Organizational Involvement

Unidym is actively demonstrating environmental stewardship in the area of Nanotechnology. Here are some examples of our past and ongoing efforts to support the safe and responsible development of nanotechnology-based materials, such as Carbon Nanotubes (CNT’s).

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency - Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program We are one of the first participants in the In-Depth Program of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program (NMSP). In January of 2008, the EPA launched the NMSP to help provide a firmer scientific foundation for regulatory decisions by encouraging submission and development of information including risk management practices for nanoscale materials. Unidym participates in both the Basic Program, where we voluntarily report available information on engineered nanoscale materials we manufacture, process and use, and we also are participating in the In-Depth Program. In the In-Depth Program, participants voluntarily develop data, including testing over a longer time frame. For more information on the EPA’s NMSP, visit their web site at http://www.epa.gov/oppt/nano/stewardship.htm. ICON (the International Council on Nanotechnology) We are a founding member of the multi-stakeholder organization, ICON (the International Council on Nanotechnology) and continue to participate in its Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) activities. We are supporting ICON efforts in establishing guidelines for the safe usage of nanotechnology, and in educating the public about the benefits and risks of nanotechnology. ICON has recently published a backgrounder on some recent research with respect to the health and safety of long rigid multiwalled nanotubes (MWNTs) which can be referenced on their web site at http://icon.rice.edu/resources.cfm?doc_id=12208. For more information on ICON, visit their web site at http://icon.rice.edu. ASTM International We are a member of ASTM International and its E56 Nanotechnology Committee and its E56.03 Subcommittee for Environmental Health & Safety. This subcommittee has been working on a set of safety standards for the handling of engineered nanoscale particles in industrial settings. It has issued the world’s first standard, entitled Standard Guide for Handling Unbound Engineered Nanoscale Particles in Occupational Settings, E 2535-07. For more information on ASTM International, visit their web site at http://www.astm.org. Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology, CBEN We support the Rice University Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology, CBEN, which has been at the forefront of nanotech EH&S research efforts. For more information on CBEN, visit their web site at http://cben.rice.edu. American National Standards Institute (ANSI) We are a corporate member of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and participated in its Nanotechnology Steering Panel when it was charged by the NNI with developing a national standards strategy. ANSI is the "umbrella" organization for Standards Developing Organizations like ASTM and IEEE and is the US representative for various ISO activities. For more information on ANSI, visit their web site at http://www.ansi.org. Dupont/Environmental Defense Nano Risk Framework The Dupont/Environmental Defense Nano Risk Framework provides a foundation and tools for the development and commercialization of nanoscale materials. We are drawing guidance from this framework in the development of our Environmental Health and Safety practices dealing with the handling of our nanoscale materials. For more information on the Nano Risk Framework, visit their web site at http://www.nanoriskframework.org. We are actively involved in, and/or sponsoring, a variety of promising research on the application of carbon nanotubes in the fields of medical devices, anti-cancer drug delivery, and several other life sciences applications.