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Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014 SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT IN ASIA PACIFIC REGION
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
SOCIAL ANDENVIRONMENTALIMPLICATIONS OF
NANOTECHNOLOGYDEVELOPMENT IN
ASIA PACIFICREGION
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
• What is nanotechnology ?
• What we know and don’t know
• The market for Nanotechnology products
• Nanotechnology in the Asia-Pacific region(examples from Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Australia, Newzealand + Thailand - Many more countries addressed in thebooklet)
Content
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
What is nanotechnology ?
Nanotechnology is the study ofthe controlling of matter on anatomic and molecular scale.
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
One nanometer is 1.10-9 m:
Human hair (width): 80.000 nm
Red blood cell: 1000nm
DNA strand : 2nm
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
What happens at the nanoscale?Much higher surface area /volume ratio
Quantum effects (optical, physical, chemical …)
And much much more….
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
Example: GOLDYellow and mostly inert
Nano gold: ±30 nmRed and chemically reactive
Nano gold 1 to 3 nm range…Green and highly reactive
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
Example: CarbonWhen engineered in the form of tubes:
Material with multiplespecific phys-chem(and toxicological)properties (e.g. 10times stronger and 10times lighter than
steel)
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
Nano MarketOver 1500 products currently on the market
Electronic appliances, Cosmetics, textiles, Householdsproducts, Sports goods, building materials, food and food
contact materials etc…
Estimated market between 26 millions to 3.1 trillion $ in2015 (energy production, energy storage, agro-chemicals, soil
and water remediation, medical applications etc…)
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
However…
Nano-toxicology is very different
Serious ethical and social concerns
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
Nano-Tox: What we know and don’t knowToxicology of nanoparticles both for Human health andenvironment differs severely from same material in thebulk form (e.g. Carbon Nanotubes & Asbestos / Titaniumdioxide etc…).
Studies have shown:– Certain Carbon Nanotubes behave just like asbestos;– Capacity of certain Nanoparticles to cross the
brain/blood barrier and placenta;– Trans-generational transmission of Ti02 nanoparticles;– Some nanoparticles have shown toxicity to fish species
and fresh water ecosystems;– Etc…
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
Malaysia
Nanotech research centers first established in2000
In 2006: Malaysian National NanotechnologyInitiative to coordinate policy, R&D programsand infrastructures and liaise with industry
Nano Malaysia Pgm (2011-2015) includingseveral excellence centers in some of the mainuniversities of the country
Approx. 150 scientists and 300 graduate students(2011 figures)
No specific regulatory nano provisions
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
Several nano focused graduate and post graddegrees around the country
2 seminars organized in 2011 in KL:–Nanotechnology Awareness Seminar in
collaboration with national Science Centre toemphasize nano as an engine of economicgrowth
–Workshop on Safety, health, and environmentalimplications of nano to assist in the formulationof the upcoming national safety guidelines
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
Indonesia
Masyarakat Nanotechnology Indonesia (MNI -Indonesian Society for Nanomaterials)established in 2005 to serve as a communicationforum among government, researchinstitutions, university and Industry.
In 2006 adoption of national nanoscience andnanotechnology development platform
Focus on nanostructured materials forapplications to energy, water treatment andremediation, food and agriculture, medicineand nanobiotech
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
In 2010, Indonesia invested USD$29 millionsin nano R&D, for over 60 projects.
35% of key industries such as textiles,ceramics and chemistry have applied someform of nanotechnology
No nano regulation and limited (at best)engagement of civil society by government
European countries have more advancedmaterial structure, but developed Asiancountries such as South Korea and Japan aremore advanced in nanotechnology for dailyneeds.
Indonesia
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
Thailand
See upcoming detailed presentation bydeputy director of Thailand NANOTEC
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
India Over 170 research institutions and universities
involved in nano research Mostly driven by public funding, but growing number
of public/private partnership Government led initiatives led by Mission on Nano
Science and technology from Department of Scienceand Technology - Over 200 projects since 2002
Great variation at the sub-federal level Research on water filtration is the one key flagship
activity India is largely involved in international cooperation
on the subject
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
Industry dominated by few major corporations. Leading sector in terms of patent are health care
and textile (for instance, in 2008 Ashima Groupexported over one million yard of nano treatedfabrics to the US)
No specific regulation at this point, precautionaryapproach recommended by some independentcommentator and Indian toxicologists.
Key issue: Lack of coordination between amultitude of government departments
Public engagement is limited and public debate ismuted
India
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
Australia Considerable investment in nanotechnology research
coordinated by Australian research council and CSIRO Latest coordination strategy document: The National
Enabling Technology Strategy (2009) In terms of regulation a report commissioned by the
Government in 2008 identified several gaps in theregulatory framework. Legal reform proposed in 2009,but abandoned since
Civil Society extremely active since 2005, and is callingfor a moratorium on the research, development andproduction of synthetic nanoproduct of nanomaterialsuntil regulation are adopted to protect the health andsafety of workers, public, and the environment
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
New Zealand/Aotearoa• No large nanotech industry in NZ• 2006: Nanotech roadmap established by Ministry of
Science, Research and technology, acknowledgingimportance of social research and engagement ofcommunities ….. Very little was done since in thisrespect
• Several university and education programs• Strong engagement of New Zealand Sustainability
Council on this topic• In 2012, adoption of the first regulatory labelling
requirement for cosmetics (applicable in 2015,with notification in the meantime)
Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
More information in the booklet aboutalmost 20 countries in the region
Upcoming booklet about central Asia
