Fear of the small and unknown?

By Emily Smith

Date: 24/05/06

MEPS will next week vote on the emerging science of nanotechnology.

Nanotechnology, or the art of building with single atoms and molecules, is hailed by its disciples as offering opportunities in sectors from healthcare to computers, but its opponents are wary of a young technology whose risks are not fully understood, or even known.

The European Parliament's environment committee will hear voices from both camps on Monday (29 May) when it looks at a report on "nanosciences and nonotechnologies" from Belgian Socialist MEP Philippe Busquin.

Busquin, a former European commissioner for research, has proposed a text in favour of nanotechnology. He welcomes its potential to help in a significant number of policy areas directly affecting citizens, including energy, health and the environment.

As one concrete example, he singles out the importance of miniaturisation of products in helping reduce waste.

He also underlines the urgent need for independent advice and ambitious information campaigns to help create "a climate of trust based on awareness of the possible risks and the benefits".

Amendments proposed for the report, also to be voted on next week, include calls for all 'nanotech' products already used in consumer products on the market to be withdrawn and for research into nanotechnologies to be "strictly limited to those areas which exclude any exposure of workers".

Most of the amendments come from Green MEP Hiltrud Breyer. The nanotech benefits touted by Busquin should, she says, be balanced against "the full range of potential risks of [nanosciences and nonotechnologies] to human health and the environment as well as their ethical implications".

Johannes Blokland of the Independence/Democracy group said that ever- smaller IT equipment posed privacy risks.

Article anticipates a vote at the European Parliament's Environment committee (ENVI) scheduled for 29 May 2006 on a report on 'nanosciences and nanotechnologies' from Belgian Socialist MEP and former European Commissioner Philippe Busquin.