chemhead

Anahit
Aleksandryan
Head of Hazardous Substances
and Waste Policy Division,
Project Title:
“Training
and Capacity
Building for the
Development of a Nano
Safety Pilot Project in
Armenia”
The Project is implemented by the Ministry
of Nature Protection (MNP) of the Republic
of Armenia and the United Nations Institute
for Training and Research (UNITAR) with
the financial support of the Swiss
Government.
to
address human resource development
issues regarding nano safety;
to
strengthen national capacities for
management of chemicals in line with
Chapter 19 of Agenda 21
Nano
Inception / Awareness Raising /
Priorities Workshop
Updating the Armenian National Profile with
a Nano Safety Chapter
Development of Elements of a National Nano
Safety Policy
Nano
Safety Programme Training and
Endorsement Workshop
Project Initiation First Step
The Inception Workshop
“Awareness Raising for Nano Safety in
Armenia” was arranged and held
Yerevan on September 3, 2014.
in
The Inception Workshop
was mainly aimed:
to
raise awareness on nano safety among
stakeholders within the country;
to
provide information on the project;
to
ensure the participation of all stakeholders in
potential areas of collaboration;
To
discuss nano safety related issues with all
stakeholders in potential areas of collaboration;
to
identify nano safety priorities.
Inception Workshop participants
involved representatives of the concerned
parties within the country such as
Ministries/Agencies, Industrial
Associations, Research and academy
institutions, Universities and NGOs.
Among the Workshop participants I would like to
mention especially:
H.E. Mr. Lukas Gasser - Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary, Embassy of Switzerland in Armenia;
Mr. Georg Karlaganis - Senior Advisor, Chemicals and
Waste Management Programme, UNITAR, Switzerland.

The Opening Address of Mr. Aramayis
Grigoryan – Minister of Nature Protection of the
Republic of Armenia was followed by the
Welcome Address of H.E. Mr. Lukas Gasser,
Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary, Embassy of Switzerland in
Armenia.



Nano products and application”
Overview of UNITAR’s Nanotechnology and
Manufactured Nanomaterials Programme and
Progress to date
Guidance for Developing a National
Nanotechnology Policy and Programme




Lessons Learned from Thailand: The
nanosafety and ethics Strategic Plan and its
implementation
The Swiss Action Plan on Synthetic Nano
materials
OECD Programme on Nano safety: Safety of
Manufactured Nanomaterials
Introduction to the IOMC Toolbox for
Decision-Making in Chemicals Management

A special Press Release was
prepared prior to the Workshop; the
statement contained information for
mass media and the general public.
In order to present the nano safety and nano
technology related state-of-the-art, current insight
and understanding of issues to be tackled in the
frames of the Project implementation a number of
presentations were done by well-known
Armenian scientists, in particular:
“Chemicals and Waste Management in
Armenia”
Anahit Aleksandryan, Sc.D. in Biol.,
Project National Coordinator
Head of Hazardous Substances and Waste Policy
Division, Ministry of Nature Protection of the
Republic of Armenia;


“Organic
Photovoltaic cells based on the
polymer/fullerene bulk heterojunction”
Vladimir Gevorgyan, PhD, Assoc. Prof., Head,
Department of Materials Technology and
Structure of Electronic Technique, RussianArmenian (Slavonic) University, Yerevan;

“.

Research activities on nanotechnology in
Armenia”
Zhosef Panosyan, Sc.D. in Phys.-Math., Head,
“Heliotechnics” Basic Research Laboratory,
State Engineering University of Armenia
“Application of nano composites in medicine,
agriculture and food industry”
Anahit Tonoyan, Sc.D. in Chem., Head,
“Macrokinetics of Polymerization Processes”
Basic Research Laboratory, State Engineering
University of Armenia;
Sevan Davtyan, Sc.D. in Chem., Head, “Chemical
Technologies and Polymeric Nano Composites”
Basic Research Laboratory, State Engineering
University of Armenia;


The Inception Workshop coverage
in national mass media also
acknowledged the importance of
this event for the Republic of
Armenia.

Tert.am http://www.tert.am/am/news/2014/09/03/nanotechnology/
Հայաստանում նանոտեխնոլոգիան զարգացնելու նպատակով
պիլոտային ծրագիր է իրականացվում 11:29 • 03.09.14

03 Սեպտեմբերի 2014 - 13:40
http://www.armnewstv.am/interactive/33151

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az_RvM7L1VU

Video material related to the Inception Workshop
within the
“Training and Capacity Building for the Development
of a Nano-safety Pilot Project in Armenia”:

slaq.am «Նանոանվտանգության մասին կոնֆերանս
ԲՆ-ում»
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHrSnNnJgsk

The Inception Workshop Report was prepared
in due time and course and translated into
English
The “Awareness Raising Training on Nano
Safety for Governmental Officials” was
arranged and held in Yerevan, Armenia on
December 11, 2014.
Among the Training participants there were
representatives of the Project concerned
parties, in particular:







