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Engineered nanomaterials are already in use in a wide range of applications, and their everyday presence is only going to increase in the future. With such widespread potential use, the implications for the environment must be carefully evaluated to ensure that nanotechnology-enabled products are properly regulated. This special issue focuses on risk assessment and life-cycle assessment and their use in evaluating the impact of nanomaterials on the environment from different points of view. We also consider the need for stronger regulations and more effective communication about the risks posed by nanomaterials for insurance purposes.
Risk assessment and life-cycle assessment provide complementary information on the impact of a technology on the environment. We present diverging opinions on how to integrate the two approaches to best evaluate the environmental impact of engineered nanomaterials.
The time has come to implement a regulatory framework tailored to manufactured materials. I propose a new legislative framework that combines registration, evaluation, authorization and categorization of nanomaterials.
The absence of nanotechnology-specific insurance policies could be detrimental to the development of the nanotechnology industry. Better communication between insurers and scientists is an essential step to provide a regulatory framework protecting both producers and consumers.
Risk assessment and life cycle assessment are both needed in the environmental evaluation of engineered nanomaterials. Scientists from both fields should collaborate intensively to deal with mutual challenges to achieve a complete and comprehensive assessment.
The advantages and challenges of integrating the methods of life-cycle assessment and risk assessment are discussed in terms of the objectives for evaluating nanotechnologies in a safe and sustainable way.