Nanotechnology in Consumer Products: Addressing Potential Health and Safety Implications for Consumers

2014 ◽  
pp. 117-132 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Health And Safety ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Health And Safety Implications

scholarly journals Microbiological Safety of Non-Food Products: What Can We Learn from the RAPEX Database?

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 1599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Szilvia Vincze ◽  
Sascha Al Dahouk ◽  
Ralf Dieckmann
Keyword(s):  
National Laboratory ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Member States ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Chemical Products

For consumer protection across borders, the European Union has established the rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products (RAPEX), with the overarching goal of preventing or limiting the sale and use of non-food products that present a serious risk for the health and safety of consumers. In our study, we comprehensively analyzed RAPEX notifications associated with products posing a microbiological risk from 2005 through 2017. Additional information was retrieved from national laboratory reports. A total of 243 microbiologically harmful consumer products triggered notifications in 23 out of 31 participating countries. About half of the products were reported by Spain, Germany, and Italy. Notifications mainly included contaminated toys, cosmetics, and chemical products. Depending on the notifying country, measures taken to prevent the spread of dangerous products were predominantly ordered either by public authorities or economic operators. The interval between microbiological diagnosis and the date of RAPEX notifications considerably varied between RAPEX member states, ranging between a few days and 82 weeks. The nature and extent of RAPEX usage substantially differed among member states, calling for harmonization and optimization. Slight modifications to RAPEX could help to systematically record microbiological hazards, which may improve the assessment of potential health risks due to contaminated non-food products.

scholarly journals The application of a new policy on recreational cannabis use in the Canadian military population

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Therrien ◽  
H McCuaig Edge
Keyword(s):  
Health And Safety ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Basic Training ◽  
Military Population ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Health And Safety Implications ◽  
Canadian Military

Abstract In October 2018, the Canadian federal government passed the Cannabis Act, making Canada the first G7 nation to legalize the possession and consumption of recreational cannabis nationwide. Given the potential health and safety implications, this makes it a pivotal time for both policy makers and researchers to understand the effects of cannabis use and the implications in the workplace. In response to legalization, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) was one of the first major organizations to create a policy specifically targeting cannabis use for its military personnel, with directives outlining expectations for standards of conduct, and general and specific prohibitions relating to the possession and consumption of cannabis products. An important part of understanding the potential impact of cannabis use in the Canadian military and the suitability of the current policy is to first determine the proportion of CAF members that have consumed cannabis since its legalization. The first available data on this comes from the Recruit Health Questionnaire, a health and lifestyle survey completed by military recruits early in their basic training. 1,219 recruits completed the survey between October 2019 (exactly one year post-legalization) and February 2020 (88% response rate). Preliminary results suggest that one-third (34%) of recruits reported having consumed cannabis during the 12 months prior to starting basic training, and since the Cannabis Act came into effect. The vast majority (95%) of this group reported having consumed cannabis on more than one occasion. Given these large proportions, it is imperative that we continue to study the medical, behavioural, and cognitive effects of cannabis to understand if the current guidelines set out in the CAF policy on recreational cannabis use are adequate. Constant monitoring and, as necessary, updates to the policy, are essential to continue ensuring the safety of CAF members and the public, and an operationally ready force. Key messages Preliminary results suggest that one-third of Canadian Armed Forces recruits have consumed cannabis since its legalization, with 95% of this group having consumed it on more than one occasion. Given the potential health and safety implications, the Canadian Armed Forces policy on cannabis consumption must be constantly monitored and updated to ensure a safe and operationally ready force.

scholarly journals Our Nanotechnology Future

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Natowitz ◽  
Christian Ngô
Keyword(s):  
Food Production ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Quantum Effects ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Dynamic Field ◽  
Health And Safety Implications ◽  
Forms Of Carbon

This book explores nanotechnology, a rapidly evolving and growing field with applications in a large number of areas. The concepts and physics are highlighted through topics such as nanoscience, quantum effects, nanostructures, and new forms of carbon. Applications and potential health and safety implications of nanomaterials are discussed for healthcare, food production, electronics, defence and more. Accessible and timely, this introduction to nanotechnology will interest students, teachers, politicians, and everyone else eager to learn more about this dynamic field.

