(27a) Nanotechnology and Its Applications to Antimicrobials: Scientific and Regulatory Issues and Concerns

NANOTECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATIONS TO ANTIMICROBIALS: SCIENTIFIC AND REGULATORY ISSUES AND CONCERNS

It is too early to assess full impact and importance of nanoscience/nanotechnology vis-a-vis engineering, drug design, manufacture of new materials, including pesticides, or daily-use products like cosmetics. A full risk assessment of nanoproducts can not be done at this time.Some characteristics of nanomaterials have been understood, some new characteristics are being discovered, but a wide variety of issues and concerns still remain unanswered. EPA as an Agency,in general,and OPP in particular, deals with an enormous body of scientific data and it has the burden of making scientific and regulatory decisions for industrial chemicals, agricultural, antimicrobial,and biopesticides.This is an enormous challenge for the Agency.This presentation will focus on the exposure of food, water, and soils from antimicrobial products which are likely to be nanoproducts.It will explore the possible benifits from use of nanoproducts as pesticides.