Labeling and levying consumers know that some products contain nanomaterials, they are highly experimental and that they might potentially have certain effects is a bare right for people. Many activists are concerned about possible contamination of the environment of the human body by nano particles. For example, carbon nanotubes that are ready used in products from tennis rackets to flame retardants.

It's the question of whether or not these particles migrate outside of the product and end up in environment, and we don't know that for sure because we don't have these studies; those studies just aren't being supported enough. If you think of, for example, the United States - there is about two billion and a half dollars a year that goes into investing in nanotechnology researching development, and out of that billion and a half dollars the government's only approved about two or three per cent of that to go into EHS studies or Environmental, Health and Safety studies. So, we really need increased monetary funds to go towards investigating what some of this risk might be.

So, now nano particles have become available in such a wide range of everyday products many environment list governments and scientists want to see tougher regulations being imposed to assess possible risks and to inform consumers which are current regulations governing the safety of food, cosmetics and other consumer products are not specific enough to deal properly with the threats posed by nanotechnology.

It's a combination of the fact that the science is still evolving and therefore we have not enough to go on to develop a good regulatory system, but also the fact that the regulatory systems we have in place frequently don't require sufficient testing of these materials and a demonstration of their safety before they are allowed into the market. But while the science is still developing and regulation is struggling to keep scientists working in the world of the extremely small have big hopes about how it might help humanity in future.

Almost anywhere you look someone somewhere is using nanotechnology to alter value of the consumer products.

Nano in the high street is peering in the goods across the spectrum, but in a very simple way, so, for instance, if you're buying clothes you can buy clothes which are stain resistant because they've got a nanotech coating on them; if you're buying spoiling goods you can buy things like tennis rackets or golf clubs that are stronger than lighter because of the nanotech in them. If you're buying cosmetics - there are a number of cosmetic items round there which claim to be better, make you feel younger, make you feel fresher because of nanotech.

But unless you look up in inventory you are unlikely to be aware when you buy a sunscreen or a lunchbox whether it contains nano particles. Manufacturers are under no obligation to tell the public that a product uses nanotechnology, and scientists are still not entirely sure what effect those particles could be having on people or the environment or whether they could be toxic.