ipen, ntn side event presentation: social and environmental implications of nanotechnology...

Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd - 27th, 2014

SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF

NANOTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT IN ASIA

PACIFIC REGION

David Azoulay - ICEL Sarojeni Rengam - PAN AP/Malaysia

Yuyun Ismawati - Indonesia Toxics-Free Network Shahriar Hossain - ESDO/Bangladesh

Jayakumar Chelaton - Thanal/India Lee Bell - National Toxics Network/Australia Meriel Watts - PAN Aotearoa/New Zealand

Side Event Kuala Lumpur SAICM Asia-Pacific Regional meeting

23-27 March 2014

Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014

• What is nanotechnology ? • What we know and don’t know • The market for Nanotechnology products • Nanotechnology in the Asia-Pacific region

(examples from Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Australia, New zealand + Thailand - Many more countries addressed in the booklet)

Content


What is nanotechnology ?Nanotechnology is the study of the controlling of matter on an atomic and molecular scale.


One nanometer is 1.10-9 m: !

Human hair (width): 80.000 nm !Red blood cell: 1000nm !DNA strand : 2nm


What happens at the nanoscale?Much higher surface area /volume ratio

!

!!!

Quantum effects (optical, physical, chemical …) And much much more….


Example: GOLDYellow and mostly inert !

Nano gold: ±30 nm Red and chemically reactive

!

Nano gold 1 to 3 nm range… Green and highly reactive


Example: CarbonWhen engineered in the form of tubes:

Material with multiple specific phys-chem (and toxicological) properties (e.g. 10 times stronger and 10 times lighter than steel)


Nano MarketOver 1500 products currently on the market

Electronic appliances, Cosmetics, textiles, Households products, Sports goods, building materials, food and food

contact materials etc… !!!!

Estimated market between 26 millions to 3.1 trillion $ in 2015 (energy production, energy storage, agro-chemicals, soil

and water remediation, medical applications etc…)


However…!

Nano-toxicology is very different !

Serious ethical and social concerns


Nano-Tox: What we know and don’t knowToxicology of nanoparticles both for Human health and environment differs severely from same material in the bulk form (e.g. Carbon Nanotubes & Asbestos / Titanium dioxide etc…).

Studies have shown: – Certain Carbon Nanotubes behave just like asbestos; – Capacity of certain Nanoparticles to cross the brain/

blood barrier and placenta; – Trans-generational transmission of Ti02 nanoparticles; – Some nanoparticles have shown toxicity to fish species

and fresh water ecosystems; – Etc…


Malaysia

! Nanotech research centers first established in 2000

! In 2006: Malaysian National Nanotechnology Initiative to coordinate policy, R&D programs and infrastructures and liaise with industry

! Nano Malaysia Pgm (2011-2015) including several excellence centers in some of the main universities of the country

! Approx. 150 scientists and 300 graduate students (2011 figures)

! No specific regulatory nano provisions


! Several nano focused graduate and post grad degrees around the country

! 2 seminars organized in 2011 in KL: –Nanotechnology Awareness Seminar in

collaboration with national Science Centre to emphasize nano as an engine of economic growth

–Workshop on Safety, health, and environmental implications of nano to assist in the formulation of the upcoming national safety guidelines

Malaysia


Indonesia! Masyarakat Nanotechnology Indonesia (MNI -

Indonesian Society for Nanomaterials) established in 2005 to serve as a communication forum among government, research institutions, university and Industry.

! In 2006 adoption of national nanoscience and nanotechnology development platform

! Focus on nanostructured materials for applications to energy, water treatment and remediation, food and agriculture, medicine and nanobiotech


! In 2010, Indonesia invested USD$29 millions in nano R&D, for over 60 projects.

! 35% of key industries such as textiles, ceramics and chemistry have applied some form of nanotechnology

! No nano regulation and limited (at best) engagement of civil society by government

! European countries have more advanced material structure, but developed Asian countries such as South Korea and Japan are more advanced in nanotechnology for daily needs.

Indonesia


Thailand

!

See upcoming detailed presentation by deputy director of Thailand NANOTEC


India! Over 170 research institutions and universities

involved in nano research ! Mostly driven by public funding, but growing number

of public/private partnership ! Government led initiatives led by Mission on Nano

Science and technology from Department of Science and Technology - Over 200 projects since 2002

! Great variation at the sub-federal level ! Research on water filtration is the one key flagship

activity ! India is largely involved in international cooperation

on the subject


! Industry dominated by few major corporations. ! Leading sector in terms of patent are health care

and textile (for instance, in 2008 Ashima Group exported over one million yard of nano treated fabrics to the US)

! No specific regulation at this point, precautionary approach recommended by some independent commentator and Indian toxicologists.

! Key issue: Lack of coordination between a multitude of government departments

! Public engagement is limited and public debate is muted

India


Australia! Considerable investment in nanotechnology research

coordinated by Australian research council and CSIRO ! Latest coordination strategy document: The National

Enabling Technology Strategy (2009) ! In terms of regulation a report commissioned by the

Government in 2008 identified several gaps in the regulatory framework. Legal reform proposed in 2009, but abandoned since

! Civil Society extremely active since 2005, and is calling for a moratorium on the research, development and production of synthetic nanoproduct of nanomaterials until regulation are adopted to protect the health and safety of workers, public, and the environment


New Zealand/Aotearoa• No large nanotech industry in NZ • 2006: Nanotech roadmap established by Ministry of

Science, Research and technology, acknowledging importance of social research and engagement of communities ….. Very little was done since in this respect

• Several university and education programs • Strong engagement of New Zealand Sustainability

Council on this topic • In 2012, adoption of the first regulatory labelling

requirement for cosmetics (applicable in 2015, with notification in the meantime)


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More information in the booklet about almost 20 countries in the region

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Upcoming booklet about central Asia


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Contact: David Azoulay

[email protected]