Jan 30 2008
DuPont has submitted documentation related to DuPont(TM) Light Stabilizer 210, a new titanium dioxide product with a sizeable percentage of particles in the nanoscale, as a demonstration of its support for the new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program (NMSP). This submission is the first received by the EPA under the new program, which was launched Monday.
"We congratulate the EPA on this important initiative," said Terry Medley, DuPont global regulatory affairs director. "We are fully supportive of the Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program and believe this program will give the EPA the information that it needs to help ensure the responsible use of new nanomaterials. DuPont is proud to submit DuPont(TM) Light Stabilizer 210 for consideration under the 'basic' program, and encourages other companies and organizations to do the same. This product is the first that we intend to submit under the EPA basic program."
"We welcome DuPont's participation in the Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program. DuPont is the first company to submit data under the basic program, and we look forward to working with them," said Jim Alwood of EPA's Chemical Control Division.
DuPont(TM) Light Stabilizer 210 is a product designed to provide sun protection for plastics. The product uses extremely small particles of titanium dioxide to efficiently absorb ultraviolet light, protecting plastic and anything it covers from the sun's damaging rays. Because a sizeable percentage of titanium dioxide particles in the product are nanoscale, it was selected as a demonstration case for application of the Nano Risk Framework introduced in 2007.
DuPont is actively engaged in the global dialogue on nanomaterials. For example, the company has actively called for and engaged in collaboration in the development of responsible safety standards and test methods for new nanomaterials. DuPont is also involved in coordinating research to generate reliable, peer reviewed data and has called for the adoption of appropriate regulations as needed.
DuPont and Environmental Defense jointly developed and published the Nano Risk Framework, available at http://www.nanoriskframework.org/, which is intended to be used as a process to identify, manage and reduce potential health, safety and environmental risks of nanoscale materials across all lifecycle stages. The company has also testified before the U.S. Congress on the safety, health and environmental implications of new nanoscale technologies, and is an active participant in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Working Party on Health and Environmental Safety Implications of Manufactured Nanomaterials.
DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.