The Regulatory Implications of Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is at the center of a growing debate among scientists, regulators, industry representatives, policy makers, and others over whether existing regulatory controls are adequate to address the potential risks posed by the technology and its byproducts.

Some interested parties -- including Clayton Teague, Director of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office -- believe that existing federal regulatory mechanisms already in place are capable of assessing the workplace, environmental, and human health risks posed by nanotechnology materials. Others believe that existing mechanisms may be inadequate to provide assurances that nanotechnology materials are safe.