NSF-EPA Workshop on Life Cycle Aspects of Nanoproducts, Nanostructured Materials, and Nanomanufacturing: Problem Definitions, Data Gaps, and Research Needs

0933674报告建议召开一次研讨会，讨论纳米技术材料、制造方法和产品的生命周期研究需求和机会。纳米技术生命周期方面的研究落后于整体研究努力，甚至在环境、健康和安全方面的小努力(但不断增加)也主要致力于了解纳米结构材料的命运、运输和毒理学特性--而不是生命周期资源需求、排放和环境影响。尽管人们普遍同意生命周期观点的重要性，但与之相比，目前关于生命周期评估本身的研究工作微不足道，而且没有显示出明显的趋势。缺乏关于生命周期和纳米技术的协调一致的研究努力，意味着一些影响环境质量的关键问题没有得到充分解决。这些问题包括资源的可获得性和分配、能源需求、制造效率、供应链管理、纳米材料的环境属性、废物产生和寿命终结管理(包括处置、遏制和回收/再利用)。计划举办一次为期两天的重点研讨会，核心受邀者为12-15名专家。其他与会者将使总人数达到约50人。每个受邀者都将提前准备一份两页的论文，回答构成程序框架的一系列关键问题中的一个或多个。这些文件将事先在所有与会者中分发和讨论。研讨会的目标是为利用生命周期方法全面解决纳米技术对环境的影响的重点研究方案奠定基础。该研讨会与其他纳米技术研究工作的不同之处在于，它特别侧重于生命周期评估方法、研究需求和研究结果。具体目标是：(1)审查现有研究，评估科学状况，找出有关纳米技术产品和工艺生命周期的知识库中的差距；(2)对纳米结构材料、其制造工艺、以及为社会提供最大希望的产品组合，以及那些前景渺茫或极有可能造成或恶化环境危害的产品，以及那些几乎没有希望或极有可能造成或恶化环境危害的产品，形成批判性的了解；(3)制定一项研究计划，以满足所确定的需求；(4)建立一条可由政府间或政府间--私营部门联合倡议在纳米技术生命周期方面采取的前进道路；以及(5)探索纳米技术应用的生命周期管理框架的基础。该项目将形成管理和改善纳米技术环境概况的重点研究战略。研讨会的主要成果将是提交给NSF和EPA的最终报告或白皮书，其中将(1)总结应用于纳米技术产品的生命周期的知识状况、差距以及研究和监管需求；(2)提供关于生命周期和纳米技术的重点研究计划的必要性的理由，其中包括成本和收益分析；以及(3)为此类研究计划制定初步计划，探索其可能的结构(包括政府和私营部门联合伙伴关系的可能性)，建议必要的资金水平，并确定研究领域的优先顺序。

0933674 TheisThis is a proposal to convene a workshop on life cycle research needs and opportunities of nanotechnological materials, manufacturing methods, and products. Research on life cycle aspects of nanotechnology has lagged overall research efforts, and even the small (but growing) effort on environmental, health, and safety is devoted largely to understanding the fate, transport, and toxicological properties of nanostructured materials - rather than life cycle resource demands, emissions and environmental implications. Despite widespread agreement on the importance of the life cycle perspective, current research efforts with regard to life cycle assessment per se are miniscule by comparison and exhibit no discernable trend. The lack of a concerted research effort on life cycle and nanotechnology means that a number of critical issues that impact environmental quality are not being adequately addressed. These include resource availability and allocation, energy requirements, manufacturing efficiency, supply chain management, environmental properties of nanomaterials, waste generation, and end-of-life management (which includes disposal, containment, and recycling/reuse). A focused, two day workshop is planned with a core of 12-15 expert invitees. Additional attendees will bring the total to approximately 50 individuals. Each invitee will prepare in advance a two-page paper that addresses one or more of a series of critical questions that frame the proceedings. These will be circulated and discussed in advance among all attendees. The goal of the workshop is to establish the basis for a focused research program that comprehensively addresses the environmental impacts of nanotechnology using the life cycle approach. This workshop is differentiated from other nanotechnology research efforts by its specific focus on life cycle assessment methods, research needs and findings. The specific objectives are to (1) review existing research, assess the state of science, and identify gaps in the knowledge base regarding the life cycle of nanotechnological products and processes; (2) develop a critical understanding of combinations of nanostructured materials, their manufacturing processes, and resultant products that offer the greatest promise for improvements for society, as well as those that offer little promise or have a high probability of creating or worsening environmental hazards (3) develop a research plan to address the needs identified (4) establish a pathway forward that could be pursued by an intergovernmental, or joint intergovernmental-private, initiative on the life cycle of nanotechnology; and (5) explore the basis of a life cycle regulatory framework for nanotechnological applications This project will result in a focused research strategy for managing and improving the environmental profile of nanotechnologies. The principal output of the workshop will be a final report, or white paper, to NSF and EPA that will (1) summarize the state of knowledge, gaps, and research and regulatory needs of life cycle applied to nanotechnological products; (2) provide a rationale for the need for a focused research program on life cycle and nanotechnology that includes an analysis of costs and benefits; and (3) develop an initial plan for such a research program that will explore how it might be structured (including the potential for a joint government-private partnership), suggest necessary funding levels, and prioritize research areas.