Government accused of neglecting nanosafety research, whilst applications for funding remain low

As part of a review of commitments made to bolster nanotechnology in 2005, the Council for Science and Technology (CST) has said that the UK government has failed to provide adequate funding for research into the possible risks of nanotech as well as jeopardising the UK’s position as world leaders in the field, bbc.co.uk reported today.

The original report was commissioned by the government from the Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering and was published in 2004; it highlighted the opportunities for nanotech as well as risks of the developing technology.

It was revealed that of £90 million spent on research and the promotion of commercial nanoproducts, in 2004 alone, only £600,000 was spent on researching the impact of nanoscience over a five year period.

The new review did get some recognition for making inroads in researching the measuring and minimising of workplace exposure to nanomaterials as opposed to the wider areas of environmental and health implications. However comments made by Professor Sir John Beringer, Chair of the CST review were critical “The government made a very clear commitment that research needed to be done to understand more about the toxicology and possible risks that may arise from some of the nanotechnologies, but there has been virtually nothing done by government to resolve this problem.”

Part of the problem seems that funding for this particular sector of nanotechnology has not been applied for by researchers, Malcolm Wicks, Minister for Science and Innovation believes this is in part due to the prioritising of “more pressing research” he said “Our focus so far has been on the areas which needed to be addressed first, such as the measurement and characterisation of nanoscale materials, and the exposure of laboratory and manufacturing staff,” One would think this was pretty reasonable when researching a radical new technology, however he went on to say, “Research is underway into potential health and environmental hazards but we are disappointed that few researchers wishing to investigate the implications to human health have applied for the funding that is available.”

Meanwhile the BBC article reported the CST review is critical of the strategy used by government in allocating funds, saying that, “rather than outlining a systematic research programme to examine these potential risks, the government has relied on a reactive and ad hoc funding programme that has failed to deliver”. Sir John commented further saying “The safe development of a new technology should not depend on whether an academic wins a highly competitive research grant”.