Environmental groups’ concern: do nanoparticles cause mesothelioma?

Environmental groups concerned about the safety of silver nanoparticles have petitioned the EPA after a Japanese study revealed a possible link between nanoparticles and mesothelioma. Nanotechnology is already used in thousands of processes and products, and the list is constantly growing, despite the fact that the technology is not regulated and there is no evidence to show that exposure to nanoparticles is harmless. The Japanese study that has caused a great deal of concern in some circles claims that there is a link between exposure to nanoparticles and the development of mesothelioma, a fatal lung cancer that is usually caused by exposure to asbestos. However, other nanotechnology scientists say that the Japanese study had flawed methodology and that the results aren’t reliable. Another study on health and nanotechnology to be released in the next month or two claims to show evidence of a health hazard involved in nanotechnology but details are not yet available. This week, a collection of consumer, health, and environmental groups have filed a legal petition with the EPA, asking that the agency stop the sales of consumer products containing nanosilver. The petition was filed by the International Center for Technology Assessment, a non-profit group that focuses on public interest research about the impact of technology on society. The ICTA said that manufacturers are infusing a wide range of consumer products with nanosilver because the substance has strong antibacterial and antiviral properties. ICTA sys that more than 260 products currently on the market contain nanosilver, including cleaners, household appliances, cutlery, and children’s toys. The group is concerned that the substance may be destructive to natural environments due to leeching of the substance into waterways, and may pose a threat to human health. Even if the link between mesothelioma and nanoparticles turns out to be non-existent, there is still very little research about the safety of nanoparticles, and the tiny size of the particles may potentially cause health problems that have not yet been considered. The legal petition filed by the ITCA demands that the EPA regulate nanosilver as a pesticide that may have serious environmental impact. Other groups supporting the legal action include Beyond Pesticides, Center for Environmental Health, Center for Food Safety, the Center for Study of Responsive Law, Clean Production Action, the Consumers Union ETC Group, Food and Water Watch, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, the Loka Institute, and the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition. (Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News)