Nanotechnology represents a promising and innovative sector. The interest of the International community is considerable, with regard to Investments in R&D, as well as to actions and meetings in order to promote a debate on the opportunities offered by this technology.

In addition to the potential benefits that many nanotechnology applications can bring, it is necessary to evaluate in a more specific way the possible risks on human health and the environmental impact coming from the use of this technology and to use the precautionary principle.

The social aspects such as the information to the public and to consumers, the environmental and sanitary issues and the risk assessment are the key factors which will guarantee a sustainable development of Nanotechnology.

Since 2006, Legambiente has been the Italian partner of the European Nanocap Project (Nanotechnology Capacity Building), enabled by the European Commission, gathering the contribution of environmentalist associations, syndicates and universities Europe-wide, and aiming at developing a balanced point of view about Nanotechnology.

In order to provide an important contribution to the project, Legamabiente organizes with the support of Veneto Nanotech, in Milan the 20th November 2008, the conference “Nanotechnology, Environment, Safety” aiming at deepening the debate about the potential positive or negative impact of nanotechnology on the environment and on human health, through the risk assessment and the examination of the most promising cases of application in the environmental field .

For further information please visit the Legambiente Website

http://nanocap.legambiente.org (or www.legambiente.org - Nanotechnology sector).