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Ready or not, here it
comes. In the next 20 years, nanotechnology will touch the
life of nearly every person on the planet. The potential
benefits are mind boggling and brain enhancing. But like
many of the great advancements in earth's history, it is
not without risk Here are some of the risks posed to
society by nanotechnology.
Real Risk:
Nanopollutants
When:
Now
Nanopollutants are nanoparticles small enough to enter
your lungs or be absorbed by your skin. Nanopollutants can
be natural or man-made. Nanoparticles are used in some of
the products found on shelves today, like anti-aging
cosmetics and sunscreen. The highest risk is to the
workers in nano-technology research and manufacturing
processes.
Potential Risk:
Privacy Invasion
When:
5 to 15 years
Virtually undetectable surveillance devices could
dramatically increase spying on governments, corporations
and private citizens.
Potential Risk:
Economic
Upheaval
When:
10 to 20 years
Molecular manufacturing is the assembly of products one
molecule at a time. It could make the same products you
see today, but far more precisely and at a very low cost.
It is unclear whether this would bring boom or bust to the
global economy.
Potential Risk:
Nanotech weapons
When:
10 to 20 years
Untraceable weapons made with nanotechnology could be
smaller than an insect with the intelligence of a
supercomputer. Possible nano and bio technology arms race.
Far-Fetched Risk:
Gray Goo
When:
30+ years
Free range, self-replicating robots that consume all
living matter. However unlikely, experts say this scenario
is theoretically possible, but not for some time.
We have just scratched the
surface. There are many areas of nanotechnology science
that hold potential dangers to society. Bio-engineering
and artificial intelligence for example, have their own
set of risks.
As we enter an era of unprecedented understanding, it is
important that society takes a proactive role in the
responsible development of nanotechnology.
Nanotechnology Risk FAQ
Do buckyballs occur naturally?
Yes, particularly when a combustion reaction occurs.
For example: burning a candle, a volcanic eruption,
or a forest fire.
How do nanomaterials travel in the environment?
They move within water and air (like many other
contaminants). Scientists at Purdue University are
in the midst of studying exactly how they move and
what harm they might do to the environment.
Types of
Nanomaterials
Source:
Nanotechnology Risk Resources -
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Nanotechnology Risks Unknown
Insufficient
Attention Paid to Potential Dangers, Report Says:
"There is some evidence that engineered
nanoparticles can have adverse effects on the health
of laboratory animals," the congressionally mandated
report said, echoing concerns raised by others at a
House hearing last week. Until the risks are better
understood, "it is prudent to employ some
precautionary measures to protect the health and
safety of workers, the public, and the environment."
Nanotechnology Risks - Where
Are We Today?
New technology,
whether it is a novel cancer treatment or an
innovative approach to making a new material, almost
always comes with risk. Nanotechnologies are no
different. Certain nano-fabrication techniques
employ toxic chemicals, the production of carbon
nanotubes results in dangerous byproducts, and the
big question as to what degree certain engineered
nanoparticles could be harmful to humans and the
environment has not been answered yet.
Nanowerk
Nano technology: There will be
mistakes
"We should recognize that there will be
mistakes, and there will be hazards," said Professor Harry
Kroto, who won the 1996 Nobel Prize in chemistry for his
discovery of a nanoparticle called the
Buckminsterfullerene.
First Direct Images of Carbon
Nanotubes Entering Cells
For the first time, scientists
have directly imaged carbon nanotubes entering and
migrating within human cells, determining as a
result that whether the nanotubes cause cell death
depends on the dose and exposure time.
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