Small size - large impact - Nanowerk

Efforts for health, environmental, and
societal issues of nanotechnology in Japan
Discussions on health, environmental, and societal issues
of nanotechnology in Japan take place in committees
and workshops shown in Table 1, all of which were
launched in 2004 and which join government agencies,
universities, industries and toxicologists. The First
Symposium on Nanotechnology and Society will be held
on 1 February 2005, as the summary of the activities
in 2004.
Health and environmental implications of nanomaterials
have been studied by research groups and independent
researchers. The most organized research on these issues
was Scientific Research for Priority Area “Carbon
Cluster”, Grant in Aid for Scientific Research, MEXT,
1993-1995, headed by Osawa (Osawa et al., 1996).
In this project, various aspects of C60 were examined.
Although at that time nanotechnology was not paid
as much attention as it is today, with a USD 8.6 million
grant over three years, 166 scientists focused on seven
research areas in an interdisciplinary collaboration and
published more than 500 papers. In the research area of
“Biological Effect of Fullerenes”, nine scientists studied
the solubility, the toxicity, and the mutation effect under
photo-irradiation of C60 (Hamano et al., 1995, Sakai
et al., 1999, Sera et al., 1996, Tsuchiya et al., 1996 and
Yamakoshi et al., 1994).
Towards realization of nanotechnology
for society
The importance of health, environmental, and societal
issues of nanotechnology are becoming rapidly and
widely recognized in Japan. In addition to the efforts
mentioned above, much discussion on risk assessment
of nanomaterials, communication with social scientists
interested in science and technology in society (STS)
has started. Some sociologists’ experience in technology
assessment, risk perception, and risk communication
in nuclear power technology and aerospace technology
also contribute to the case of nanotechnology. In terms
of international collaboration, the Japanese government
will basically follow the conclusions of International
Dialogue on Responsible Research and Development
of Nanotechnology, held in Alexandria, Virginia, June
2004 (Meridian Institute, 2004). In addition, Asian
countries started the Asia Nanotechnology Forum in
May 2004 (ANF, 2004), in which standardization and
societal aspects of nanotechnology were defined as the
most important agendas.
12
Besides, metallic and ceramic nanoparticles such as nickel,
cobalt, and titanium dioxide have been also examined in
terms of occupational health. According to the study of
Kusaka‘s group (Zhang et al., 2004), the toxicity of nickel
and cobalt is much higher than titanium dioxide. NIES
has been studying the toxicity of diesel exhaust particles
and started expanding their research to industrial
nanoparticles (Yamamoto et al., 2004).
Committees, Workshops
Nanotechnology Standardization Research Committee
(2004.11)
Workshop: Nanotechnology and Society (2004.8)
Workshop on Nanotechnology Risk Assessment
(2004.4)
Nanomaterials Risk Study Group (2004.9)
Coordinators
Japanese Standards Association (JSA)
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science
and Technology (AIST)
Society of Non-Traditional Technology
Chemo-Bio Integrated Management Society (CBIMS)
Table 1.
Committees and Workshops on Health, Environmental, and Societal
Issues of Nanotechnology