Amid the ongoing debate about the environmental and health risks of nanotechnology, the U.S. EPA has announced in its report, TSCA Inventory Status of Nanoscale Substances – General Approach, that it will maintain its practice of categorizing nanomaterials as “new” or “existing” chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) on a case-by-case basis.

WASHINGTON - Amid the ongoing debate about the environmental and health risks of nanotechnology, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced in its report, TSCA Inventory Status of Nanoscale Substances – General Approach, that it will maintain its practice of categorizing nanomaterials as “new” or “existing” chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) on a case-by-case basis. EPA detractors suggest that different nanoforms of the same material pose different hazards and that the EPA should instead invoke the “new uses” clause, which would allow the agency more oversight and require more stringent recordkeeping. Currently, the agency is developing a voluntary Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program (NMSP), soliciting input from experts and encouraging responsible commercial development of nanomaterials.