This document provides an overview of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and nanotechnology, discusses the current state of the art, identifies current knowledge gaps that may prevent the proper application of LCA in this field and makes recommendations on the application of LCA for assessing the potential environmental impacts of nanotechnology, nanomaterials, and nanoproducts. For the purposes of this report, “nanoproducts” are defined as products containing nanomaterials.

'Widespread use of nanoscale silver will challenge regulatory agencies to balance important potential benefits against the possibility of significant environmental risk, highlighting the need to identify research priorities concerning this emerging technology, according to a new report .'

The report of the study Environmentally beneficial nanotechnologies: barriers and opportunities investigates the opportunities and potential obstacles to adoption of a number applications of nanotechnology which could be used to cut use of non-renewable energy sources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This report explores the application of nanoscience in the areas of insulation, photovoltaics, electricity storage, engine efficiency and the hydrogen economy.

‘Over the next two decades, the impacts of nano-scale convergence on farmers and food will exceed that of farm mechanization or of the Green Revolution. Converging technologies could reinvigorate the battered agrochemical and a biotech industry, igniting a still more intense debate - this time over 'atomically-modified' foods.’

This report published by the UK Government Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) outlines the UK's research objectives to characterize the potential risks posed by engineered free nanoparticles and funding mechanisms to address these.

Nanotechnology is often described as having a “disruptive” or “revolutionary” potential in terms of its possible impact on industrial production routes. Nanotechnology offers possible solutions to many current problems by means of smaller, lighter, faster and better performing materials, components and systems. This opens up new opportunities for wealth creation and employment. Nanotechnology is also expected to make some essential contributions to solving global and environmental challe more...

Over the next two decades, the impacts of nano-scale convergence on farmers and food will exceed that of farm mechanization or of the Green Revolution. No government has developed a regulatory regime that addresses the nano-scale or the societal impacts of the invisibly small. A handful of food and nutrition products containing invisible and unregulated nano-scale additives are already commercially available.” Down on the Farm' is the first comprehensive look at how nano-scale technologies w more...

'The Potential Impacts of Nano-Scale Technologies on Commodity Markets,' prepared for the South Centre, examines the potential impacts of nanotechnology on two sectors - agriculture and mining - in commodity dependent developing countries. Cases studies on rubber, textiles, platinum and copper provide early examples of how economies and workers in the global South could be affected by nanotech's emerging R&D and products.

This book examines trends and impacts from a broad perspective and in six specific industries software, semiconductors, personal computer manufacturing, construction engineering and services, automobiles, and pharmaceuticals. The Offshoring of engineering will be of great interest to engineers, engineering professors and deans, and policy makers, as well as people outside the engineering community who are concerned with sustaining and strengthening U.S. engineering capabilities in support of hom more...

The experts argue that nanomaterials, which are making their way into the marketplace today, are possibly harmful to consumers and the environment, so stronger and new laws are needed to ensure they are safe. On the other side, different experts argue that more regulation will slow down the pace of business and innovation in nanotechnology. This paper will draw out the core issues behind the debate and explain that there is more at stake than merely environmental, health and safety (EHS) worrie more...