First Evaluation on the Joint Research Strategy of German Governmental Research Institutions "Nanotechnology - Risks related to Nanomaterials for Humans and the Environment" (2007 - 2011)

In 2007 the German supreme federal authorities the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) issued a joint research strategy known as ”Nanotechnology: Health and Environmental Risks of Nanomaterials”, lead-managed by BAuA. The paper defines the strategic objectives of research activities, identifies nanospecific research fields related to environment and health, and points to areas where research is urgently needed to protect workers, users and the environment. In 2013 the above mentioned federal authorities together with the National Metrology Institute of Germany (PTB) and the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) issued a review reporting on the status and important results of 85 research projects which were launched or monitored under the joint research strategy. It reflects the multidimensionality of the issues but also allows an initial outline of areas of risk. Future research should aim to prevent elaborate testing of many individual nanomaterials while making it possible to derive reliable information about how to protect workers, consumers and the environment