European NanOSH Conference –Nanotechnologies: A Critical Area in Occupational Safety and Health

3–5 December 2007, Marina Congress Center, Helsinki, Finland

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Summary

The European NanOSH Conference - Nanotechnologies: A Critical Area on Occupational Safety and Health Conference was held on 3-5 December 2007 in Marina Congress Center, Helsinki (Finland). The Conference was arranged by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) in collaboration with Tekes - the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovations; and the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. In addition, the Conference was supported by the ISPESL - National Institute for Occupational Safety and Prevention in Italy; and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in USA.

The EuroNanOSH Conference had 192 participants from over 20 countries, also from countries outside of Europe. Approximately 40% of the participants were female and 60% male. During the Conference 20 keynote lectures, five (5) addresses during the opening session, and 16 oral and 34 poster free communications were given. Dr. Mikko Hurmalainen Director-General of the Department for Occupational Safety and Health at the Ministry of Social Affairs in Finland gave the opening words. Professor Kai Savolainen, the Vice-Chair of the EuroNanOSH Organizing Committee gave the conclusions and closed the Conference.

EuroNanOSH was the first European Conference focusing on occupational safety and health from the viewpoint of nanotechnologies and engineered nanoparticles (ENP) in workplaces. The Conference discussed how the safety of nanotechnologies is currently handled in Europe and elsewhere and how global experience could be applied to the European situation and vice versa. It also provided a platform for discussions and enhanced co-operation between research teams, companies, and all interested stakeholders as well as for finding innovative strategies for the future.

Selected papers will be published as proceedings after the Conference in a thematic issue of Human & Experimental Toxicology Journal. The estimated publishing date is in the end of 2008 (http://het.sagepub.com/).

Organizing Committee

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health

• Harri Vainio, Director General, Chair of the Committee
• Kai Savolainen, Team Leader, Co-Chair of the Committee
• Leila Ahlström, Research Assistant, Secretary of the Committee
• Harri Alenius, Research Professor
• Solveig Borg, Marketing Assistant
• Kaarle Hämeri, Professor
• Taina Pääkkönen, Planner (international affairs)
• Timo Tuomi, Team Leader 

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland

• Jorma Jokiniemi, Research Professor

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, and Helsinki University of Technology

• Esko Kauppinen, Research Professor 

TEKES – Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation

• Markku Lämsä, Senior Technology Adviser