Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
surveillance.for.nanotechnology..NIOSH.urges.every.workplace.dealing.with.nanopar-
ticles,.engineered.nanomaterials,.or.other.aspects.of.nanotechnology.to.consider.the.
need.for.an.occupational.health.surveillance.program..NIOSH.is.in.the.process.of.for-
mulating.guidance.relevant.to.occupational.health.surveillance.for.nanotechnology.
. the ConsuMeR PRoduCt saFetY CoMMission (CPsC)
Despite.the.reportedly.growing.number.of.consumer.products.enabled.by.nanotech-
nology,.the.Consumer.Product.Safety.Commission.(CPSC).has.been.relatively.inac-
tive,.at.least.publicly,.on.nanotechnology.matters..The.CPSC.is.a.member.of.the.NNI.
but.has.yet.to.develop.any.public.guidance.or.other.documents.with.the.exception.of.
the.CPSC's.2005.issuance.of.its.“Nanomaterial.Statement”[52].
According.to.the.CPSC,.the.introduction.of.consumer.products.containing.nano-
materials. into. the. marketplace. may. require. unique. exposure. and. risk. assessment.
strategies,.and.one.of.the.primary.data.needs.will.be.the.identiication.of.the.spe-
ciic. nanomaterial. in. the. consumer. product.. The. CPSC. has. jurisdiction. over. con-
sumer.products.used.in.or.around.the.home,.except.certain.items.excluded.by.statute..
Examples.of.products.that.are.regulated.by.the.CPSC.include.clothing,.hazardous.
household. cleaners. and. substances,. electronic. devices,. appliances,. furnishings,.
building. materials,. toys,. and. other. juvenile. products.. Because. the. federal. statutes.
and.regulations.do.not.require.pre-market.registration.or.approval.of.products,.the.
CPSC.typically.evaluates.a.product's.potential.risk.to.the.public.only.after.a.product.
has.been.distributed.in.commerce.
The.CPSC.Nanomaterial.Statement.provides.that.the.CPSC.can.assess.the.poten-
tial.safety.and.health.risks.of.nanomaterials,.as.with.other.compounds.incorporated.
into.consumer.products,.under.existing.statutes,.regulations,.and.guidelines,.includ-
ing.the.Consumer.Product.Safety.Act.(CPSA).and.the.Federal.Hazardous.Substances.
Act.(FHSA)..Under.the.CPSA,.the.CPSC.evaluates.a.consumer.product.to.determine.
whether.it.contains.a.defect.that.creates.a.“substantial.product.hazard”.or.warrants.
setting. a. consumer. product. safety. standard. by. regulation. to. prevent. or. reduce. an.
unreasonable.risk..According.to.the.Statement,
“In.the.absence.of.an.express.regulation,.as.it.does.with.other.consumer.products,.the.
staff.will.look.to.see.whether.a.defective.product.composed.of.or.containing.nanoma-
terials.creates.a.substantial.risk.of.injury.to.the.public.because.of,.among.other.factors,.
the.pattern.of.the.defect,.the.number.of.defective.products.distributed.in.commerce,.
and.the.severity.of.the.risk.”
The.Statement.also.notes.that.manufacturers,.retailers,.and.distributors.of.nanomate-
rial.products.“have.the.same.reporting.obligation.as.those.of.other.products,.namely.
to.report.to.the.Commission.immediately.if.they.obtain.information.that.reasonably.
supports. the. conclusion. that. such. product. fails. to. comply. with. an. applicable. con-
sumer.product.safety.rule;.contains.a.defect.which.could.create.a.substantial.product.
hazard;.or.creates.an.unreasonable.risk.of.serious.injury.or.death.”
The. CPSC. assesses. a. product's. potential. chronic. health. effects. to. consumers.
under.the.FHSA,.which.is.risk.based.and.addresses.both.acute.and.chronic.hazards..
