Executive Summary

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is conducting an expert survey on the risk of nanotechnology, the agency announces Aug. 22. The expert survey will focus on nanotechnology in foods, cosmetics and consumer goods. About 100 experts will participate in the multi-phase qualitative forecasting survey discussing current and future applications of nanotechnology and the opportunities and risks for consumers, the agency says. "The objective is to identify already used or potentially usable nanomaterials, assign them to concrete applications and then draw conclusions on consumer exposure," the institute states. Toward the end of the year, BfR will stage a "Consumer Conference on Perception of Nanotechnology." A final report on the conference will be made available to industry, "main stakeholders in the political circles," public agencies, scientists and non-governmental organizations, according to the release. "Both projects will help to identify scientifically determined and emotionally perceived risks early on and to carry them over to the communication process," BfR President Andreas Hensel states...