Insurers Scrutinize Nanotechnology

Summary posted by Meridian on 1/22/2009
Source: Environmental Science and Technology
Author: Rhitu Chatterjee

Insurance companies are increasingly concerned about the risks of nanotechnology, according to the article. "Nanotechnology is a big problem because the technology is moving much faster, as we all know, than information on health and environmental safety," says Robert Blaunstein of Nanotechnology Risk Management, a firm that advises insurers and companies on how to manage the risks of nanotechnology. Despite hundreds of products claiming to contain nanomaterials already on the shelves, risk research is underfunded and the risks of nanotechnology are poorly understood. Lloyd's, a United Kingdom insurance firm, has listed nanotechnology at the top of its "emerging risks" list. It, along with Swiss Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance firms, are both recommending a precautionary approach to manufacturers and insurers. Blaunstein adds, "...if [insurers] learn more about it, learn how to manage it, I think clearly they would be in a better position to provide insurance." The article can be viewed online at the link below.

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our team contact us site map	Insurers Scrutinize Nanotechnology Summary posted by Meridian on 1/22/2009 Source: Environmental Science and Technology Author: Rhitu Chatterjee Insurance companies are increasingly concerned about the risks of nanotechnology, according to the article. "Nanotechnology is a big problem because the technology is moving much faster, as we all know, than information on health and environmental safety," says Robert Blaunstein of Nanotechnology Risk Management, a firm that advises insurers and companies on how to manage the risks of nanotechnology. Despite hundreds of products claiming to contain nanomaterials already on the shelves, risk research is underfunded and the risks of nanotechnology are poorly understood. Lloyd's, a United Kingdom insurance firm, has listed nanotechnology at the top of its "emerging risks" list. It, along with Swiss Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance firms, are both recommending a precautionary approach to manufacturers and insurers. Blaunstein adds, "...if [insurers] learn more about it, learn how to manage it, I think clearly they would be in a better position to provide insurance." The article can be viewed online at the link below. The original article may still be available at pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/es900041e?cookieSet=1 As tagged by Meridian Institute: Implications: Human Health Risks, Environmental Risks, Economic Competitiveness Regions: North America, Europe Stakeholders: Government, Industry, NGO, Academia Related Forums: Human Health Risks and Worker Safety Environmental Risks Economic Competitiveness print format	NDN Home Subscribe Manage Subscription Search News Archives Nanotechnology Quintuples Heating Capacity of Solar Water Heaters -- Renewable Energy Magazine (9/1/2010) Researchers at the University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil, have developed a solar heating system that uses nanotechnology to heat water to five times the temperature of a conventional system, while also permitting the collector surface area to retain up to 98 percent of heat from solar radiation. [More] Pakistan's Science Minister Attacks Funding Cuts -- SciDev.Net (9/1/2010) The Pakistan government has cuts its funds for the Pakistan Ministry of Science and Technology's 2010-2011 budget by almost half, causing the science minister, Muhammad Azam Khan Swati, to criticize his own government. [More] Nanotechnology: Small wonders -- Nature (9/1/2010) This article takes an in-depth look at the United States National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI)'s first 10 years - to find out where the money went and what the initiative plans to do next. [More] Nanotech on Farmers' Fields -- Silicon Nutrition (8/31/2010) A plant nutrition study that addresses nano-sized plant nutrients is now available from the Landbouwkundige Uitgeverij G.C. van den Berg (Veenendaal, The Netherlands). [More] More News... Learn how to include these headlines on your own website by clicking here. Please email us if you require text-only versions of the daily emails.