個案資料

The $20 billion nanotechnology sector is a disruptive force that is expanding rapidly. Deploying materials from the atomic and molecular scale spawns innovations across applications and manufacturing processes and allows industries to add unique properties and immense added value to commercial and consumer products. Unfortunately, awareness of how to best manage the risks associated with nanotechnology is not expanding as rapidly as the industry. Nanoscale particles may cause toxicity in a different manner than traditional particulates. As this article explains, the industry must ensure the safe usage of nanomaterials throughout the supply chain. To do this, all industry stakeholders (ranging from risk managers to regulators and investors) must understand that the novel nature of nanoscale properties has fundamentally shifted the manner in which we must approach toxicity assessment. Indeed, given the dynamic formats of nanoparticles at various points in their lifecycles, proper industry risk assessment requires a specific expertise that is currently in limited supply. Although the nanotechnology sector offers significant promise across a range of industries, it is time for stakeholders to take more proactive measures to avoid adverse human, environmental and economic consequences.

• nanotechnology
• toxicity, risk assessment, IBJ Insights