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Nanotech safety now a focus(UPI Business News Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)U.S. occupation safety officials are beginning to look for possible worker health problems in the growing nanotechnology sector, starting at a Nevada plant. Scientists with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health spent a week at Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. in Reno, Nev., measuring how the little particles may affect the average worker. There are no state or federal guidelines to specifically address safety at nanotechnology plants. The Washington Post reports studies show particles as small as a millionth of a millimeter can create toxic biological reactions. At Altair, which reduces car battery-sized power technology into a thin, small wafer, the production line doesn't look too high tech. Grease stains workers' overcoats, 55-gallon drums of chemicals are moved around via forklift and face masks get dirtied by just the dust scientists fear may cause problems. NIOSH officials were invited by Altair head Alan Gotcher. We need to be responsible and we have to be proactive, and if we've got products that have problems, we've got to do something about it, Gotcher said about the nanotechnology industry. |