Caution Advised with Nanotechnology Development

WASHINGTON—While nanotechnology offers great potential in fields such as health care and food processing, the U.S. National Research Council (NRC), part of the National Academies, is questioning whether the government’s plans for oversight in the area has adequate vision and can appropriately assess possible risks to human and environmental health. In a report issued Dec. 10, NRC urged the federal government to develop an overreaching strategic plan to identify and manage potential risks, instead of leaving the work piecemealed across different agencies. While nanotechnology may have great benefit, the lack of a plan to ensure effective oversight is compromising both consumer confidence and the major investments already made by governments and private industry.