The Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) based in
Edinburgh has launched a range of new services to help companies
minimise the environmental and health risks of working with
nanomaterials.
Complementing the IOM’s SAFENANO Information Service
and Community Portal, SAFENANO Scientific Services will
provide companies operating in the nanotechnology industry with a
multidisciplinary range of solutions to ensure they can offer employees
a safe and healthy working environment and end products that are safe
for customers.
The development of nanotechnology is expected to drive major
advances in medicine, drug discovery, security and defence. At a scale
10,000 times smaller than the thickness of a human hair, nanoparticles
have unique properties that hold promise for the fabrication and
assembly of ground-breaking new products in many industry sectors.
However, there is currently little known about the long term
consequences of working with nanomaterials.
SAFENANO Scientific Services, which is part-funded by Scottish
Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian and the Technology Strategy Board,
aims to provide greater insight into potential hazards of working with
nanotechnology by offering companies expert advice and support to help
ensure they meet regulatory duties, achieve effective product
stewardship and manage potential liabilities towards users, customers
and the environment.
SAFENANO Scientific Services offers laboratory services and
testing, workplace occupational hygiene, toxicology reports and
reviews, as well as related training for staff and management to aid
companies in the development of effective nanotechnology risk
management programmes.
“SAFENANO Scientific Services builds on the
IOM’s international reputation as a leading provider of
nanotechnology risk research and consultancy. Through provision of
proactive risk assessment, these services will enable UK companies to
access the best available support to ensure safe and responsible
development of nanotechnology.” said Dr Rob Aitken, Director
of the SAFENANO initiative.
SAFENANO Scientific Services is managed by the Institute of
Occupational Medicine, in partnership with Napier University, who are
recognised as a leading institution in nanoparticle toxicity assessment.
Professor Vicki Stone, Nanoparticle Toxicologist and Director
of the Biomedicine and Sport Science Research Group at Napier
University, said: “I am delighted to be part of this latest
innovative project from SAFENANO – it is a great opportunity
to start to address the real needs of industry in terms of assessing
the safety of nanomaterials now and in future development, and is
reflective of Napier’s commitment to working with industry
and business.”
Neil Francis, Director of Growing Business at Scottish
Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian, added: “Nanotechnology is
widely believed to offer great potential for the development of new
materials, products, processes and economic growth over the coming
years.
“It is, however, recognised that there are still
some uncertainties concerning the risks that some of these new
materials may pose to the health of those working with them, the wider
public and to the general environment. Having an organisation like IOM
and the services of SAFENANO in Scotland gives us a significant
advantage and reinforces our expertise in this area, which companies
working with this technology will be able to benefit from.”