Institute of Technology Assessment of the Austrian Academy of Sciences


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2nd QualityNano Conference

The latest findings on nano-safety were the focus of this year’s QualityNano conference in Prague. Among the topics discussed were international standards for laboratories.

At present, too little is known about the exact effects of nano particles on our health. Yet, a broad variety of products, such as cosmetics or building materials, has already entered the market. The goal of the EU project QualityNano is to ensure consumer safety.

Quality standards and limit values

The 2nd QualityNano conference, which took place from 27 February to 1 March at the IMG Conference Centre, was held under the motto “Quality in nanosafety assessment – driving best practice and innovation". Among the topics discussed were the effects of nano particles on the environment and human health, as well as institutional standards for research hubs.

„We are still in the process of defining in what amounts nano particles can be present in commercial products without causing harm for consumers. Only then we will be able to prescribe the limit values necessary for regulation”, stresses the Cell and Molecular Biologist Myrtill Simko, who represented the ITA in Prague.

Lab hub with state of the art technology

However, many labs would already operate by the same quality standards, she says. “Those labs have state of the art equipment. They offer those researches, who made it through a very tough application process, the opportunity to conduct their research free of charge.”

The NanoTrust Dossiers

The ITA analyses the regulation of nanotechnologies and identifies potential health and environmental risks. Our main project NanoTrust collects the general knowledge and compiles it in so-called NanoTrust Dossiers.

Links

News – Everything about Nano
Project – NanoTrust
Topic – Nanotechnology
Publication – NanoTrust Dossiers

14.03.2013
By: Denise Riedlinger

Skin cream and tooth paste are among the nano products most frequently used by consumers.