Nanotechnology and Regulation

Materials having structures with dimensions in the nanoscale (approximately 1-100 nm) also known as nanoscale materials or nanoscale substances, may have properties different than the same chemical substances with structures at a larger scale. In the United States, nanoscale materials that meet the definition of a chemical substance under TSCA are subject to regulation under TSCA. 

In the race to define these new fields of nanoscale science established industries such as color pigments with weU-estabUshed products and processes will unnecessarily be caught up in these broad vague categories. 

In general, we find that a number of definitions that have been offered by various organizations including the International Standards Organization, the US National Nanotechnology Initiative and ASTM are far too broad in scope. The impact of the definitions would be to vastly overstate the range of industries and products which are appropriately described as nanotechnology or nanoscience.  

It would appear that the general definitions have incorporated a bias toward being more inclusive in order to identify more nanotechnology products and processes rather than emphasizing the specific and genuinely new field of research. 

its appHcations exploit specific properties and functions of nanosized materials and/or devices, is overly inclusive. 

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