Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Abstract
[Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)] can be used to evaluate how a product or material—from the start of production through end-of-life—affects ecosystems and human health. LCA is already widely used internationally by scientists, engineers, and product designers in universities and businesses. If applied in the nanotechnology realm, the tool has the potential to guide researchers, policymakers, and companies as they seek to realize the commercial and practical benefits of a nanoproduct, while avoiding potential risks.