Consumer Products
News
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news/archive
February 20, 2015
New CPSC Nanotechnology Center Would Focus on Risks to Consumers
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has requested $7 million in funding for a new center focused on nanotechnology in consumer products.
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news/archive
June 18, 2014
A Statement about the PEN Consumer Products Inventory and Titanium Dioxide
There has been much confusion and misinformation in recent weeks about our Consumer Products Inventory (CPI). Much of this confusion was sparked by a recent report from Friends of the Earth (FOE) on nanoscale materials in food, as well as news articles from Mother Jones and other outlets focused in on the use of nanoscale titanium dioxide in food products.
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news/archive
October 28, 2013
Inventory Finds Increase in Consumer Products Containing Nanoscale Materials
The updated Nanotechnology Consumer Products Inventory now contains 1,628 consumer products that have been introduced to the market since 2005, representing a 24 percent increase since the last update in 2010. In addition to finding new products introduced to the market, the newly re-launched inventory seeks to address scientific uncertainty with contributions from those involved with nanomaterials production, use, and analysis.
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news/archive
April 20, 2012
FDA Releases Food, Cosmetic Nanotechnology Guidances for Public Comment
The Food & Drug Administration has released two new guidance documents for public comment outlining agency policy for the use of nanotechnology in food ingredients and packaging and the use of nanotechnology in cosmetic products.
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news/archive
March 10, 2011
Nanotech-enabled Consumer Products Continue to Rise
The most recent update to the Nanotechnology Consumer Product Inventory finds that over 1,300 manufacturer-identified nanotechnology-enabled consumer products have entered the marketplace to date.
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news/archive
March 2, 2011
A new video podcast on nanotechnology safety from the ASME Nanotechnology Institute
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) have just posted a new video on the safe development of nanotechnology, featuring former PEN Science Advisor Andrew Maynard, as part of their series of nano educational podcasts.
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news/archive
March 26, 2010
Special Report on nanotechnology from AOL News
AOL News published a three part series on nanotechnology. “Nanotechnology has long been hyped for its potential to cure diseases, ease energy problems, supercharge our computers and more. But increasing evidence shows that the engineered particles could pose a giant risk to the environment and human life.”
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news/archive
November 10, 2009
findNano App Puts Nanotech in Your Pocket
The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies has developed findNano, an application for Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch that lets users discover and determine whether consumer products are nanotechnology-enabled.
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news/archive
October 13, 2009
Mama, Dada, and Nano?
A new article in The Progressive discusses the potential toxicity of nanoparticles in consumer products.
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news/archive
October 13, 2009
Nanolessons for Revamping Government Oversight of Technology
A new article by PEN senior advisor J. Clarence (Terry) Davies calls for radical change in how the federal government oversees nanotechnology and other technologies to best protect human health and the environment.
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news/archive
August 25, 2009
Nanotech-enabled Consumer Products Top the 1,000 Mark
Nanotechnology Consumer Products Inventory now contains over 1,000 nanotechnology-enabled consumer products, reflecting the increasing use of tiny particles in everything from conventional products like non-stick cookware and lighter, stronger tennis racquets, to more unique items such as wearable sensors that monitor posture.
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news/archive
April 28, 2009
Former EPA Official Calls For New Environmental & Consumer Protection Agency
Existing health and safety agencies are unable to cope with the risk assessment, standard setting and oversight challenges of advancing nanotechnology. In a landmark report, Oversight of Next Generation Nanotechnology, J. Clarence Davies highlights the need for a new agency to address current forms of pollution and to deal with the health and environmental impacts of the technically complex products promised by rapid 21st century scientific advances.
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news/archive
February 26, 2009
Revisiting the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976
Today the U.S. House of Representatives began the process of re-examining the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. According to the the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, “The hearing will address critical gaps in the statute and explore how these gaps hinder effective chemical safety policy in the United States.”
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news/archive
February 4, 2009
Nanotechnology and the Consumer
What is nanotechnology? How will it affect our lives? And, why should we care? These are just a few of the questions addressed in Talking Nano, a wide-ranging 6-DVD series released by the Boston Museum of Science. The set that includes presentations by noted researchers with a consumer products lecture by Project director David Rejeski.
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news/archive
January 28, 2009
World’s First Mandatory National Nanotech Requirement Pending
Canada is reportedly planning in February to become the first nation in the world to require companies to detail their use of engineered nanomaterials. The information gathered under the requirement will be used to evaluate the risks of engineered nanomaterials and will help to develop appropriate safety measures to protect human health and the environment.