S & T News >> Thailand
How small particles lead to big concerns
The Pollution Control Department is looking into the adverse effects of nanotechnology after the international community expressed concern at possible health and environmental impacts of the heavily-promoted technology.
Nano products are widespread in local and international markets, but there has been no study into possible threats posed by the technology, department chief Supat Wangwongwatana said yesterday.
“We need to know whether nanotechnology will pose any harm to the environment in the long run so that we can properly handle the technology,” he said.
A special committee of experts will be set up to look into the environmental and health impacts. The study will take about three years, he said.
The matter was raised at the second International Conference on Chemical management held from May 11 to15 in Switzerland. Delegates, including some from Thailand, agreed the issue of nanotechnology and the environment should be regarded as urgent.
Environmentalists and scientists fear the technology, which deals with atomic and molecular-scale materials, could adversely affect the environment if nano particles spread and accumulate.
In Thailand, nanotechnology is becoming a significant marketing tool to attract customers. The technology has been used in textiles and cosmetics. There are about 100 products developed from nanotechnology on the local market.
Sirirung Songsivilai, executive director of the National Nanotechnology Centre, conceded there had been very limited study on the negative impact of nanotechnology since it was relatively new in Thailand.
“We are also concerned about its impact,” the nanotech expert said. “Our centre has monitored possible adverse impacts of the technology and we’ve found no negative impacts of the nano materials so far.”
Source: NSTDA, May 19, 2009
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