Nanotechnology and Its Impact on Consumers

Résumé du livre

The purpose of the investigation and this report is to improve the capacity of consumers and consumer organizations to inform and effectively represent consumers in decisions being made by governments, industry and standards organizations. [...] This is in keeping with the mission of the Consumers Council of Canada to provide credible, fact-based representation of the consumer interest to government and business to enhance policy development and programming. [...] This report explains for consumers what nanotechnology is, why the materials produced by the technology are different, what products contain nanomaterials, what is known about the benefits and risks associated with the materials, what gaps exist in the scientific knowledge, what is being done by governments, industry and the standards community to manage the new technology, and the concerns and kn [...] In addition, the nanomaterial may be more toxic and has the potential of dispersing readily through the body or the air, water and soil in the environment. [...] A number of significant gaps in key areas have been identified and include: Lack of definitions and nomenclature/classification systems; Test procedures and instrumentation to measure, characterize and evaluate nanomaterials; Identification of the potential impact of nanomaterials on the body at the cellular level, their toxicity and the resulting risks to human health; Knowledge about the.