ESH & Nanotechnology: A Joint Study by the Chemical Industry Vision2020 and the Semiconductor Research Corporation

Abstract

Nanotechnology is and will be the foundation for exciting new technologies for years to come. Much of nanotechnology's promise is related to the unique properties that materials exhibit on the nanoscale. With such promise come questions concerning the environmental, safety and health (ESH) of the new technologies. As a result, a cross functional team of ESH experts from the chemical and semiconductor industries, with inputs from academic and governmental representatives, reviewed existing ESH and nanotechnology research and developed a list of over 30 research areas where ESH questions were unanswered. From this list, the top five research needs were identified and further explored based on the expertise of the team.