What are the Possible Dangers of Nanotechnology?
Nanotechnology: Exploring Concepts, Possible Dangers and Its Affect on Medicine
http://www.microscopemaster.com/nanotechnology.html
The field of nanotechnology relates to the study and micromanipulation of nanostructure properties at dimensions
between 1 and 100 nanometers. Nano-science has a multitude of applications, including technology, manufacturing and
medicine. This technology is on the verge of many innovative advances, which excites and concerns many scientists.
Nanostructures
Scientists have discovered specific nanostructures that have practical uses today or in the near future; these structures
include quantum dots (qdots), spherical fullerenes (buckyballs), cylindrical fullerenes known as carbon nanotubes and
nanowires. Many scientists believe that nanotubes and nanowires hold the most promise for possible developments.
Skilled scientists are able to recreate carbon nanotubes through the micromanipulation of atoms. With the right
arrangement, nanotubes are stronger and more durable than steel and significantly lighter in weight. Nanoengineers hope
to use nanotubes as the basis of building materials for cars and airplanes. The stronger material will increase safety,
while the lighter weight will increase fuel efficiency.
Nanowires are tiny wire researchers are able to replicate; they have a number of potential uses, including the possibility of
being used in conjunction with nanotubes. Most believe nanowires will be used in future computers and electronics, as
transistors and semiconductors.
A number of commonly used products employing advances in nanotechnology include sunscreen, self-cleaning glass,
scratch resistant coatings used on products like eyeglass lenses, antimicrobial bandages, swimming pool cleaners and
disinfectants, wrinkle-resistant fabrics, cosmetics and LCD displays.
Nanotechnology Dangers
The riskiest aspects of nanotechnology are unknown dangers, misuse and harmful effects on health and environment.
Scientists continue to work toward finding practical applications of nanoparticles without truly knowing the potential
effects of their innovations. Underlying risks are always present when technologies surpass human knowledge and
understanding. The ability to alter substances at a molecular level is a powerful skill and, left in the wrong hands, could
lead to misuse.
One fear is manipulating particles to intentionally cause physical harm to one or more persons. Especially dangerous
is the prospect of a terrorist applying this technology to create small, undetectable biological or atomic weaponry. Ethical
concerns of misuse also include the possibility of altering the genetic make-up of humans by engineering specific traits.
Such a procedure would be directed toward the high-income section of society and could further divide the population
into a “super” class of intelligent, strong beings and a lower class of “average” people. Particles on a nanoscale can cause
toxic effects in humans; they are so small they have the potential to cross the blood-brain barrier, which could cause
mass poisoning or unwanted neurological effects.
In addition, scientists do not know whether exposure to nanoparticles over long periods of time will affect the human
body.
Although strict government guidelines exist to minimize potential dangers, some still believe it plausible that longterm exposure can cause a slow poisoning and future health issues. Researchers do not know if nanoparticles pose
potential dangers to the environment such as contamination of water supplies or harm to animal populations. Dismissed
by many scientists, some still fear the “grey goo” scenario. This scenario is based on the theory that nanorobots would
self-replicate, cloning themselves until the entire organic world was consumed, leaving behind a giant mass of grey goo.
Although some of these are speculative, scientists have valid concerns regarding short and long-term threats to the
human body and environment because of recent laboratory findings:
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Exposure to fullerenes killed water fleas
Fullerenes caused extensive brain damage and changed the physiological make-up of fish
Earthworms absorbed fullerenes that easily traveled through soil
Nanoparticles built-up in the bodies of lab animals subjected to long-term exposure
Qdots caused cadmium poisoning in humans
Nanoparticles can travel through a mother’s placenta
Nanoparticles can assist in the formation of free radicals
The real and potential risks associated with nanotechnology raises much concern; although there is no quantitative way to
determine if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Nanotechnology: Advantages and Disadvantages
Many potential applications and advantages include:
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Advances in disease treatments, such as cancer
Better imaging and diagnostic equipment
Energy-efficient products such as fuel and solar
cells
Improvements in manufacturing that allow for
durable, light-weight, efficient production tools
Improved electronic devices, including
transistors, LED and plasma displays and
quantum computers
Nanorobots can be used to rebuild the ozone
layer, clean polluted areas and lesson
dependence on non-renewable energy sources
Disadvantages include:
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The potential dangers to humans and the
environment
Loss of manufacturing and agricultural jobs
Economic market crashes related to a potential
lower value of oil due to more efficient energy
sources and gold or diamonds, materials that can
be reproduced with molecular manipulation
Accessibility of weapons of mass destruction
Improved atomic weaponry
The cost of research and products made from
nanoparticles
Nanotechnology in Medicine
Many exciting innovations in the field of medicine are related to developments in nanotechnology. These include advancements in
imaging and diagnostic tools, drug delivery systems, treatment practices, anti-microbial options and cell repair and regeneration.
