Nanotechnology Policies in Latin America: Risksto Health and Environment

This program was not ultimately developed.

In Argentina, the body responsible for Science and Technology added the word “innovation” beginning in 1991, and in 2007 it was renamed to the “Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation.” In Brazil, the Ministry of Science and Technology – created in 1985 – became known as the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation as of 2011.

“Emerging technologies, notably information and communication technology (ICT), biotechnology, and, possibly in the future, others such as nanotechnology. These new technologies have in common a large leverage effect in that they can influence entire parts of the economy” ([46], p. 28).

The topic of NT had not appeared in the workshop resolutions prior to December, 2003; however, in the Quito meeting from December 10–12, 2003, it was introduced at the opening session by Saúl Hahn, Principal Specialist, Office of Science and Technology, Organization of American States (USA) in his presentation “Cutting-Edge Science for Development and Commons Themes of the Working Groups” [11, 47].

Other international bodies also pushed the scientific policy to drive the knowledge-based economy, and to incorporate NT within S&T priorities. Such is the case of the South American Council on Education, Culture, Science, Technology and Innovation (COSECCTI), which operated within the sphere of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) [27]. The knowledge-based economy was also advocated by the United Nations Commission on Science and Technology for Development, and the Economic Commission for Latin America, although the latter institution appeared more wary of the effects of these new technologies, warning of the potential downsides, as CEPAL’s Executive Secretary noted in 2009: “The new techno-economic paradigms such as ITC, biotechnology and nanotechnology drive the restructuring of old industrial branches and create new ones. This creates a dual challenge, namely, of avoiding negative effects in already-established activities and taking advantage of new windows of opportunity that open” [6].

30 % of the Sectorial Funds in Brazil are designated for underdeveloped regions of the North, North-East and Center-West; in Argentina the funding scheme “Priority Areas” required that the participants be organized in networks that included, at least, two research groups from the underdeveloped zones of Cuyo, North-East, North-West and Patagonia.

One example of the optimistic image conveyed by NT consultants can be seen in the topic of employment. Estimates from the National Science Foundation, LuxResearch and others dwelled on the number of jobs that NT would generate (see, e.g. [50]). They were not interested in estimating the potential losses of jobs due to NT industrial competition and related employment displacement. This was the primary concern of the ETC. Group in its Report for the South Centre [18] and other researchers [30, 56].

Interestingly the discussion on nanotechnology regulation in several European Countries did not have an impact in the first decade in Latin America.

“new dimension in claims for personal injury, material damage, and financial loss, as well as liability risks in product, environment, and public liability” ([38], p. 1240).

(see, e.g. [42, 57, 60, 61]). Various databases exist with scientific articles that deal with the risks of NT. Among them is the International Council on Nanotechnology at Rice University, USA [29]; the Nanotechnology Citizen Engagement Organization [40], and the OECD [43].

For more detail on the results of this call (see [36]).

This did not impede the development of research projects and activities for Latin American researchers on the topic of NT risks; but these were few cases, without the topic being explicitly incorporated into S&T policies and/or were specifically funded.

Measures such as tax exemptions were applied between 2002 and 2009; they were cancelled due to criticism that businesses weren’t paying taxes nor were they investigated for this. The majority of them were transnationals. “....of the 14-thousand-million pesos that were designated… over the course of 7 years, none were actually given because the businesses didn’t pay taxes… the largest companies were the greatest beneficiaries, as they received between 75 and 80 % of the total program resources…” [49].

ReLANS activities and publications can be reviewed at http://​www.​relans.​org

CONTAC, for example, held a seminar on “New Technologies and Globalization” in 2010, in Rio Grande do Sol, that brought together dozens of union representatives and federations of unions to discuss NT.

DIEESE authored the technical brochure “Nanotechnology: Knowledge to Confront the Challenges” (2008).

Some examples of Fundacentro’s activities include: “First International Seminar on Nanotechnology and its Workers” (2006); the seminar “Nanotechnology, Workers’ Health, Food and Social and Environmental Impacts” (2007); “International Seminar on Nanotechnology, Agricultural Commodities and Minerals” (2007); the research project “Nanotechnology Impacts on Worker’s Health and the Environment”; briefing paper “Texto em quadrinhos” (a comic book-format publication); “International Symposium on the Impacts of Nanotechnologies on Worker’s Health and Environment” (2010). Most of these activities were developed in collaboration with RENANOSOMA, IIEP, DIESSE, and/or FIOCRUZ.

The activities of RENANOSOMA can be reviewed at http://​www.​nanotecnologiado​avesso.​org

There are NGOs that have also taken action on NT. Among them is IIEP, an NGO concerned with labor matters that co-organized seminars with FUNDACENTRO and RENANOSOMO and has published a variety of educational materials on the subject.

There are groups researching nanotoxicology in Mexico. CINVESTAV, for example, has a research stream in this area.

Grupo Vincula (Linkage Group) was created in Mexico in 2009 to foster a stronger business presence in the decisions on S&T. Participants included the FCCyT, government agencies and all of the business and industry chambers, sponsoring confederations and business associations.

Examples are the Verde Amarelo Fund of 1999 (FINEP) or the Innovation Law of 2003 in Brazil [51]; the FSNano of 2010 in Argentina (García, Lugones, & Reising, 2012); or the Stimulus for Research into Technological Development and Innovation in México [65].