One of the biggest hurdles facing the
nanotechnology industry is the lack of knowledge in testing for potential
hazards to health and environmental impact, according to the director of a
Texas Technology Center that focuses on ways to use the emerging
technology.
"It's not just that we don't know the hazards," said Dr. Walt Trybula,
"we don't even know what to test for."
Trybula is the director of the Nanomaterials Application Center at
Texas State University -- San Marcos, and sees a bright future for
commercial development in the field.
"Industry has been quick to adopt nanotechnology, based solely on the
attributes of the materials that have been created," said Trybula.
Automobile bumpers are being installed that are one-third the weight of
steel, but are stronger than steel and twice as resistant to scratching and
denting.
"That sort of performance improvement is impossible to ignore."
In the field of wound care, companies are marketing bandages that
contain an anti-microbial agent -- nano silver particles -- that promote
healing.
"But, because of the unknowns, the EPA has already issued guidelines on
these types of applications," explained Trybula. The concern is that
nanosilver particles could pose a danger to beneficial bacteria in the
environment, in addition to killing human germs.
"There is no single body, or organization or repository for collecting
and disseminating information on the risks that could be posed by this
exciting new technology," said Trybula. "At this point, we mostly don't
even know how to test all these products." Trybula sees the opportunities
in testing for potential hazards as just as important as developments in
the nanotechnology field itself. One company that offers promise in the
testing and standardization area is a Houston-based startup, nanoTox.
The company has joined the Nanomaterials Application Center and is
moving to set up a testing lab to develop procedures to evaluate
nanomaterials for potential risks. An added advantage of leading the field
in this effort is that this proactive stance will provide the basis for a
scientific approach to the issues and, hopefully, the issues will not be
driven by numerous special interest groups. This will be a service to the
community at large, said Trybula.
nanoTox is a Texas corporation dedicated to testing,
characterization and standardization of nanomaterials and potential risks
they pose to people, animals and the environment. Visit the company's Web
site at http://www.nanotox.com.
