May 15, 2007 — The number of consumer products using nanotechnology has more than doubled, from 212 to 475, in 14 months, says the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN). March 2006 is when the group launched what it calls the world’s first online inventory of manufacturer-identified nanotech goods.
Clothing and cosmetics top the inventory at 77 and 75 products, respectively. The full list of nanotechnology-based products also includes bedding, jewelry, sporting goods, nutritional and personal care items. According to PEN,
+ The food and beverages category, including containers and dietary supplements, doubled to 61 products since last year.
+ Nanoscale silver is the most cited nanomaterial used. It is found in 95 products or 20 percent of the inventory. Carbon, including carbon nanotubes and fullerenes, is the second highest nanoscale material cited.
+ Merchandise from 20 countries is now represented. The United States leads internationally with 52 percent or 247 consumer products that contain nanotechnology. East Asia now boasts 123 products, a 58 percent increase over last year.
+ New products in the inventory include the Corsa Nanotech Ice Axe, which uses a steel alloy that claims to be 20 percent lighter and up to 60 percent stronger than conventional steel. There’s also MaatShop Crystal Clear Nano Silver, a clear liquid dietary supplement that promises protection against colds, flu, and other diseases including anthrax.
The group says that in 2005 nanotechnology was incorporated into more than $30 billion in manufactured goods. By 2014, Lux Research estimates $2.6 trillion in manufactured goods will incorporate nanotechnology—or about 15 percent of total global output.