7th International Nano-Authorities Dialogue "Governance of Nanomaterials"

Austria as Host of the 7. Int. Nano-Authorities Dialogue

Dr. Thomas Jakl (Head of Division) of the Austrian life ministry (Lebensministerium) welcomed the participants from Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein and Switzerland on behalf of the ministry at the Palace of Schönbrunn. He determined a generally high level of activity in the nano regulation area  in all German-speaking countries. On the enforcement-side of the regulations,  test-methods and measuring-procedures play a dominant role presently. In the area of the occupational health and safety regulation many guidelines and information materials for the safe use in practical applications have been developed.  The governance of nanomaterials and nanoproducts still represents a crosscutting task for politics and administrations. From an authority point-of-view, the tasks of different, federal offices and departments like environment, health, economy and occupational safety should  be more coordinated on a common approach. Jakl suggested that in the future a stronger transnational cooperation and the use of common synergies as e.g. in the exchange of research data and results could speed up the development.  A common best-practice approach could be the basis  for the development of a sustainable nano governance in the future. He underpinned the importance of the Nano Authorities dialogue conference as an informal platform for authorities and to exchange knowledge and experiences among representatives of competent European Nano-Authorities. He also highlighted the role of the platform to strengthen the dialogue with stakeholders from industry, academia and politics.

Many Nano Activities: Actionplans, Research-Programs and Dialogue

An interactive ”nano marketplace session” opened  the conference.  Three national and one international working group discussed the present state of nano-related activities in their countries and visualized the results in a poster. Different nano action plans, dialogue programs, research projects, and many other activities in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and on a global level were collected. The results were presented in a plenary session.   The representatives of Austria presented their nano acitivties as a railroad train.  The “nano railway locomotive” is the Austrian nano action plan to which different activities and projects were attached. The “Nano-Trust” project was mentioned as a very important science-based information project which has been publishing nano information brochures for the public since 2008. There are further risk-assessment documents for workplaces or several educational and training projects for schools or students.

Representatives from Switzerland and Liechtenstein presented  their activities in the development of the Nano-precautionary matrix and the new guideline for self-assessment for industry. The newly established obligations to report and inform for engineered nanomaterials were presented. The state of the Swiss national nano research programme (NFP 64) “Opportunities and Risks of Nanomaterials” and the public touring exhibition “Nano-Expo” in combination with a public dialogue platform were presented.   Representatives from Germany presented the actual state of the "Nano-Actionplan 2015" and discussed the first outcomes of the research strategy of the federal higher authorities. In the area of the work protection, guidelines  and measuring strategies, also for carbon nanotubes (CNT), were developed. A survey on the use and the application of nano materials in companies has been conducted. Responsible staff will be trained and educated in the safe use and handling of nano materials and in work protection measures.  On the international level the treatment of nano materials in multilateral environmental agreements was discussed.  A globally valid and accepted nano definition was discussed an also the treatment of nano materials in the "Globally Harmonized system of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)." These are two main challenges which nano governance on international level is presently facing.  Otto Linher from the European Commission specified the role of the REACH regulation in terms of the regulation of nano materials and announced nano-specific modifications of the appendices. Future measures and initiatives of the new EU Commission remained to be seen. In the subsequent panel discussion, the nano definition of the European Commission and the implementation of appropriate nano-specific laboratory methods for the identification, characterization and testing of nano materials were identified as main cruxes of the matter and main challenges of the future.

Nano Regulation in Practice

On the basis of the actual enactment of the new EU cosmetics regulation and the biocides regulation the application of the nano-specific implications on national levels were discussed.  Dr. Marcus Garzón from the German federal ministry for the environment, nature conservation and nuclear safety explained the EU biocide regulation which will be enacted in September 2013 in all European countries.  Nano materials become labeling-compulsory in products like insect sprays or wood-preservative chemicals.  The member states are requested by the EC  to report data about to the application of nano materials in biocide products and also about potential risks. There is a possibility to notify the nanoform  in the chemical receipt on the basis of the existing substances regulations later. Dr. Karin Gromann, cosmetics expert of the Austrian health ministry expounded the EC cosmetics regulation and the challenges which authorities are presently faced with. The most difficult challenges at the execution of the regulation, especially in respect to the monitoring requirements, would emerge from the lacking of analytic standard procedures, reference materials, infrastructure and also the lack of human, technical and financial ressources.

Workers Protection and Occupational Health in Practice

The main topic “nanomaterials and workers protection” was presented by several experts from the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) and also by a manufacturer of nano materials. Dr. Reinhold Rühl of the German Professional Construction Association (BG BAU) explained: “While general nano risks are often mentioned, the producer of nano materials hardly mention protective measures of workers and users of these materials.” From this point of view there is a clear need for action in this field. For the Professional Associations this means an improved consulting activity in terms of workers protection against potential exposures and risks. For the construction industry a list of approximately 70 nano materials has been published which are used in construction products. “There is a need for respiratory protection  against nano materials protection while nano paints or lacquers are sprayed or removed from the surface by abrasive finishing.” His colleague Dr. Markus Berges stressed the importance of the hierarchic principle of the protective measurements (STOP). While personal protective equipment should be applied at the end. The first step should be to look for alternatives in the application. The application of paints by paint brushes is less dangerous to workers than spraying. The German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV) will therefore develop an online nano qualification platform in order to improve the knowledge basis about the safe handling and use of nano materials in workplaces.  At the end of this block Prof. André Lecloux from Nanocyl presented the worker protection measurements which are taken in the production of carbon nanotubes as e. g. respiratory protection, air ventilation of the production sites and regular medical checkups of the potentially exposed workers in the production and the handling of CNT.

Particular Challenges by CNT

There are contributions to the current scientific research about the topic CNTs from toxicology, work-hygiene and legal and regulatory practice. CNT have a wide rage of applications and are used in many different products. The growing number of applications also enlarges the exposition of human health and the environment against CNT.  Prof. Myrtill Simkó of the Austrian institute for Technology-Assessment explained the scientific comparison between CNT implications and the damaging consequences of asbestos fibers. While there is still a lively, scientific discussion about the effect mechanisms of  CNT on cells and tissues, there are already some alarming signals from animal experiments that CNT fibers with specific properties of length, stiffness, biopersistence behave like asbestos fibers in the lung and lead to asbestos-like lung diseases. Dr. Rolf Packroff  from the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health  (BAuA) therefore explained:  "For activities which could lead to dust-exposure to fibrous, long, stiff and biopersistent CNT the protective measures and the corresponding assessment factors should be similar to occupational health standards which are applied to asbestos exposure.” The medical and toxicological advisory service to workers and employers is very important.  The BAuA therefore develops training and information material which company medical officers can use for instructions in order to sensitize workers and management.  Prof. Rainer Schweizer from the University of St.Gallen elucidated the legal points from liability perspective. He stated that for nanotechnologies there are knowledge gaps about relevant risks of nanotechnologies which are scientifically known but not yet manageable on the technical side. According to basic legal principles of liability the companies as producers of nano materials and the manufacturer of nano products are liable for damages to human health or to the environment. On the other hand also the authorities are responsible and could be made liable in government liability claims. Compared to other new technologies Prof. Schweizer stated that nanotechnology companies protect against liability claims by development risks, because there have been strong scientific evidence for potential risks emerging from specific nano materials.

Date Announcement

The 8th Int.  Nano-Authority-dialogue will take place 14/15 May 2014.

Source: The Innovation Society St.Gallen