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

[0933674]这是一份关于纳米技术材料、制造方法和产品的生命周期研究需求和机会的研讨会的提案。对纳米技术生命周期方面的研究已经落后于整体的研究工作，甚至在环境、健康和安全方面的小（但正在增长的）努力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——而不是生命周期的资源需求、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，但目前关于生命周期评估本身的研究工作相比之下是微不足道的，没有显示出明显的趋势。在生命周期和纳米技术方面缺乏协调一致的研究工作意味着一些影响环境质量的关键问题没有得到充分解决。这些包括资源的可用性和分配、能源需求、制造效率、供应链管理、纳米材料的环境特性、废物的产生和寿命结束管理（包括处置、遏制和回收/再利用）。计划举办一个重点突出、为期两天的讲习班，邀请12-15名核心专家参加。额外的与会者将使总人数达到约50人。每位受邀者将提前准备一份两页纸的论文，阐述构成会议进程的一系列关键问题中的一个或多个。这些将在所有与会者之间提前分发和讨论。研讨会的目标是建立一个重点研究项目的基础，该项目利用生命周期方法全面解决纳米技术对环境的影响。本次研讨会与其他纳米技术研究工作的不同之处在于，它特别关注生命周期评估方法、研究需求和发现。具体目标是：(1)回顾现有研究，评估科学状况，并确定关于纳米技术产品和工艺生命周期的知识库中的空白；(2)对纳米结构材料的组合、它们的制造工艺以及对社会改善提供最大希望的最终产品，以及那些几乎没有希望或有很大可能造成或恶化环境危害的产品，形成批判性的理解；(3)制定研究计划，以解决所确定的需求；(4)建立一条可以由政府间或政府间-私人联合追求的前进道路；纳米技术生命周期倡议；(5)探索纳米技术应用的生命周期监管框架的基础。该项目将产生一个集中的研究策略，用于管理和改善纳米技术的环境概况。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，该报告将(1)总结纳米技术产品生命周期应用的知识状况、差距以及研究和监管需求；(2)为生命周期和纳米技术的重点研究项目的必要性提供理论依据，包括成本和收益分析；(3)为这样一个研究项目制定一个初步计划，探索它的结构（包括政府与私营部门合作的可能性），提出必要的资金水平，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.