November 25, 2009 4:11 PM | Posted by Wernette, Ronald |
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Part 1 of the discussion examined the structural and systemic forces in the American tort system that will lead to the reality of nanotechnology-focused tort claims in the near future. In Part 2, I began to discuss some specific claims that are likely in early nanotort litigation, including medical monitoring claims. Here, in Part 3, I continue that claim-specific discussion, with a focus on possible class action claims. read more
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November 20, 2009 8:13 AM | Posted by Wernette, Ronald |
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On November 19, 2009, the United States National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health, announced that it is increasing its investment in understanding the potential health, safety and environmental issues of the nanoparticles used in everyday products. The NIEHS press release can be viewed online at this link: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/releases/2009/nanotech.cfm read more
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November 18, 2009 7:30 AM | Posted by Wernette, Ronald |
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A speaker at the workshop "Nanomaterials and Human Health & Instrumentation, Metrology, and Analytical Methods," being held this week as part of the White House's National Science and Technology Council, said, in a talk he meant to be provocative, that researchers can use cellular tests to obtain any result they want concerning the toxicity of a nanomaterial. read more
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November 16, 2009 11:03 AM | Posted by Wernette, Ronald |
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Part 1 of the discussion examined the structural and systemic forces in the American tort system that will lead to the reality of nanotechnology-focused tort claims in the near future. Here, in Part 2, I begin to discuss some specific claims that are likely in early nanotort litigation. read more
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November 13, 2009 8:37 AM | Posted by Wernette, Ronald |
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Two European consumer organizations – the European Consumers' Organisation (BEUC) and the European Consumer Voice in Standardisation (ANEC) – have jointly launched an on-line nanotechnology inventory intended to inform the public of products offered in the EU market that contain nanomaterials. Both the ANEC and the BEUC are concerned that products containing nanomaterials are being offered for sale in the EU market without having been subject to a proper safety assessment. read more
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November 12, 2009 7:49 AM | Posted by Wernette, Ronald |
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A new UK-based nanoparticle risk research center was launched this week.
Edinburgh (Scotland) Napier University's new Centre for Nano Safety has been set up to identify whether a variety of nanoparticles can enter the human body – as well as other species such as bacteria, insects and plants – and cause harm. The Centre's mission is to study the possible toxicity of nanoparticles, both biotoxocity and ecotoxicity.
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November 9, 2009 7:50 AM | Posted by Wernette, Ronald |
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No one knows yet whether nanotechnologies will be shown to have harmful consequences or whether they present only phantom risk. Although only tentative, some early studies suggest that some nanoparticles may have negative health and environmental consequences. Experience teaches that when there are concerns about possible health and safety hazards, litigation – feeding on public and political risk perception – is never far behind. read more
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November 6, 2009 9:30 AM | Posted by Wernette, Ronald |
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A new study was published on-line November 5, 2009, in Nature Nanotechnology with a provocative title: Nanoparticles can cause DNA damage across a cellular barrier.
The study was led by a team from the Bristol Implant Research Centre, UK, and raises some concern over the safe medical use of nanoparticles. The nanoparticles studied were cobalt/chromium alloy nanoparticles – because these are created in small amounts when artificial joints wear during use. The research shows – in a lab situation not designed to accurately replicate conditions in the body – that high doses of the CoCr nanoparticles can cause measurable damage to the DNA in human fibroblast cells (cells important in wound healing) across an intact cellular barrier without actually crossing the cellular barrier. read more
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November 3, 2009 12:29 PM | Posted by Wernette, Ronald |
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On October 26, 2009, The Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances to the United Kingdom's Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), issued a "Report on Nanosilver.” The Report warns that more information on both the hazards of and exposure to nanosilver is urgently required, and recommended to British agencies that they gather information about products containing nanosilver. read more
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November 2, 2009 8:23 AM | Posted by Wernette, Ronald |
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Don’t look now, but the U.S. is on pace to grant more than 4400 patents related to nanotechnology in 2009, an almost 50% jump from 2008, itself a record year. U.S. nano patent facts evidencing the rapid acceleration in commercialized nanotechnologies:
• In 2009, through November 1, 3735 nano related U.S. patents have been granted, an average of more than 370 per month (12 per day)
• Through November 1, 2009, a cumulative total of 20,459 nano related U.S. patents have been granted; almost half of which have been granted just in 2007-2009
• There are more than 39,000 nano related patent applications pending.
Source: Alton Parrish. Parrish is a senior Analyst for Innovative Research and Products and maintains a blog on nanotechnology at http://nanopatentsandinnovations.blogspot.com/
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