Nanotechnology, Risk and Benefit Society

Nanotechnology, potential benefits and risks in society

This paper is focused on the benefits that nanotechnology and its risks, also a brief introduction to the concept and meaning today. Science advances and technology that comes near future may be used for a purpose which improves the quality of human life and for self-destruction or collapse of the economy, etc.. The trial is to teach all the possible causes that nanotechnology will, leaving to each choose our own point of view about it.

Introduction

The nanotechnology is the study, design, creation, synthesis, manipulation and application of materials, devices and systems through control of matter at the nano scale, and the exploitation of phenomena and properties of matter at the nano scale ... [1]

Nanotechnology focuses on the "molecular manufacturing" that will work and manipulate molecular structures and their atoms, and this would lead to the possibility of producing materials and machines from the rearrangement of atoms and molecules

2. Responsible Nanotechnology

Responsible Nanotechnology refers to the responsible management to control potential risks of nanotechnology, and maximize the benefits on behalf of humanity.

With Advanced nanotechnology may build machines a thousand times more powerful and hundreds of times less expensive than current devices. The potential of nanotechnology from a humanitarian point of view is immense, as are the possible risks for massive misuse or irresponsible management ... [6]

Some scientists advocate to promote new technologies through benefit arguments, while others raise questions about their potential risk, these views, generate a great debate between the company ... [5].

The technology is not as far as we do not have to think about how we will achieve control misuse. This technology will allow to generate a price war and supply management by producing new products of great massiveness poles as it is today China.

There are few countries that are going to be tempted to be self-sufficient and thus forget their dependencies, which in turn will generate huge imbalances that could potentially result in huge problems of difficult solution, this technology can be as critical to achieving achieve a world without money, it could also produce enormous evils. But looking at the situation from another perspective, the huge crisis that will generate will also put into crisis the system itself will not find any way to regulate the proper use through external laws ... [7].

The feasibility of nanotechnology would have a huge impact around the world, one way or another in each individual of the society in the near future.

There are already practical advances in some fields, for example, nanoparticles and nanotubes, when handling the matter as small scale of atoms and molecules, shows entirely new phenomena and properties, so scientists use nanotechnology to create materials, devices and novel and inexpensive systems with unique properties ... [2]

Governments are creating policy initiatives to promote the development of nanoscale science and technology developments. Private investment is also seeing an upward trend. A large number of academic institutions and national laboratories has launched centers research are working on multiple applications of nanotechnology. According to the NSF (Swiss Nanoscience Institute), earnings of nanotechnology could hit $ 1 trillion by 2015 ... [3]

The father of "nanoscience" is considered Richard Feynman, Nobel Laureate in Physics, who in 1959 decided to produce products based on a rearrangement of atoms and molecules. In 1959, the great physicist, wrote an article analyzing how computers work with individual atoms could consume very little energy and get amazing speeds.

3. Benefits of nanotechnology

In this science, when searching for your application you can find countless uses, solutions to many problems of society, especially in the realm of medicine.

If we see this technology as developers of such a science, we will always find uses for it, but we must not forget the consequences that we can bring the same, this is already mentioned below.

Molecular manufacturing (MM) can solve many current problems in the world. As for example in many parts of the world, something as simple as a water filter, or a mosquito net can save lives, and the manufacture of this type of simple product has a very low cost.

The MM will provide cheap and advanced equipment for medical research and health care, improving medical widely. Much social unrest can be traced directly to material poverty and poor health

The MM can help reduce the great social problems and human suffering associated with these problems.

Nanotechnology has broad benefits, each of which is studied at a high level of depth by researchers, see the references, if you want a broader content on this subject ... [12], [13]

Benefits in society:

Advanced nanotechnology can solve many problems humanos.Las computers and display devices would be incredibly cheap, accessible to all personasMuchos various problems are related to high technology products agualosa can allow people to live with less impact can ambiental.Invernaderos cheap save water, land and nanotechnology makes possible alimentosLa solarEspacios energy of life can improve muchoLas computers would be cheap enough to todosLa nanotechnology can help the environment ambiente.Mejora of medicine can be broadly disponibleEliminación of the causes of distress may reduce discomfort social.

Medical benefits in the area:

The surgical and diagnostic tools will be more elegant and more baratoLa research and diagnosis will be more eficiente.Pequeños medical devices can be implanted in a permanente.Más medical problems can be prevenir.Las new diseases could stop diagnosis and treatment quickly.The can be semi-automáticos.Salud improve and enhance life útil.MM facilitate gene therapy

Each of these points shown has its benefits, which are being investigated, studied and developed by many universities and research centers worldwide, with a wide application for each point shown.

4. RISKS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

In the case of the enormous impact of nanotechnology will be felt within a few years, with the danger of being unprepared humanity about the risks involved such impact.

Impact on society:

Important changes in the structure of society and the system will use personal político.Riesgos criminal or terrorist

Environmental damage or health risks of unregulated products

Unstable armamentosArmas race would be extremely powerful nanotechnology could lead to a dangerous arms race inestableLa inexpensive production and duplication of designs could lead to large changes in economía.La over exploitation of cheap products could cause significant environmental damage to the ambiente.Daños or risk to the health of black market products in nanotecnologíaLas reguladosEl simple solutions will not succeed. It is unlikely to find the right answer to this situation without going before a thorough planning process.

Health Impacts

In 1997 researchers at the University of Oxford and the University of Montreal showed that titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles used as in most sunscreens produce free radicals in skin cells, damaging DNA.

In 2002, the Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology at Rice University, Houston, reported that nanoparticles accumulate in the organs of laboratory animals (liver and lungs). This could give rise to tumors, as well as DNA damage. The nanotubes, similar to very fine needles could pierce the lungs that causes similar effects as the asbesto.En 2003 in a study requested by the ETC Group, Vyvyan Howard toxico-pathologist concluded that the size of nanoparticles, rather than the material that constitutes a risk in itself because its catalytic potential increases exponentially and the immune system does not detect.

In 2004, Howard told a global conference on the nanoparticle Nanotox move from mother to fetus through the placenta. It was shown that carbon nanospheres dispersed in water, simulating a common degree of environmental pollution, damage the brain of the fish and cause mortality in water fleas

The information presented is scientifically based, highly detailed references is presented as a brief summary [10], [11]

5. Conclusion

To begin a study of nanotechnology, I personally think that first one should take into account how well or poorly you can make to society this development, because if we create something regardless of what might happen, then maybe we a catastrophe for humanity.

Although nanotechnology will lead to a very unimaginable future, where you can solve many of the problems facing society today, an error or misuse can affect us so that even leads society to a world much worse than the currently located.

It is recommended that people very interested in this subject, check references, as there is very detailed information about the benefits and risks of this technology, watching from all points of view.

Nanotechnology may only be responsible when each person aware of all that this technology can cause, as creators and consumers of it. If we were to the total awareness and develop this technology background, it would be a much better world than anyone has managed to imagine.