Nanotechnology, Not Just for Geeks; Updated Consumer Inventory Pinpoints Surge in Health & Fitness Products, Use of Silver

Say "nanotechnology," and geeks imagine iPhones, laptops and flash drives. But more than 60 percent of the 580 products in a newly updated inventory of nanotechnology consumer products are such "un-geeky" items as tennis racquets, clothing, and health products.

Maintained by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at http://www.nanotechproject.org/consumerproducts, the updated inventory includes Head®  NanoTitanium Tennis Racquets, Eddie Bauer® Water Shorts with Nano-Dry® technology, Nano-In Foot Deodorant Powder/Spray, and Burt's Bees® sunscreen with "natural Titanium Dioxide mineral ... micronized into a nano sized particle."

Since the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies launched the world's first online inventory of manufacturer-identified nanotech goods in March 2006, the number of items has increased 175 percent -- from 220 to 580 products. There are 356 products in the health and fitness category -- the inventory's largest category -- and 66 products in the food and beverage category. One of the largest subcategories is cosmetics with 89 products. All are available in shopping malls or over the Internet. The list includes merchandise from such well-known brands as Samsung, Chanel, Black & Decker, Wilson, L.L. Bean, Lancome and L'Oreal.

The nanomaterial of choice appears to be silver -- which manufacturers claim is in 139 products or nearly 25 percent of inventory -- far outstripping carbon, gold, or silica.

"The use of nanotechnology and nanomaterials in consumer products and industrial applications is growing rapidly, and the products listed in the inventory are just the tip of the iceberg," said Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies science advisor Andrew Maynard. "How consumers respond to these early products -- in food, electronics, health care, clothing and cars - - will be a bellwether for broader market acceptance of nanotechnologies in the future. This is especially true given that the Project's recent poll shows seventy percent of the public still knows little or nothing about the technology."

In an effort to jumpstart a conversation with consumers about the possible benefits and risks of nanotechnology, the Project -- in collaboration with Consumers Union, the publishers of Consumer Reports magazine and Consumer Reports Online -- recently announced ConsumersTalkNano. This exciting online dialogue will take place over two days, October 23-24, 2007.

Any interested member of the public will be able to communicate online throughout the two days (October 23-24) with panelists from the Project, Consumers Union and others. In the meantime, details about ConsumersTalkNano, nanotechnology, nano-enabled consumer products, and related safety questions are available at http://www.nanotechproject.org.
 
To pre-register to participate in ConsumersTalkNano and to find out more about nanotechnology, go to: http://www.webdialogues.net/pen/consumer.

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is the ability to measure, see, manipulate and manufacture things usually between 1 and 100 nanometers (nm). A nanometer is one billionth of a meter. A human hair is roughly 100,000 nanometers wide. The limit of the human eye's capacity to see without a microscope is about 10,000 nm. By 2014, a projected $2.6 trillion in global manufactured goods will incorporate nanotech, or about 15 percent of total output.

The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies is an initiative launched by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and The Pew Charitable Trusts in 2005. It is dedicated to helping business, government and the public anticipate and manage possible health and environmental implications of nanotechnology.

For information about the Center, visit http://www.wilsoncenter.org. For media inquiries, contact Sharon McCarter, (202) 691-4016.

Pew is no longer active in this line of work, but for more information, visit the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies on PewHealth.org.