Approaches to Societal Impacts of Nanotechnologies in Japan

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Approaches to Societal Impacts of
Nanotechnologies in Japan
Junko Nakanishi Director of CRM, AIST
CRM Research Center for Chemical Risk
Management AIST National Institute of Advanced
Industrial Science and Technology
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The Numbers of Nanotech related Companies by
Sector
Total 586 companies
Biotech
Others
4
9
Environment
Materials
Energy Applications
19
6
Metrology
18
IT Electronics
Applications
17
Superfine Processing
27
More than 60 of 586 companies invest less than
1 million, only 8 invest more than 10 million.
Source NEDO Study on Regional Activities
Related to Nanotechnology(August, 2004)
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Public Image of Nanotechnology in Japan (March
2005) A public opinion survey was conducted,
where respondents were selected randomly from
the Internet Consumer Panel, n1281.
A. Kishimoto (AIST-CRM)
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Points of Concern
1. Toxic effects due to their nanoscale size
alone 2. The greater the unknown aspect of a
technology, the more the public tends to perceive
the risk associated with the technology (Slovic
et al.)
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METIs Study Report (March 2005)

• Extensive Discussions for three months
• 1 Main Committee and 2 WGs
• One WG specifically focused on Social Impact
  Issues

Nanotechnology Policy Study Committee Chair Dr.
Teruo Kishi, NIMS
Basic Policy WG Chair Dr. Hiroshi Yokoyama, AIST
Social Impact Analysis WG Chair Dr. Junko
Nakanishi, AIST
NIMS National Institute for Materials Science,
Japan AIST National Institute of Advanced
Industrial Science and Technology
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Key Conclusions on Societal Impacts Issues

• A forum should be established to share
  understandings among various interest groups on
  societal impacts
• Adaptation and /or application of the existing
  procedures for assessing and regulating chemicals
  should be considered for the present, due to lack
  of scientific evidence of toxicity associated
  with nanoscale size alone.
• Scientific research of toxicity should be
  deepend.
• Prior to toxicity tests, physical and
  chemical properties of the test materials should
  be confirmed (size, surface area, shape and
  impurities)
• 4. Screening level tests, mainly in vitro tests,
  should be undertaken, followed by more detailed
  tests as necessary.
• 5. Japan should actively participate and take a
  leadership role in the related international
  standardization activities.

Thank you for your attention