Ministry of Health,
Ministry of Finance;
Ministry of Economy;
Ministry of Emergency Situations
Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources;
National Security Service;
National Security Council.
Representatives of Educational and
Research/Academy institutions, as well as
Industrial Associations and NGOs also took
active participation in the Training.
“Quantum Nano Structures: Classes and
Properties” Professor Hayk Sarkisyan
Dr. Phys.-math. Sci., Head, Department of
General Physics and Quantum
Nanostructures, Russian-Armenian
(Slavonic) University, Yerevan

Polymer Nano technologies: the use of frontal
polymerization method Ms. Anahit Tonoyan
Sci..D. in Chem., Head, “Macrokinetics of
Polymerization Processes” Basic Research
Laboratory, State Engineering University of
Armenia

“Frontal polymerization: theory and practice
in application to nano technologies” Mr. Sevan Davtyan
Sci. D. in Chem.,Head, “Chemical Technologies
and Polymeric Nano Composites” Basic
Research Laboratory, State Engineering
University of Armenia

“Nano particles probable impacts towards the
organisms”
Mr. Samvel Tamoyan Associate Professor, Agroecology Department,
Agronomy Faculty,
Armenian National Agrarian University

Inevitability of Nano Industry Establishment
with Uncertain After-effects of Nano Particles
Exposure
Mr. Zhozef Panosyan Sci. D. in Phys.-Math., Head, “Heliotechnics”
Basic Research Laboratory, State Engineering
University of Armenia

“Nano Technologies: Achievements and
Environmental Challenges”
Professor Aleksandr Yengoyan Sci. D. in Chemistry, Head, Department of
General and Pharmaceutical Chemistry,
Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University,
Yerevan

Nano technology in Engineering Systems
Mr. Vladimir Gevorgyan PhD in Technology, Associate Professor,
Head, Department of Materials’ Technology and
Structures of Electronic Technique, RussianArmenian (Slavonic) University

The presentations done by the scientists were of
great interest for the Training participants and
arose a general discussion.

The Report describing “Awareness Raising
Training on Nano Safety for Governmental
Officials” was prepared in due time and course
and translated into English

As a result of discussion with the stakeholders
the nano safety problems relevant to Armenia
were identified. Amongst them we should
mention the lack of Law “On Chemicals” that
would regulate chemicals management,
including nano materials, throughout the lifecycle different stages. The Law would also allow
to differentiate the responsibilities of the
stakeholders.


Mostly, the import of nanomaterials to Armenia
occurs without the appropriate notification of National
Regulatory Bodies. Moreover, the officials are not
aware about the characteristics of these
nanomaterials brought to the country or in some cases
the properties of chemicals used to produce nano
materials are not known.
National authorities are unaware of the importance
and after-effects of nanotechnology and materials
possibly resulting from it probably because the
nation-wide awareness raising is insuffisient.
Currently, the following elements are lacking:
the system of nano materials identification
appropriate labels on the packaging
contra-indications
safety-data sheets.
standards on nanomaterials imported to the country,
regulations/instructions on storage, usage,
transportation and disposal of nanomaterials
confident data on effects of nanomaterials on soil, water
and human lives.
legislative platform relevant to nanotechnology-based
materials



No standards are set for nano materials use, as
well as for the wastes disposal.
State officials and population are unaware of
the implications towards human health and the
environment.
In Armenia no information is available
regarding the nanomaterial-containing
products, because such products are not
subject for obligatory declaration.
In the frames of the Project the following will be
achieved:
key stakeholders in the management of chemicals and
nano materials will be identified;
trainings arranged for different groups of stakeholders,
knowledge on nano safety and nano products will be
properly delivered to the officials and general population;
actions arranged to establish control system in the area
of nano technologies and nano products ;


awareness raising in wide layers of the general public

The main output of the project would be the
increased awareness of population and
especially the vulnerable groups on nano
safety. This will ensure the protection of
human health and the environment and allow
to establish and then enhance the system of
appropriate management of nano materials
The project tasks included:
 Active participation of the country main
stakeholders and awareness raising.
 Collection and analysis of national data for the
review on nanotechnology.
 National priorities setting on nano safety.
 National nano safety policy development
 Arrangement of trainings in nanosafety
The following actions should be performed at
country level:
1)to create and develop capacity in the academia for
exchanging appropriate knowledge and understanding of
nano safety issues in general public,
2) to facilitate cooperation between public and private
nanotechnology laboratories for further certification of
nanoproducts.
3)to identify target groups of stakeholders to be trainined
4) to include risk management concepts in training.
5)to develop special programmes on the subject at various
levels

Priority areas were identified. The revealed
problems will underlie development of policy
in the sphere of nano technology safety.
Currently, the “Road map” is under
preparation; this will allow solving safety
problems.



The “Chemicals Management National Profile”
will beis up-dated.
The “Nano safety” Chapter will make the part
of up-dated profile.
Elements of a National Nano Safety Policy are
under elaboration
THANK YOU!
Anahit Aleksandryan
Ministry of Nature Protection
of the Republic of Armenia