Awareness Of And Attitudes Toward Nanotechnology And Federal Regulatory Agencies

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1 P e t e r D HART RESEARCH A S S O C I A T E S Awareness Of And Attitudes Toward Nanotechnology And Federal Regulatory Agencies Key findings from a survey among 1,014 adults nationwide Conducted August 27-28, 2007 for Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Margin of error = ±3.1 percentage points among all adults

2 Familiarity And Approval Ratings For Government Agencies Understand what this agency is and does Does excellent/pretty good job Does only fair/poor job FDA 49% 48% 94% USDA 33% 60% 89% EPA 4 50% 89% 2 Nanotechnology & Federal Regulatory Agencies August 2007 Hart Research

3 Familiarity And Approval Ratings For The FDA Over Time Understand what the FDA is and does FDA does excellent/pretty good job FDA does only fair/poor job 93% 94% 98% 9 84% 92% 94% 61% 6 68% 65% 58% 58% 49% 3 32% 31% 36% 38% 40% 48% Nanotechnology & Federal Regulatory Agencies August 2007 Hart Research

4 Familiarity And Approval Ratings For The EPA Over Time Understand what the EPA is and does EPA does excellent/pretty good job EPA does only fair/poor job 90% 90% 90% 93% 89% 89% 65% 5 55% 54% 51% 50% 42% 34% 45% Nanotechnology & Federal Regulatory Agencies August 2007 Hart Research

5 Familiarity And Approval Ratings For The USDA Over Time Understand what the USDA is and does USDA does excellent/pretty good job USDA does only fair/poor job 78% 69% 86% 6 89% 60% 2 33% Nanotechnology & Federal Regulatory Agencies August 2007 Hart Research

6 Public Confidence In Agencies/Business Confidence in Each to Maximize Benefits & Minimize Risks of Scientific/Technological Advancements Great deal/fair amount of confidence Just some/very little confidence USDA FDA EPA Businesses/ companies 3 40% 41% 44% 59% 58% 5 52% 6 Nanotechnology & Federal Regulatory Agencies August 2007 Hart Research

7 Public Awareness Of Nanotechnology How much have you heard about nanotechnology? Heard nothing at all 42% Not sure Heard a lot 2% 6% Heard some 21% Heard just a little 7 Nanotechnology & Federal Regulatory Agencies August 2007 Hart Research

8 Public Awareness Of Nanotechnology All adults Men age 18 to 49 Men age 50 and older Women age 18 to 49 Women age 50 and older High school/less education Some college/tech school College graduates Income under $30K Income $30K to $50K Income $50K to $75K Income over $75K Heard a lot/some 2 38% 33% 19% 18% 16% 23% 40% 16% 22% 40% Heard just a little/nothing 71% 59% 65% 79% 80% 82% 74% 59% 82% 76% 70% 59% 8 Nanotechnology & Federal Regulatory Agencies August 2007 Hart Research

9 Where Have You Heard About Nanotechnology? TV, Discovery Channel, Science Channel News programs, media, newspaper Magazines, journals, scientific publications Internet Friends and family 9 Nanotechnology & Federal Regulatory Agencies August 2007 Hart Research

10 Initial Impression Of Risks And Benefits Of Nanotechnology Benefits will outweigh risks 18% Not sure 51% 25% Benefits and risks will be about equal Which will outweigh: Benefits Risks Equal How much have you heard about nanotechnology? Just a A lot Some little Nothing 51% 8% 42% 31% 1 8% 33% 3% 4% 1 6% Risks will outweigh benefits 10 Nanotechnology & Federal Regulatory Agencies August 2007 Hart Research

