Denmark: experts say nanotechnologies could be as dangerous to workers as asbestos

Booming in Denmark, nanotechnologies and nano-products is revolutionizing a wide range of industrial products and processes, from food packaging to surface treatment, to the textile, chemical, pharmaceutical or plastic industry. It seems that the number of nano-products put on the market doubles every year, but their innocuousness on human health and the environment isn’t known. In 2007, a key Scandinavian report on nanotechnologies in northern countries, published by the National Research Centre for the Working Environment (NFA, Det Nationale Forskningscenter for Arbejdsmiljø), pointed to the blazing lack of research on the safety of nanoproducts. For the International day on health and safety at work (April 28), organized by the International Labor Organization (ILO) dedicated to the “emerging risks and new approaches to prevention in a changing world of work,” including nanotechnologies, LO’s weekly newspaper, Ugebrevet A4, took stock, last week, of prevention and safety in Denmark in this area.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

ducts. For the International day on health and safety at work (April 28), organized by the International Labor Organization (ILO) dedicated to the “emerging risks and new approaches to prevention in a changing world of work,” including nanotechnologies, LO’s weekly newspaper, Ugebrevet A4, took stock, last week, of prevention and safety in Denmark in this area.

Parallel with the asbestos scandal. According to the NFA’s research manager, Otto Melchior Poulsen, “We can, on scientific basis, draw a

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
United Kingdom largely retained within scope of EWCs despite Brexit, study shows
A study published this month by the Institute for Economic and Social Research, the French trade union research organisation, examined how the involvement of British representatives in European...
Spain: government approves creation of ‘intern status’
The Spanish government has paved the way for the creation of a new status for "persons undergoing non-professional practical training in companies, institutions or public or private organisations...
Luxembourg: two pension reform bills submitted to parliament
After lengthy negotiations with the social partners, in mid-October the Luxembourg government submitted two bills to parliament aimed at reforming the pension system to ensure its long-term...
Germany: pensioners in work already common practice, study shows
As the German government steps up measures to encourage people to stay in work beyond the legal retirement age, a new study by the Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI) – an independent...
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
Germany: pensioners in work already common practice, study shows
As the German government steps up measures to encourage people to stay in work beyond the legal retirement age, a new study by the Institute of Economic and Social Research (WSI) – an independent...
2
Spain: government approves creation of ‘intern status’
The Spanish government has paved the way for the creation of a new status for "persons undergoing non-professional practical training in companies, institutions or public or private organisations...
3
France: social conference on labour and pensions to proceed without main employers’ group
The preparatory meeting ahead of the social conference on labour and pensions, which is set to decide on the pension system model and the funding thereof, was held on 4 November at France's labour...
4
Luxembourg: two pension reform bills submitted to parliament
After lengthy negotiations with the social partners, in mid-October the Luxembourg government submitted two bills to parliament aimed at reforming the pension system to ensure its long-term...
5
Candice Guillot (Talan): “Our recruiters save just over 80 hours per year on administrative tasks thanks to AI”
Candice Guillot, group director of employee experience and HR performance at Talan (7,000 employees), outlines for mind RH her vision and strategy for introducing artificial intelligence at the...