Empfehlungen des Beratergremiums zu Nanosilber in den USA rufen Besorgnis über mögliche Reaktion der EPA hervor
Das wissenschaftliche Beratergremium SAP der US Umweltschutzbehörde EPA empfiehlt eine genauere Prüfung bei Produkten auf der Basis des Pestizids Nanosilber. Die Industrie zeigt sich besorgt.
The Panel recommended that the EPA treat nanosilver differently from conventional silver, a change that would require extensive additional data, and recommended revising exposure models to better predict human and environmental exposures from nanosilver. The SAP urged the EPA to evaluate pesticide registration applications on a case-by-case basis, saying that some forms or uses of nanosilver may have differing toxicity.
The Panel also said that EPA should obtain additional information on nanosilver before granting new registrations. The industry-based Silver Nanotechnology Working Group (SNWG) responded by asking the EPA to obtain advice from all stakeholders prior to responding to the Panel's advice.
Industry representatives contend that nanosilver has been used safely for years and the new recommendations could lead to a confused regulatory process. It is unclear how the EPA will respond to the recommendations. The SNWG said, in a letter to the EPA, that "EPA policy towards nanosilver stands at a critical crossroads. A choice to declare nanosilver as a new material despite decades of historical EPA-registered use in favor of imposing disproportionate and largely redundant data requirements on nanosilver simply to assuage broader generalized conceptions of 'nano' will constitute a drastic action."