Archive for the ‘nanoethics’ Category

Ethical Issues Raised by Emerging Technologies Saturday, December 4th, 2010

Emerging technologies like nanotechnology and biotechnology raises health and ethical issues. Government regulations cannot hope to keep pace as the new technologies raise issues that nobody has a clear idea about. This situation creates a dilemma as countries want technological progress but are apprehensive about the unknown safety and ethical issues.

Nanotechnology is a revolutionary technology that has applications in many areas, including healthcare, consumer products, industrial products and energy. The technology involves working at nanoscale; a nanometer is one-billionth of a meter; and nanotechnology deals with materials of 100 nanometers or less. At nanoscale, normally harmless materials can become toxic, and nanomaterials can permeate the skin barrier and enter internal organs with unknown consequences.

An ethical issue arises when multinational corporations, unable to work in their home countries owing to rigorous regulations, shift operations to developing countries where regulations are non-existent or lax. In addition to MNCs, even local companies might engage in dangerous research and manufacturing activities in such an environment.

Modern biology raises issues that cause even greater concerns. For example, issues such as patenting life, DNA banks and genetically engineered animals and crops are issues that have raised serious controversies. Considerable discussions are taking place about these issues all over the world.

An article on Green Nanotechnology and a booklet on Ethics and Biotechnology go into these issues.

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Nanotechnology: The importance of Considering Risks as well as Benefits Friday, October 22nd, 2010

Nanotechnology is more about the size of the materials involved rather than a particular scientific domain. It deals with materials at nanoscale, i.e. materials measured in nanometers (nm) or one billionth of a meter. Nanotechnology generally deals with materials of less than 100nm, typically molecules and atoms.

Needless to say, materials at this size are invisible to the eye and even to traditional microscopes. It needs powerful new types of devices such as Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) to observe materials at nanoscale. The ability to modify nano-materials was gained only during the last quarter of a century.

Nanotechnology has applications in various sciences, such as healthcare, medical, agricultural and other. It has been touted as a technology that can provide solutions to many problems facing poor countries. It is argued that energy generation, disease prevention and water purification could all be more effective and less expensive through nanotech.

For example, unclean water leads to some 6000 deaths in poor countries. Using electro statically charged nanoparticles, the contaminants in the water could be removed, for example. With such promises, few countries dare question the need for nanotech use.

However, the risks of this technology are also great. At nanoscale, properties of materials change and normally non-toxic materials can become toxic. Another problem that can affect poor countries is the disappearance of demand for their commodities, such as cotton and various minerals.

If nanotech can enable creating these synthetically at comparable costs, demand for the natural commodities can come down, affecting the livelihood of large sections of poor country population.

Risks such as the above are serious enough for countries to prohibit the import and use of manufactured nanomaterials.

Read a detailed discussion on Nanotechnology and Africa at Pambazuka News.

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UAE Looks at Nanotechnology in Food Industry Monday, May 31st, 2010

The Food Safety and Animal Health Division of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) in UAE is getting interested in the potential and dangers of nanotechnology in food. Nanotech had promised fantastic things in the food sector, among other sectors. For example, claims were being made that using a process similar to microwave cooking, the technology can convert a tasteless and colorless drink into one tasting like coke, fruit juice or ginger beer, depending on the preference of the user.

Nanotechnology can change not only the taste but also the nutritional value and other properties of food, according to these claims. However, the claims are muted now as people began to look at possible dangers. Nanotech works at the levels of a billionth of a meter and nanomaterials can permeate human cells. Who knows what it can do to our DNA?

The potential of nanotechnology is not doubted. It can affect every stage of the food industry from production to final sale to consumers, according to a report published by a Canadian technology watchdog. However, experts are also becoming aware of potential dangers. Cosmetics using nanomaterials have entered human bloodstream and the cosmetic industry is observing a self-imposed ban on using such materials.

A study at University of California (UCLA) School of Public Health study indicated that the nanomaterial, nano-titanium dioxide, was damaging the DNA of mice. These and other developments have raised concerns about the safety aspects of nanotechnology. The UAE government has decided to keep a close watch on the emerging findings.

Read more at Khaleej Times

Posted in nanoethics, nanomaterials | 1 Comment »

Nanotechnology: A Report on Ethical and Societal Aspects Sunday, May 2nd, 2010

ObservatoryNano is a European Commission (EC) funded project that helps decision-makers and the public to get insights into the complex implications of nanoscience and nanotechnology. This new technology is raising a great deal of debate on its various aspects. The second annual report deals with Human Enhancement, Synthetic Biology, Nanomedicine, Agrifood and Animal Testing.

According to the report, the five topics mentioned above are the focus areas of debate. Nanoscientists involved in such research for medical or other purposes do not always take into account the issues in those wider debates. Policy makers, stakeholders and social scientists are not always aware of the actual scientific developments and their implications.

Human enhancement and synthetic biology has military and civilian implications, and civilian implications cover areas such as sports and cosmetics in addition to healthcare. These technologies also have implications related to the divide between rich and poor countries, and between the richer and poorer sections of a society.

Nanomedicice presently covers nanopharmaceuticals, diagnostics and regenerative medicine. The issue of improving Europe’s competitiveness in nanomedicine is a topic of considerable interest. In the areas of agriculture and food, consumers are wary of the products and processes used, and the issue of transparency assumes significance.

Animal testing is a hot issue of debate with animal rights groups ever vigilant. Nanotechnology might help to reduce the need for animal testing, or might increase it.

The report might be still available at ObservatoryNano Website.

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Nanotechnology Raises Issues of Ethics, Social Regulation and Fairness Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Nanotechnology has not only a technology dimension; it also has ethical and social dimensions because it can provide great power to those who can use the technology, and also because of likely dangers it can cause to users and others.

At nano-scales, properties of matter can be very different from what they are at normal levels. Materials that are quite safe in normal sizes can become toxic when reduced to nanoparticles. Nanoparticles have been compared to asbestos in the danger they pose to human health.

A recent report mentioned about the findings of a study that indicated that silver nanoparticles, a popular material valued for its healing property, can cause fish death. Nanoparticles have been used in cosmetics, and the danger of these tiny particles getting into the blood stream and causing harm is very real.

It is clear that nanotechnology needs to be examined from different perspectives and the issues need to be discussed objectively before decisions on its use are taken.

The nanoethics group, that includes both technologists and non-technologists, have just announced the publication of a book titled “What Is Nanotechnology and Why Does It Matter?: From Science to Ethics.” The book is published by Wiley-Blackwell.

Read about the book and its availability at: NanotechNow

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