At MESA+ people are talking extensively about the statements of the trade union. `The media is phoning in non-stop,' says Miriam Luizink, technical commercial director of the UT institute. FNV employee Wim van der Veelen says the union's main concern is the health risks of employees at private companies. `There is a lot of uncertainity. When a visit to Akzo Nobel was canceled at the last moment, we thought that was rather curious. It aroused suspicion.' FNV press officer Paulus Plas: `We are an organization with a long history. This is not the first time that we have come across chemicals that are dangerous to employees. We're concerned. We don't want to cause a panic, but we do want to raise awareness about the risks. That's our duty.'
Luizink of MESA+: `The attention is good, but the response to it is a closed door at Akzo Nobel. That's a shame. At MESA+, we are very open and want to talk about nanotechnology. In that sense, I think the attention is undeserved. I would say: come over and have a look.'
Dave Blank: `The FNV scrutinizes the entire field of nanotechnology with a fine-toothed comb. That is unjust. The subject is about nanoparticles. It's true that some nanoparticles can be dangerous, but we have taken the protective measures. The risks are the same as with existing chemicals, and we throughly research it.'
The theme, risks of nanotechnology, is on the research agenda of MESA+ for 2009. Blank: `Nano is present in a lot of things, such as paint and food products. It certainly has an impact on daily life. We do a lot of research into this subject at the UT. We are competent and progressive in it, but apparently more concerned parties need to take part in the public discussion. That's why we invite the FNV to come by.' The statements of the FNV don't come as a complete surprise. They are based on the results of scientific studies, assembled by the Interfaculty Environmental Science Department (IVAM) at the University of Amsterdam. IVAM-employee Fleur van Broekhuizen: `Employers are not fully aware of the health risks. They maintain the highest safety measures that are used in the case of the most poisonous chemicals. They cannot do any more at the moment. The employees don't always know exactly what they're doing or whether of not they are working with nano-materials at all. It differs within each company, but even at the university, most researchers only take a restricted look at the risks they run into because they base their work on their own experience with (traditional) chemicals. I think they may be partially correct, but there is still a possibility that they are wrong.'
