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School of Medical Sciences,
Discipline of Pharmaceutical
Sciences
RMIT University
PO Box 71
Bundoora VIC 3083
Australia
Tel. +61 3 9925 6512
Fax +61 3 9925 7063
Email: paul.wright@rmit.edu.au
20 August, 2012
Mr Robert Thomas
Project Manager
Enabling Technologies – Public Awareness
Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education
Industry House, 10 Binara Street
Canberra City ACT 2601
GPO Box 9839, Canberra ACT 2601
Email: robert.thomas@innovation.gov.au
RE: Review of NETS-PACE materials.
Dear Robert,
As the co-ordinator of Nanosafe Australia, I am writing to you to provide the requested report on
the review of the public awareness materials developed by the National Enabling Technologies
Strategy’s Public Awareness and Community Engagement (NETS-PACE) program at Department
of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE) in regards to the
health, safety and environment issues.
The following 13 items were reviewed:
1. New Technologies for your Changing Future – 13 pages (2011)
2. Nanotechnology Regulations Brochure “Nanotechnology and you” – A5 fold (2011)
3. “Take a closer look at the issues” Avant Card postcard (2010)
4. “Journey into the Nano world” - CSIRO fold up card (2010)
5. Fold out model of a buckyball
(undated)
6. Nanotechnology Avant Card “Does size matter” – mini mag 16 page (2009)
7. “New Technologies for a changing climate” brochure (2010)
8. “Nanotech: Overheated promises and hot air” – blog entry (2010)
9. Nanotechnology and foods “Small particles, nanotechnology and food” fact sheet (2009)
10. “Nanotechnologies in the workplace” fact sheet (2009)
11. “Nanotechnology – working with the smallest things” fact sheet (2008)
12. “Nanotechnologies Teacher Information” CSIRO/DIISR (2010)
13. The ‘space elevator” and “personal care products” modules for high school teaching from the
Access Nano Program (2008).
All of the above items appear to be factually correct, with emphasis on basic nanotechnology
information and a description of health and environmental risks that accurately reflected the current
state of the science at the time. The general information documents have less specific information
about the existing regulatory gaps, and regulatory triggers or specific labelling requirements,
although this aspect is addressed in detail in items 2, 9, 10, 12 and 13 “Personal Care”. Overall,
there is an emphasis on the concerns raised regarding the safety of certain nanoproducts, which is
balanced by the mention of various potential benefits.
Other comments: Item 7 has three typographical errors (“diameter”, “cycle s” and
“materialsalready”); Item 4 – I would have preferred a different formatting in the fold-up card with
additional numbering of the reading sequence to be followed, and also making the nanotechnology
text examples more relevant to the size scale immediately next to it.
In the interests of declaring any conflicts of interest, real, potential or perceived, I am: Associate
Professor of Immunotoxicology, and Head of RMIT Nanosafety Research Group at the School of
Medical Sciences, RMIT University; co-ordinator of the Nanosafe Australia research network which
was previously established with start-up funding from NanoVic and RMIT UNiversity; representing
the Australian Nanotechnology Network on the Standards Australia Technical Committee “NT-001
Nanotechnologies”; member of the Safe Work Australia Nanotechnology OHS Measurement
Reference Group; contributing member of the NETS supported Australian Consortium for the
OECD Working Party on Enginereed Nanomaterials (WPMN) “Sponsorship Programme for the
Testing of Manufactured Nanomaterials”; Fellow of International Union of Pure and Applied
Chemistry (IUPAC); Associate Editor of Elsevier-published international journal “Food and
Chemical Toxicology”; undertaking nanosafety research projects funded by the National Health &
Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Safe Work Australia, CSIRO Flagship collaboration fund topup scholarship, Australian Synchrotron Foundation, and the Advanced Manufacturing Co-operative
Research Centre (AMCRC) in co-operation with the Victorian Centre for Advanced Materials
Manufacturing (VCAMM) Ltd, Baxter Laboratories Pty Ltd and Micronisers Pty Ltd.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to undertake this review. If there is any further information
required, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
[Signature on file]
Associate Professor Paul F.A. Wright
Co-ordinator of Nanosafe Australia, www.rmit.edu.au/nanosafe
and Head of the RMIT Nanosafety Research Group
Web Profile: www.rmit.edu.au/staff/paul-wright
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