一個由消費者團體、健康團體及環境團體所組成的聯盟5月1日向美國環保署提出請願，訴請環保署行使職權，禁售260多種使用奈米銀的消費產品──他們認為奈米銀算是殺蟲劑，需要管制。
民間的請願，對環保署來說是首次面對關於奈米材料管制的法律難題。所謂的奈米材料是由微粒子所組成的，一奈米等於十億分之一米；而奈米科技即是在接近原子或分子尺度下，對自然物質進行分解、重建的應用科學。
越來越多的製造廠商投入生產奈米銀的消費性產品，因為他們相信奈米銀具有強大的殺菌力，因此也使得奈米銀成為目前最普遍的商業化奈米材料。
提出上述請願的聯盟是由非營利組織「技術評估國際中心」（International Center for Technology Assessment, CTA）所領導，其總部位於美國華盛頓，並自稱為是奈米技術的看守員。
目前，CTA已經發現了超過260種市面上所販售的奈米銀產品，如家用器具和清潔劑、衣服、餐具、兒童玩具、個人護理用品以及電子塗料等。
然而，正如聯盟的請願案所聲明的，奈米銀的應用可能破壞自然環境，並且「對人體健康產生不良影響」。
CTA律師金柏利（George Kimbrell）表示：「這些奈米銀產品，可算是非法販售的殺蟲劑，一旦奈米銀滲入環境當中會對魚類、其他水生物種和有益微生物（beneficial microorganisms）產生毒性反應。因此，環保署必須停止並避免這些問題，同時運用公權力履行其法律責任。」
聯盟也進一步指出，就是因為這些奈米粒子不管在體積大小或化學特性都具有獨一而二的特性，其粒子極微小，表面面積大幅提升且反應力高，因此可能對人類健康和環境產生獨特且無法預測的危機。
我們都知道銀對魚類和水生有機體是有毒性的，然而最近的科學研究更指出，將銀奈米化之後，其毒性會更強，而且會造成新的傷害，不管是使用中、丟棄後都產生危害。
A coalition of consumer, health, and environmental groups Thursday filed a legal petition with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, demanding that the agency use its authority to regulate pesticides to stop the sale of more than 260 consumer products using nanosized versions of silver.
The legal action is the first challenge to EPA's failure to regulate nanomaterials, which are made up of microscopic particles. One nanometer is one billionth of a meter. Nanotechnology encompasses techniques for taking apart and reconstructing natural substances such as silver at the atomic and molecular level.
Increasingly manufacturers are infusing consumer products with nanoparticle silver for what they believe to be its enhanced germ killing abilities. Nanosilver is now the most common commercialized nanomaterial.
The coalition is led by the nonprofit International Center for Technology Assessment, CTA, based in Washington, DC, a self-described nanotech watchdog.
The CTA found over 260 nano-silver products currently on the market such as household appliances and cleaners, clothing, cutlery, and children's toys, personal care products and coated electronics.
Yet as the coalition's legal petition states, the release of nano-silver may be destructive to natural environments and "raises serious human health concerns
"These nano-silver products now being illegally sold are pesticides," said George Kimbrell, CTA staff attorney. "Nano-silver is leaching into the environment, where it will have toxic effects on fish, other aquatic species and beneficial microorganisms. EPA must stop avoiding this problem and use its legal authority to fulfill its statutory duties."
Just as the size and chemical characteristics of manufactured nanoparticles can give them unique properties, those same new properties - tiny size, vastly increased surface area to volume ratio, high reactivity - can create unique and unpredictable human health and environmental risks, the coalition says.
While silver is known to be toxic to fish and aquatic organisms, recent scientific studies have shown that the nano form of silver is much more toxic and can cause damage in new ways. Exposures are occurring both during use and during disposal.
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
