A number of countries in Africa have taken the decision to establish a network to build capacity on the safety of nanomaterials. This decision was made at a workshop in Zambia under the auspices of the
UN Institute for Training and Research (Unitar) and Zambia’s Environmental Management Agency (Zema). Funding was provided by Switzerland.
The participant African nations intend to utilize nanotech to develop high-tech industry but have concerns about safety issues. Areas discussed in the meeting included:
– undertaking a survey of the status of nanomaterials;
– monitoring of industrially used nanomaterials;
– development of guidelines for workplace safety;
– development of legal frameworks for nanosafety;
– establishment of national working groups.
A coordinating group, represented by Zambia, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Senegal, Sudan and Tanzania, will initially develop a “concept note” for the regional nano safety network.
Read more at https://www.unitar.org/cwm/nanosafety-regional-workshop-african-region-zambia
