| Summary: |
The world market for nanomaterial-containing products is expected to reach $2.6 trillion by 2015. Because of the incredible growth in nanotechnology, the GAO undertook this study, which identifies current and potential uses of nanomaterials, determines what is known about potential health and environmental effects, assessed the EPA's actions to date on nanomaterials, and identified the approaches of states and other countries in addressing potential risks. The GAO found that current understanding of human and environmental risks is limited and that the toxicity of a nanomaterial depends on numerous factors, all of which combine to make it difficult to generalize regarding safety. Although there have been safety studies, these have yielded limited risk information because the results of one study may not be applicable to another, even within the same class of nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes. Furthermore, although the EPA has been working to regulate nanomaterials, a nanochemical is new for purposes of regulation only if it has a molecular identity not already listed on the TSCA inventory. Since the EPA does not consider molecule size or reactivity in determining if a chemical is a new substance, it is possible for nanoscale versions of existing chemicals to escape EPA regulation. The GAO recommends that the EPA should complete its plan to clarify that nanoscale versions of existing chemicals should be regulated as new substances. The study also recommends that the EPA should use its authority to gather more health and safety information and require the identification of nanomaterial ingredients in pesticides. |