ISO Publishes Standard for Nanomaterial Risk Evaluation

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has published a new standard, ISO/TR 13121:2011, which describes a process for identifying, evaluating, addressing, making decisions about, and communicating the potential risks of developing and using manufactured nanomaterials to protect the health and safety of the public, consumers, workers, and the environment.  According to ISO, the standard offers guidance on the information needed to make sound risk evaluations and risk management decisions.  The standard also includes methods to update assumptions, decisions, and practices as new information becomes available, and on how to communicate information and decisions to stakeholders. The standard offers methods organizations can use to be transparent and accountable in how they manage nanomaterials, and describes a process of organizing, documenting, and communicating what information organizations have about nanomaterials.