The "Journal of Nanoparticle Research" has published a study by IRG3 researchers reporting findings from an international survey of nano industry safety practices. Nanomaterials companies in 14 countries responded to the survey. The study  found that a majority of companies cited “lack of information” as a significant impediment to implementing nano-specific safety practices. Study findings indicate that health and safety guidance is not reaching industry effectively, and suggest that that a more top-down approach from regulators may be needed to protect both workers and the environment.

A pdf version of the full paper is available by clicking on the title below. 

Governance implications of nanomaterials companies’ inconsistent risk perceptions and safety practices

By Cassandra D. Engeman, Lynn Baumgartner, Bejamin M. Carr, Allison M. Fish, John D. Meyerhofer, Terre A. Satterfield, Patricia A. Holden and Barbara Herr Harthorn

Author Information

C. D. Engeman

Department of Sociology, University of California, Santa

Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA

C. D. Engeman  T. A. Satterfield  B. H. Harthorn

NSF Center for Nanotechnology and Society, University

of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106,

USA

C. D. Engeman  L. Baumgartner  B. M. Carr

A. M. Fish  J. D. Meyerhofer  T. A. Satterfield

P. A. Holden B. H. Harthorn

UC Center for the Environmental Implications

of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN), University of California,

Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA

L. Baumgartner  B. M. Carr  A. M. Fish

J. D. Meyerhofer P. A. Holden

Donald Bren School of Environmental Science

and Management, University of California,

Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA

T. A. Satterfield

Institute for Resources, the Environment,

and Sustainability, University of British Columbia, AERL,

2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada

B. H. Harthorn

Departments of Feminist Studies, Anthropology

and Sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara,

Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA