Nanotechnology consortium to explore worker safety

Washington – NIOSH has announced the launch of a consortium to expand guidance and research on occupational health and safety related to nanotechnology.

The Nano Health & Safety Consortium is part of NIOSH’s partnership and memorandum of understanding with the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute’s Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering. It aims to unite government, academic and industry leaders, and to offer training and education to students, faculty, researchers and the private sector. It also is intended to address safety issues dealing with materials from research and development to disposal, as well as open research opportunities that uphold safe commercialization of nanomaterial products and the growth of nanomanufacturing, according to a press release.

The consortium was announced May 20 during the White House Forum on Small Business Challenges to Commercializing Nanotechnology. It will be based at the college’s Nanotech Megaplex in Albany, NY, and cover SUNY Poly’s 10 campuses.