11 Initial Impression Of Risks And Benefits Of Nanotechnology Benefits will outweigh risks Risks will outweigh benefits Benefits/risks will be equal All adults 18% 6% 25% Men Women 25% 11% 5% 2 24% Men age 18 to 49 Men age 50 and older 26% 24% 4% 23% Women age 18 to 49 Women age 50 and older High school/less education Some college/tech College graduates Income under $30K Income $30K to $50K Income $50K to $75K Income over $75K 11% 11% 9% 14% 8% 13% 16% 32% 9% 5% 6% 5% 6% 5% 2 21% 25% 23% 22% 11 Nanotechnology & Federal Regulatory Agencies August 2007 Hart Research

12 Information About Nanotechnology Nanotechnology is the ability to measure, see, predict, and make things on the extremely small scale of atoms and molecules. Materials created at the nanoscale are called nanomaterials, and they can often be made to exhibit very different physical, chemical, and biological properties than their normal-sized counterparts. The potential BENEFITS of nanotechnology include the use of nanomaterials in products to make them stronger, lighter, and more effective. Some examples are food containers that kill bacteria, stain-resistant clothing, high-performance sporting goods, faster, smaller computers, and more effective skin-care products and sunscreens. Nanotechnology also has the potential to provide new and better ways to treat disease, clean up the environment, enhance national security, and provide cheaper energy. While there has not been conclusive research on the potential RISKS of nanotechnology, there are concerns that some of the same properties that make nanomaterials useful might make them harmful. It is thought that some nanomaterials may be harmful to humans if they are breathed in and might cause harm to the environment. There are also concerns that invisible, nanotechnologybased monitoring devices could pose a threat to national security and personal privacy. 12 Nanotechnology & Federal Regulatory Agencies August 2007 Hart Research

13 Informed Impression Of Risks And Benefits Of Nanotechnology Risks will outweigh benefits 22% Not sure 11% Benefits will outweigh risks Which will outweigh: Benefits Risks Equal Initial knowledge of nanotechnology Just a A lot Some little Nothing 5 8% 48% 11% 33% 20% 42% 1 31% 38% 3 Benefits and risks will be about equal 13 Nanotechnology & Federal Regulatory Agencies August 2007 Hart Research

14 Initial And Informed Impressions Of Risks/Benefits Of Nanotechnology All adults Men Women Men age 18 to 49 Men age 50/older Women age 18 to 49 Women age 50/older High school/less educ Some college/tech College graduates Income under $30K Income $30K to $50K Income $50K to $75K Income over $75K Benefits outweigh 18% 25% 11% 26% 24% 11% 11% 9% 14% 8% 13% 16% 32% Initial Impression Risks outweigh 6% 5% 4% 9% 5% 6% 5% 6% 5% Benefits/ risks equal 25% 2 24% 23% 2 21% 25% 23% 22% Informed Impression Risks outweigh Benefits outweigh 38% 21% 39% 38% 22% 21% 20% 26% 41% 18% 25% 46% 22% 15% 14% 15% 26% 26% 15% 28% 26% 26% 12% Benefits/ risks equal 3 36% 39% 3 34% 41% 36% 42% 38% 33% 43% 39% 38% 32% 14 Nanotechnology & Federal Regulatory Agencies August 2007 Hart Research

15 Safety Of The Food Supply Over the past five years, the food supply: Has become much less safe 22% Not sure 4% Has become much more safe Has become somewhat more safe 22% Has been unchanged 6% 39% Has become somewhat less safe 15 Nanotechnology & Federal Regulatory Agencies August 2007 Hart Research

16 Use Of Food Storage Products Enhanced With Nanotechnology I would use food storage containers enhanced with nanotechnology 12% I need more information about health risks and benefits to use food storage containers enhanced with nanotechnology 73% I would NOT use food storage containers enhanced with nanotechnology 13% 16 Nanotechnology & Federal Regulatory Agencies August 2007 Hart Research

17 Purchase Of Food Enhanced With Nanotechnology I would purchase food enhanced with nanotechnology I need more information about health risks and benefits to purchase food enhanced with nanotechnology 62% I would NOT purchase food enhanced with nanotechnology 17 Nanotechnology & Federal Regulatory Agencies August 2007 Hart Research