Researchers are currently developing ways to use nanoparticles to delivery medications directly to specific cells. This is especially
promising for the treatment of cancer cells, as chemotherapy and radiation treatments can cause damage to affected and healthy cells.
Targeted drug therapies deliver medication directly into the affected cells, increasing efficacy and decreasing potential side-effects.
Micromanipulation of nanoparticles can arrange atoms to attract affected cells, which can also aid in earlier diagnosis of diseases
such as cancer. Nanoparticles can also be used in emergency settings. Buckyballs can be manipulated to have anti-inflammatory
properties to stop allergic reactions; nanoparticles can also reduce bleeding and speed coagulation.
Diagnostic testing and imaging can be improved by arranging nanoparticles to detect and/or attach themselves to specific proteins or
diseased cells and enhance MRI imaging.
Antimicrobial bandages are currently available on the market, but there are many other
possible uses. Creams can be used to attack infections and treat wounds; burn dressing treated
with antimicrobial nanocapsules can prevent and treat infections.
In the future, nanorobots could be encoded in such a way that they repair damaged cells
similar to the body’s innate method of healing.
The applications of nanotechnology in the field of medicine have the potential to increase life
spans, diagnose and treat disease more effectively and provide therapies that closely mimic the
body’s natural health processes.
“Applications of Nanoparticles” Image from Rui Natário's Networks and Servers blog.
© 2011 - 2015 MELANIE PAHLMANN http://luratia.com/nano/
Nanotechnology: PROMISES AND PERILS
Nano-scale technology is perilous because:
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it's growing rapidly — exponentially, in fact — faster than our understanding of its
risks and consequences
some nanoparticle products have unintended effects that cannot be easily measured
or controlled
as with any new technology, we never know the full dangers until after it has been
developed and used
military applications of nanotechnology could lead to a horrendous arms race of
invisible weaponry and surveillance devices
cheap, mass-scale molecular manufacturing — building everyday objects atom by
atom — could set off economic upheavals locally and globally and collapse entire industries
nanotechnology will raise intense privacy issues since data can be gathered without anyone's knowledge
Promises
Perils
In agriculture, nanosensors will make it possible to
constantly monitor crop health and productivity.
Will these tiny nanosensors be embedded in the food once it goes to
market? And if so, will they be harmful to ingest?
Certain nanoparticles have shown to improve the effectiveness of
fertilizers.
These nanoparticles may be toxic, and being nano-sized, could seep
deep into the soil or travel great distances by wind.
Nanofibers are now being used to strengthen airplanes, car bumpers,
tennis rackets and bridges.
Some nanofibers behave like asbestos in the lungs, where the
nanofibers can lodge if inhaled.
Silver nanoparticles are powerful anti-bacterial agents and are
currently being used to reduce foot odor in socks.
When bits of silver nanoparticles land in municipal waste water after
the socks have been washed, they can destroy beneficial bacteria in
the water system.
Bionic limbs using nanomaterials will provide nearly life-like arms
and legs for amputees.
Bionic enhancement could — and surely will — be used to gain
unfair advantage in competitive sports.
Nanobot sensors will provide undetectable video surveillance to
protect homes, buildings and businesses.
These same nanobot sensors can be used as invisible spying tools
that can be sent large distances to specific GPS locations.
Nanomedicine will most certainly increase the quality and length of
human life.
The quality of life on an already crowded planet may suffer due to
more rapidy-rising population growth.
Brain-to-machine interfaces will allow thought control of physical
objects or electronic devices as if they were part of the human body.
Brain-to-machine technology could have disastrous implications in
military applications that are misused or that fall into the wrong
hands.
Nanofactories will enable us to manufacture any kind of material
(even diamonds!) atom by atom with incredible precision.
If diamonds or other rare or precious materials can be manufactured,
the economies of countries who mine and sell these materials could
be devastated.
Nanofactories will soon be able to mass-manufacture consumer
products rapidly and inexpensively.
This will inevitably result in the loss of manufacturing jobs and
business.
WRITTEN BY: RUI NATÁRIO'S NETWORKS AND SERVERS BLOG. © 2011 - 2015 MELANIE PAHLMANN http://luratia.com/nano/