Report of a joint Royal Society/Science Council of Japan workshop on the potential health, environmental and societal impacts of nanotechnologies

Nanotechnology is expected to make a significant contribution to the development of society in the 21st century. At the same time, the technology may have unexpected negative impacts on various societal aspects. Although experts are concerned about the risk of such impacts, no such risks have so far become overt. In Europe and the US, governments have been leading efforts to tackle potential health, environmental and societal impacts of nanotechnology over the past few years. Experts began to discuss this issue actively last year in Japan. The Science Council of Japan planned a joint project with the Royal Society of Britain to help the council study how Japan can tackle this issue through international dialogue.
The Royal Society-Royal Academy of Engineering compiled the report “Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies: Opportunities and Uncertainties” at the request of the British government and published it in July 2004. The report was widely discussed among experts involved in nanotechnology, not only in Britain but also in Japan. A joint Royal Society/Science Council of Japan workshop on the potential health, environmental and societal impacts of nanotechnology was held at the Royal Society in London on July 11-12, 2005, sponsored by the British Embassy in Japan.

The workshop was comprised of five sessions, focusing on: 1) identification of challenges to be overcome, 2) health and environmental challenges, 3) societal challenges, 4) nanotechnology policies in Japan, the UK and the US, and 5) a roundtable discussion. In attendance were world-class academic researchers including Prof. Morinobu Endo of Shinshu University, Prof. Mark Welland of Cambridge University and researchers involved in safety/health including Prof. Hiroyuki Tsuda of Nagoya City University and Prof. Ken Donaldson of the University of Edinburgh. One of the workshop’s main features was the attendance of experts from various government organizations. Representatives from Japanese organizations, including the National Institute of Health Sciences, the National Institute for Environmental Studies, the National Institute of Industrial Health, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology and the National Institute for Materials Science and those from British organizations such as the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) also attended. About 50 Japanese and British participants, including 22 from Japan, got together at the workshop, along with representatives from the European Union and the United States.

What was discussed in each session is outlined below:

1. Identification of challenges
   Participants made presentations on the characteristics of nanotechnology, specific technologies/products and how to cope with the societal impact of the technology from the viewpoint of R&D researchers. For example, Prof. Endo was actively involved in not only R&D of carbon nanotubes but also assessment of their safety and Prof. Welland held regular dialogue with non-governmental organizations.

2. Health and environmental challenges
   Speeches on the potential health and environmental impacts of nanomaterials were delivered, and participants discussed the issue. Prof. Tsuda pointed out, based his own literature research, that no sufficient volume of data necessary for conducting scientific discussion on this issue has been collected. He stressed the need for systematic assessment research, more funding and international cooperation. Other Japanese and British attendees expressed similar opinions. Japanese participants introduced the present situation of safety and health management of nanomaterials in Japan and discussion on the possibility of applying the current regulatory framework for chemicals to such new materials. British members introduced steps being taken by both the government and the Safety of Nanomaterials Integrated Research Center (SnIRC), a multidisciplinary network. In a panel discussion, all participants agreed on a common perception about the need for and difficulty of standardization of samples/assessment methods, assessment of individual nanomaterials, cooperation with companies, information disclosure and implementation of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA).

3. Societal challenges
   Examples of low-level radioactive waste and genetically modified organisms (GMO) were introduced for comparison with nanotechnology. Prof. Nick Pidgeon at the University of East Anglia pointed out that the possibility of people handling nanotechnology like GMO is small, but that people distrust the system and organizations involved in nanotechnology just like they do for GMO. He emphasized the need for dialogue with citizens. Dr. Masafumi Ata at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology introduced a debate entitled �gTechnology and Society�h at his institute and other studies on promoting social acceptance of new technology.

4. Policies in Japan, the UK and the US
   Dr. Julia Moore and Dr. Andrew Maynard at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the US introduced the present situation of R&D and risk assessment of nanomaterials in the US, expressing expectations for forming an alliance among Japan, the UK and the US. Dr. Catherine Halliwell of FP 6 National Contact Point, Nanotechnologies, made a presentation on the European Union’s nanotechnology strategy, NANOSAFE2 and other programs on societal impacts of the technology. Japanese attendees explained nanotechnology support projects and government/academia/industry collaboration programs. UK participants also introduced the country’s networks such as the Micro and Nanotechnology (MNT) Network. Participants mainly discussed the need for international cooperation in a panel discussion.

5. Roundtable discussion
   A roundtable discussion was held by dividing the participants into two groups – one to discuss the potential health and environmental impact of nanotechnology, and the other to discuss the social acceptance of nanotechnology. In the discussion on the potential health and environmental impacts of nanotechnology, attendees identified as challenges to be overcome: 1) grasping the situation of exposure to nanomaterials (mainly circumstances surrounding workers) and early establishment of a measurement method for the exposure; 2) systematic collection of scientific data of individual nanomaterials; 3) checking the effectiveness of applying the current test methods to nanomaterials, government/academia/industry cooperation to establish a new test method and international collaboration for standardization of test methods and nanomaterials; and 4) developing human resources, funding and building an impartial support system. Regarding social acceptance, the participants agreed to promote public relations, public education and international cooperation for establishing proper relationships with citizens and other stakeholders.

Participants at the workshop understood the situation surrounding nanotechnology in Japan and Britain and how their counterparts in the other country are coping with their situations. A second workshop is scheduled for February 2006 in Tokyo for deeper discussions of what steps academia should take to tackle the issue. Details of the discussions at this workshop were compiled into an English report that is available at the websites of both the Royal Society of Britain and the Science Council of Japan.