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Commentary

Nature Nanotechnology 4, 467–470 (1 August 2009) | doi:10.1038/nnano.2009.205

Essential features for proactive risk management

Vladimir Murashov & John Howard

Detailed information about the risks associated with new technologies is often missing during the early stages of research, development and commercial marketing, so people working with these new technologies in industrial settings can be potentially exposed to serious harm before sufficient risk assessment information has been generated. Legislation on occupational health is normally based on research into these risks, but in the absence of detailed research into the risks associated with many nanomaterials, we believe that voluntary approaches need to be developed and implemented to complement existing regulations and to provide guidance on prudent measures to control risk.