This document summarizes a regional meeting on nanotechnology held in Kuala Lumpur in March 2014. It provides information on nanotechnology development and regulation in several Asia-Pacific countries. Key points include: nanotechnology involves controlling matter at the atomic scale and properties change at the nanoscale; over 1500 nanotechnology products are currently on the market but nano-toxicology is still emerging; countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Australia and New Zealand have significant nanotechnology research but regulatory frameworks vary; civil society groups are calling for more oversight of potential health and environmental risks as the industry expands.

1. Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd - 27th, 2014
SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPLICATIONS OF
NANOTECHNOLOGY
DEVELOPMENT IN ASIA
PACIFIC REGION
David Azoulay - ICEL
Sarojeni Rengam - PAN AP/Malaysia
Yuyun Ismawati - Indonesia Toxics-Free Network
Shahriar Hossain - ESDO/Bangladesh
Jayakumar Chelaton - Thanal/India
Lee Bell - National Toxics Network/Australia
Meriel Watts - PAN Aotearoa/New Zealand
Side Event
Kuala Lumpur SAICM Asia-Pacific Regional meeting
23-27 March 2014

2. Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
• What is nanotechnology ?
• What we know and don’t know
• The market for Nanotechnology products
• Nanotechnology in the Asia-Pacific region
(examples from Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Australia, New
zealand + Thailand - Many more countries addressed in the
booklet)
Content

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What is nanotechnology ?
Nanotechnology is the study of
the controlling of matter on an
atomic and molecular scale.

4. Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
One nanometer is 1.10-9 m:
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Human hair (width): 80.000 nm
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Red blood cell: 1000nm
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DNA strand : 2nm

5. Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
What happens at the nanoscale?
Much higher surface area /volume ratio
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Quantum effects (optical, physical, chemical …)
And much much more….

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Example: GOLD
Yellow and mostly inert
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Nano gold: ±30 nm
Red and chemically reactive
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Nano gold 1 to 3 nm range…
Green and highly reactive

7. Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
Example: Carbon
When engineered in the form of tubes:
Material with multiple
specific phys-chem
(and toxicological)
properties (e.g. 10
times stronger and 10
times lighter than
steel)

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Nano Market
Over 1500 products currently on the market
Electronic appliances, Cosmetics, textiles, Households
products, Sports goods, building materials, food and food
contact materials etc…
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Estimated market between 26 millions to 3.1 trillion $ in
2015 (energy production, energy storage, agro-chemicals, soil
and water remediation, medical applications etc…)

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However…
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Nano-toxicology is very different
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Serious ethical and social concerns

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Nano-Tox: What we know and don’t know
Toxicology of nanoparticles both for Human health and
environment differs severely from same material in the
bulk form (e.g. Carbon Nanotubes & Asbestos / Titanium
dioxide etc…).
Studies have shown:
– Certain Carbon Nanotubes behave just like asbestos;
– Capacity of certain Nanoparticles to cross the brain/
blood barrier and placenta;
– Trans-generational transmission of Ti02 nanoparticles;
– Some nanoparticles have shown toxicity to fish species
and fresh water ecosystems;
– Etc…

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Malaysia
! Nanotech research centers first established in
2000
! In 2006: Malaysian National Nanotechnology
Initiative to coordinate policy, R&D programs and
infrastructures and liaise with industry
! Nano Malaysia Pgm (2011-2015) including
several excellence centers in some of the main
universities of the country
! Approx. 150 scientists and 300 graduate students
(2011 figures)
! No specific regulatory nano provisions

12. Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
! Several nano focused graduate and post grad
degrees around the country
! 2 seminars organized in 2011 in KL:
–Nanotechnology Awareness Seminar in
collaboration with national Science Centre to
emphasize nano as an engine of economic
growth
–Workshop on Safety, health, and environmental
implications of nano to assist in the formulation
of the upcoming national safety guidelines
Malaysia

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Indonesia
! Masyarakat Nanotechnology Indonesia (MNI -
Indonesian Society for Nanomaterials)
established in 2005 to serve as a communication
forum among government, research
institutions, university and Industry.
! In 2006 adoption of national nanoscience and
nanotechnology development platform
! Focus on nanostructured materials for
applications to energy, water treatment and
remediation, food and agriculture, medicine
and nanobiotech

14. Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
! In 2010, Indonesia invested USD$29 millions
in nano R&D, for over 60 projects.
! 35% of key industries such as textiles,
ceramics and chemistry have applied some
form of nanotechnology
! No nano regulation and limited (at best)
engagement of civil society by government
! European countries have more advanced
material structure, but developed Asian
countries such as South Korea and Japan are
more advanced in nanotechnology for daily
needs.
Indonesia

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Thailand
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See upcoming detailed presentation by
deputy director of Thailand NANOTEC

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India
! Over 170 research institutions and universities
involved in nano research
! Mostly driven by public funding, but growing number
of public/private partnership
! Government led initiatives led by Mission on Nano
Science and technology from Department of Science
and Technology - Over 200 projects since 2002
! Great variation at the sub-federal level
! Research on water filtration is the one key flagship
activity
! India is largely involved in international cooperation
on the subject

17. Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
! Industry dominated by few major corporations.
! Leading sector in terms of patent are health care
and textile (for instance, in 2008 Ashima Group
exported over one million yard of nano treated
fabrics to the US)
! No specific regulation at this point, precautionary
approach recommended by some independent
commentator and Indian toxicologists.
! Key issue: Lack of coordination between a
multitude of government departments
! Public engagement is limited and public debate is
muted
India

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Australia
! Considerable investment in nanotechnology research
coordinated by Australian research council and CSIRO
! Latest coordination strategy document: The National
Enabling Technology Strategy (2009)
! In terms of regulation a report commissioned by the
Government in 2008 identified several gaps in the
regulatory framework. Legal reform proposed in 2009,
but abandoned since
! Civil Society extremely active since 2005, and is calling
for a moratorium on the research, development and
production of synthetic nanoproduct of nanomaterials
until regulation are adopted to protect the health and
safety of workers, public, and the environment

19. Kuala Lumpur SAICM regional meeting, March 23rd / 27th 2014
New Zealand/Aotearoa
• No large nanotech industry in NZ
• 2006: Nanotech roadmap established by Ministry of
Science, Research and technology, acknowledging
importance of social research and engagement of
communities ….. Very little was done since in this
respect
• Several university and education programs
• Strong engagement of New Zealand Sustainability
Council on this topic
• In 2012, adoption of the first regulatory labelling
requirement for cosmetics (applicable in 2015,
with notification in the meantime)

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More information in the booklet about
almost 20 countries in the region
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Upcoming booklet about central Asia

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Contact:
David Azoulay
dazoulay@ciel.org