Advances in understanding the transformation of engineered nanoparticles in the environment

2014 ◽  
Vol 86 (7) ◽  
pp. 1129-1140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Setare Tahmasebi Nick ◽  
Ali Bolandi ◽  
Tova A. Samuels ◽  
Sherine O. Obare
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Dissolved Organic Matter ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Recent Work ◽  
Environmental Remediation ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Green Manufacturing ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
Engineered Nanoparticles ◽  
Proactive Study

AbstractEngineered nanoparticles (ENPs) are known to possess unique size and shape dependent chemical and physical properties. As a result of their properties, ENPs have been effective in several important applications including catalysis, sensor design, photonics, electronics, medicine, and the environmental remediation of toxic pollutants. Such properties and applications have led to an increase in the manufacture of ENPs and a rise in their presence in consumer products. The increase of ENPs in consumer products presents several opportunities and challenges, and necessitates a proactive study of their health and safety. This article highlights some recent work in which we have studied the effect of exposure of well-defined ENPs to pesticides and the effect of pH and dissolved organic matter. We also summarize our work and that of others who have studied the toxicity of ENPs with microorganisms. The results provide insights on the need for green manufacturing strategies of ENPs, their use and safe disposal practices.

scholarly journals Understanding Why Codes and Standards Fail

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Batzer ◽  
John S. Morse ◽  
Dong Y. Don Lee
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Asymmetric Information ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Consumer Products ◽  
Best Interests ◽  
Information Cost ◽  
Minimal Level ◽  
Corporate Behavior ◽  
Adverse Impacts ◽  
Public Health And Safety

The enduring issues regarding codes and standards for consumer products and corporate behavior are discussed in this paper. It has been frequently asserted that the adherence of a product to a recognized government or private standard ensures that the product has a minimal level of safety, and that said product is therefore presumably non-defective. The agencies which promulgate these codes and standards are ostensibly impartial and informed, and have the public’s best interests in mind. This conviction is undoubtedly true in some instances, but is also unquestionably false in others. The issues regarding codes and standards and their impact upon products and the trusting public include, but are not limited to, asymmetric information, cost concerns, ethics, foreseeable misuses, non-alignment of interests, and technological advancements after the standards were adopted. In short, the adherence to the letter, rather than the spirit, of individual codes and standards is a manifestation of the Principal-Agent conflict, in which the agent, acting on behalf of the principal, has a different set of incentives than does the principal. This conflict and the underlying issues listed above are discussed. Case studies of numerous products with possible, known, and unforeseen adverse impacts upon public health and safety will be used as illustrations of products that were within the letter of the code or standard, but manifestly defective.

scholarly journals Factors Influencing Clients’ Commitment to Sustainable Construction Practices

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-48
Author(s):  
Peter Uchenna Okoye
Keyword(s):  
Construction Projects ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Sustainable Construction ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
The Public ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
Health And Safety Implications

The success of every construction projects largely depends on the level of commitment of the clients. This study examined the factors influencing the level of clients’ commitment to sustainable construction practices in Nigeria. A questionnaire survey was use to collect data from the public and private construction clients on the level of influence of 16 factors extracted from the literature. A total of 182 valid questionnaires were used for analysis. The result revealed that nine factors with weighted average (W) 0.8≤W≤1 have a high level of influence, whereas seven factors with 0.6≤W≤0.8 have a high-medium level of influence on the clients’ commitment. However, the five most influential factors were: client knowledge and awareness, Cost implication and mechanism of financial involvement, economic value and return on investment, end-user/client perception and preference, and health and safety implications. The result further revealed that there is significant difference on how these factors influence the level of commitment of sustainable construction practices of the public and private clients. The study suggested that the disparity was due to the differences in the level of knowledge, awareness, involvement and commitment of the public and private clients to sustainable construction concept. Hence, it is important to optimize the level of knowledge and awareness of the clients, about the cost, benefits/profits, and health and safety implications of sustainable construction practices so as to promote the level of client’s commitment to sustainable construction practices. It recommended for adequate client involvement throughout the sustainable construction life cycle and a sustained awareness campaign, championed by relevant government agencies and professional organizations through different public programs so as to increase the clients’ commitment and desirability to demand for more sustainable construction projects.

Virtual Reality-Induced Symptoms and Effects (VRISE)

1999 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue V. G. Cobb ◽  
Sarah Nichols ◽  
Amanda Ramsey ◽  
John R. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Postural Instability ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Perceptual Judgment ◽  
Experimental Program ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Physiological Indicators ◽  
Combination Of Methods

An experimental program of research was carried out to assess the potential health and safety effects of participating in virtual environments (VEs) via head-mounted displays (HMDs). This paper presents the results obtained from nine experiments examining the effects experienced during and after participation in a variety of VR systems, VE designs, and task requirements, for a total participant sample of 148 individuals. A combination of methods including self-report scales, performance measures, physiological indicators, observation, interview, and user attitude/opinion questionnaires were used to measure simulator (VE) sickness, postural instability, psychomotor control, perceptual judgment, concentration, stress, and ergonomics effects. Greatest effects across the different systems, VEs, and exposure times were found for sickness symptoms and physiological measures, with some concern over postural instability and physical ergonomics, also. Although many of the effects were relatively minor and short lived, they were serious for five percent of participants and irritating for a considerable percentage more. The aetiology of the effects is sufficiently different to that for simulators or transport systems to justify us using a new term, virtual reality-induced symptoms and effects (VRISE). Implications are drawn for VR system design, VE specification, and the ways in which industrial use of VR/VE should be planned and supported.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document