies: medical health and personal care applications of nanotechnology (PAS 131); the bio-nano interface (PAS 132); nanoscale measurement and instrumentation(PAS 133); carbon nanostructures (PAS 134); nanofabrication (PAS 135), and nanomaterials (PAS 136); good practice guide to specifying nanomaterials (PD 6699-1); the guide to safe handling and disposal of manufactured nanomaterials; and guidance on labeling of manufactured nanoparticles and products containing manufactured nanoparticles (PAS 130)—will help to support worker, public, and environmental safety, underpin commercialization and procurement, provide consumers with information about the nanoparticle content of products, and contribute to the consistent usage of terminology in this emerging field.

At the same time, multinational organizations have started to look at nanotechnologies’ R&D and commercialization in the context of global corporate governance models. The most comprehensive guidance in this area, the Responsible Nano Code,² requires board accountability for high levels of stakeholder involvement, worker health and safety, environmental and public health and safety, social, environmental, health, and ethical impacts, business partner engagement, and transparency and disclosure. The Code was developed by a working group of investment banks, NGOs, unions, large international and small national companies, toxicologists, consumers organizations, and social scientists.