Home > News > EU food safety watchdog puzzled by nanotech risks
March 8th, 2009
EU food safety watchdog puzzled by nanotech risks
Abstract:
Uncertainties in detecting and measuring levels of nanomaterials could make risk assessment of some nano products extremely difficult, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
The agency is calling for a case-by-case approach to determining the risks associated with engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), adding that there is limited knowledge of current usage levels and likely exposure products in the food area.
In its newly-published opinionPdf external on the potential risks arising from nanotechnologies in the food and feed chain, the food safety watchdog says available data on oral exposure to specific ENMs is "extremely limited".
EFSA's scientific committee concluded that established international approaches to risk assessment can also be applied to engineered nanomaterials, but says a lack of validated test methodologies could make risk assessment of specific nanoproducts "very difficult and subject to a high degree of uncertainty".
Source:
euractiv.com
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