Research and Markets, the leading source for international market research and market data, has announced the addition of the "Nanotechnology - Assessment of Health Safety and Environmental Factors" report to their offering.
This research service provides a detailed insight into the overall developments in the health, safety and the environmental (HSE) aspects of nanotechnology. The service starts off with an overview of the HSE implications of nanotechnology followed by a forced field analysis of the industry drivers and challenges substantiated with a comprehensive research overview and analysis in the realms of HSE. A strategic evaluation of the possible initiatives has been provided along with a detailed evaluation of the global economic crisis and its impact on nanotechnology. Profiling of commonly used HSE nomenclature with a list of the ongoing research projects in North America and Europe completes the study.
Research Overview
This research service titled Nanotechnology--Assessment of Health Safety and Environmental Factors (Technical Insights) provides an overview of the efforts involved in understanding the potential risks of nanomaterials and nanotechnology, and examines the required guidelines in order to meet the future regulations.
This analysis is available through our Technical Insights program. With this program, clients receive industry-leading market research along with comprehensive, objective information that allows your company to mitigate risk, identify new opportunities, and drive effective strategies for growth.
Technology Overview
Health, Safety, and Environmental Aspects of Nanotechnology - Is it a Boon or Bane for Mankind?
The advent of nanotechnology on the modern landscape has dramatically changed the shape, size, quality, cost, and efficiency of various applications Nanotechnology has been tipped to be the most path-breaking technology, with this market expected to reach $1 trillion by 2015. The remarkable properties of the various nanomaterials have caught the attention of scientists, researchers, and manufacturers alike, and ongoing research activities are underway to harness their potential for the overall betterment of society. "As the technology is still in the nascent stages, it is vital to conduct comprehensive studies on human health, workers' safety and environmental (HSE) aspects," notes the analyst of this research service. "Several governmental, non-governmental, private, and non-profit organizations have been collaborating with various research entities and academia across the globe to assess the risks involved in nanotechnology." HSE studies would enable improved understanding of the true nature of this technology, and enhance living conditions for mankind.
The commercialization of any technology depends on a comprehensive study of the lifecycle assessment (LCA) of the manufactured products in order to examine its plausible negative effects on humans and the environment. LCA studies will pave the way for the development of solutions to counter the negative aspects of these products. Although all materials have been tested and standardized by the various governing or regulatory bodies, the size ranges of engineered nanomaterials have made it difficult for the existing systems to test the physico-chemical characteristics of nanoparticles. "The understanding of the behavior of particles in nano-scale range is not as coherent as that of the same particles in the micro- and macro- scale," says the analyst. "Experts are already confounded with the behavior characteristics of nano-materials and have found it difficult to furnish a reference material for the same." Reference material is usually categorized based on the unique physical and chemical properties, and the task is even more difficult as all the testing and measurement instruments' and systems' work is based on reference material.
Going forward, the abundant investments intended for the stimulus package for nanotechnology development are expected to strengthen the research emphasis on the HSE aspect of nanotechnology. The initiatives taken by the European and U.S. regulatory councils in identifying the presumed toxic nature of the nanoparticles and their subsequent assessment have received a major fillip since the announcement of various stimulus packages. Rigorous and sustained research will now be possible in developing risk assessment strategies for various engineered nanoparticles due to the availability of funds. Ratcheted up interest levels in the technology will lead to the rollout of green and cost-effective solutions, ensuring that employment opportunities will proliferate in the realms of research, manufacturing, and distribution systems. Nanotechnology has carved a niche for itself in various applications with the different enterprises engaged in building a strong customer base. Diversification into new markets is a major goal for these enterprises, and sustained investment efforts will surely tilt the scales in favor of nanotechnology.