CFA rep Elaine Attwood was part of the Australian delegation which recently attend the 19th meeting of ISO TC 229 Nanotechnologies in Singapore. Some 170 delegates from 37 countries attended.
Elaine is the CFA representative on Standards Australia Technical Committee NT-001 Nanotechnology which mirrors the work of ISO TC 229 and establishes the Australian position.
Nanotechnology is a revolutionary new technology and a key economic driver for the twenty-first century. Nanotechnology promises significant social benefits, including enhancements in medical diagnosis and treatment, more efficient energy sources, lighter, stronger and cheaper materials and electronic products and cleaner, cheaper water.
On the other hand, the limited but growing scientific knowledge on the effects of nanomaterials has led to concern over the environmental, health and safety risks potentially associated with nanotechnology and its products.
One of the highlights of the meeting was the establishment of a 5th Working Group entitled ‘Products and Applications. This will sit alongside:
Working Group 1, Terms and Definitions;
Working Group 2, Measurement and Characterisation;
Working Group 3, Environmental Health and Safety and
Working Group 4, Materials Specifications.
The new Working Group will work closely with all other working groups and also with the two Task Groups, Consumer and Societal Dimensions, and Sustainability. Elaine is a member of the two Task Groups and Working Group 1 Terms and definitions.
Australian Standard SA TS ISO 80004.1 Nanotechnologies – Vocabulary – Part 1: Core terms was published in June 2016, it adopts ISO/TS 80004-1:2015 to provide terms and definitions related to core terms in the field of nanotechnologies. It is intended to facilitate communications between organizations and individuals in industry and those who interact with them. The standard is part of 13 in the ISO series which deal with vocabulary in nanotechnology.
CFA nominates representatives to Standards Australia Technical Committees as part of the CFA Standards Project; if you are interested in finding out more about the Project and/or becoming a volunteer CFA Standards Representative please contact the Standards Coordinator standards@consumeraction.org.au
Photo Credit: National Institutes of Health (NIH) Flickr via Compfight cc