Life cycle assessment should be applied to nano-products, say experts
Life cycle assessment (LCA), the cradle-to-grave assessment of the health and environmental impacts of a product or substance, is vital for the successful and safe commercialisation of nanotechnologies, according to a new report drawn up by European and American experts. However, they add that further research is urgently needed to fill the gaps in our understanding of the toxicity of many nanomaterials. The report is based on the outcomes of a recent workshop on nanotechnologies and life cycle assessment, organised jointly by the European Commission and the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, an American initiative set up by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and The Pew Charitable Trusts. Nanotechnologies are already in use in a number of fields, including medicine, textiles and electronics. It is predicted that the value of nanotechnology-enabled products entering the market will rise from €22.6 billion in 2005 to €2 trillion in 2014. However, many are concerned by the threats that nanotechnologies could pose to both our health and that of the environment. The LCA is widely used in a number of fields to evaluate the environmental and health impacts of a new product from the start of production, right through to its disposal, yet until now it has not been widely applied to nanotechnologies. The goal of the workshop was to bring together LCA practitioners and nanotechnology researchers to see if and how LCAs could be used by those developing nanotechnologies. The report concludes that the existing standards for carrying out LCAs are fully suitable for use on nanomaterials and nanoproducts. According to the report, LCAs offer a more holistic view of the impacts of a product than a risk assessment, and allow researchers and product developers to identify when in the product's life cycle people or the environment are at greatest risk. Another advantage of LCA is that it allows for comparisons with equivalent conventional products. One serious problem identified in the report is a lack of data. 'The first recommendation is to significantly enhance knowledge on environmental impacts of nanomaterials and nanoproducts through further research activities,' the report's authors write. They suggest researchers prioritise their studies by toxicity, nature of dispersion and volume of production. However, the report authors recommend that researchers do not wait to have near-perfect data, but be clear about uncertainties, work closely with toxicologists, avoid overselling the benefits of a new product and make data available for future LCA comparisons. The experts call on governments to set up research programmes to develop LCA methodologies in the field of nanotechnologies, and to use LCAs to integrate nanotechnology criteria in green purchasing policies. As for academia, the experts note that researchers could contribute by setting up databases of LCA case studies on nanotechnologies and carrying out research into LCA methods for nanotechnologies. Industry is also called on to support research efforts and also create mechanisms to enable the sharing of confidential data without compromising competitiveness. 'It is important that nanotechnology, which has the potential to improve the quality of life in all parts of the world, is developed in a responsible way. This includes conducting the research and development needed to take into account the impact of nanomaterials and products throughout their whole life cycle,' said Renzo Tomellini, Head of the Nano- and Converging Sciences and Technologies Unit in the European Commission's Research Directorate-General, and chair of the European Commission Interservice Group on Nanotechnology. 'The European Commission is committed to working together with international partners to ensure that this critical work takes place. This report is a useful step toward fulfilling that goal.'
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