Nanoparticle safety in China is a growing concern

Nature : Speakers at the 6th International Conference on Nanotoxicology in Beijing argued that China needs more-extensive safety studies and improved oversight of synthetic nanomaterials. China’s poor product-safety record poses a threat to its ability to engage in international trade of nanomaterials, an area of research and industry in which it is undergoing significant growth. Over the last decade the country has produced more patent applications in nanotechnology than either Europe or the US. However, only 3% of its investment goes toward safety studies, compared with 6% in the US. Although the Chinese public does not view nanoparticles as a safety concern, many of its researchers do. Next year, Chinese scientists will be joining an international project called Nanosolutions, which will be creating a classification system for nanoparticle safety.