
Image via Wikipedia
The EPA must act swiftly to evaluate the possible health risks of nanotechnology
A decade ago the great worry about nanotechnology was that it could quite literally destroy the planet. As Sun Microsystems co-founder Bill Joy warned in his essay “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us,” self-assembling nanobots could potentially spread out of our control (Mis-)programmed to replicate ad infinitum, these subsentient bots would spread across the landscape as a gray goo of devastation, consuming the earth and every unlucky creature who called it home.
Nowadays we can only wish that our planet-dooming scenarios were so far-fetched. Our existential worries revolve around the all too immediate problems of global warming and disease, and nanotechnology—incorporated into improved solar panels, wind turbines or drug delivery mechanisms—could, if anything, emerge as an important tool to fight these threats.
Yet like any new technology, nanomaterials carry with them potential both for good and for harm. The most salient worries concern not a gray goo apocalypse but rather the more prosaic and likely possibility that some of these novel materials may turn out to be hazardous to our health or the environment. Because ordinary materials display unique properties at the nanoscale, the nanometer-size bits of a seemingly benign material might turn out to be noxious. As John D. Young and Jan Martel report in “The Rise and Fall of Nanobacteria,” even naturally occurring nanoparticulates can have an deleterious effect on the human body. If natural nanoparticulates can harm us, we would be wise to carefully consider the possible actions of engineered nanomaterials. The size of nanoparticles also means that they can more readily escape into the environment and infiltrate deep into internal organs such as the lungs and liver. Adding to the concern, each nanomaterial is unique. Although researchers have conducted a number of studies on the health risks of individual materials, this scattershot approach cannot provide a comprehensive picture of the hazards—quantitative data on what materials, in what concentrations, affect the body over what timescales.
In response to this uncertainty, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced a grand research strategy to study the health and environmental effects of nanomaterials, a welcome step that many have been advocating for years. We hope that the program will help build a robust database that will give policy makers and the public the facts needed to understand the possible health risks that specific nanomaterials might create. And although it would be unwise to rush careful research efforts, speed is paramount. According to the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, more than 1,000 consumer products containing nanomaterials are available in the U.S., a number that is quickly growing.
First published on Dec 28, 2009
The Latest on: Possible health risks of nanotechnology
[google_news title=”” keyword=”possible health risks of nanotechnology” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Possible health risks of nanotechnology
- 10 Best CBD Gummies Of January 2023on January 31, 2023 at 3:15 am
Commissions we earn from partner links on this page do not affect our opinions or evaluations. Our editorial content is based on thorough research and guidance from the Forbes Health Advisory Board.
- How the Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials Market is Bounce Back after Covid-19 Impact?on January 30, 2023 at 7:15 am
Jan 30, 2023 (The Expresswire) -- Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials Market Overview 2023| Complete report [130 Pages] aims to deliver a top to bottom analysis ...
- Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits And Possible Side Effectson January 18, 2023 at 8:40 pm
However, ingestion of larger quantities and for long-term use may be unsafe with potential health risks such as: Dr. Banini suggests apple cider vinegar dosage ranging from one to two teaspoons to ...
- 7 Potential Health Benefits of Caulifloweron January 18, 2023 at 7:39 pm
Cauliflower is also packed with numerous potential health benefits ... eating more fruits and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of cancer,” Byrne says. “But cruciferous vegetables ...
- 4 Major Health Risks Linked to E-Cigarette Useon January 16, 2023 at 2:42 pm
While using e-cigarettes ("vaping") may be healthier than smoking traditional cigarettes, users still face health risks ... rate and greater risk of a heart attack. The potential for coronary ...
- Gas Stoves Are Tied to Health Concerns. Here’s How to Lower Your Risk.on January 11, 2023 at 3:05 pm
Anyone can read what you share. By Dani Blum Mounting evidence of the potential health risks of gas stoves, including a link to childhood asthma, ignited a debate in Washington this week ...
- The benefits and side effects of L-arginineon January 10, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Taking L-arginine as a supplement can benefit the heart and muscles, but it may cause side effects such as nausea ... or creams. Several potential health conditions may benefit from an increased ...
- News tagged with potential riskon December 19, 2022 at 4:00 pm
While being or becoming overweight during pregnancy can have potential health risks for moms, there are also hints that it ... Kitchen counters and bathroom sinks across America turned into ...
- Possible health risks of mobile phone useon September 20, 2022 at 6:31 pm
But research is still continuing, to make sure there aren’t any potential long-term effects. Concerns have been raised that exposure to radio waves from mobile phones might cause various health ...
- What To Know About the Health Risks of Migraineson August 19, 2020 at 1:39 am
If you have migraines, it's good to be aware of potential connections to other health risks. The risk of having depression is three to six times higher in people who have migraines compared to ...
via Bing News