Chapter 7 - Risks and Ethics of Nanotechnology Flashcards
Who is Richard Feynman?
a theoretical physicist renown for his work on quantum mechanics, quantum electrodynamics, particle physics
What is the vision of Feynman?
famous talk: ‘there is plenty of room at the bottom”
his vision projects:
1. the evolution of molecular manufacturing and the development of nanomachines that are able to build nanomachines and other products with atom-by-atom control
2. direct manipulation of individual atoms as a more powerful form of synthetic chemistry
What are some of the implications of Feynman’s work?
- would be possible in principle for a physicist to synthesize any chemical substance a chemist writes down
- could create self-replicating nanobots such as biological cells
What are the benefits of nanotechnology?
- pigment in paint: enhance color and durability
- cutting tools and coatings: increase wear resistance and make tools last longer
- pharmaceuticals and drugs: allowing targeted delivery
- electronic devices: nanoscale thin films to improve performance and reduce size
- jewelry and polishing: improve durability and shine in items with jewelry and semiconductor wafers
What is the great fear of self-replicating nanobots
The gray goo scenario:
- if self-replicating nanobots could not be properly controlled, could replicate endlessly and consume all available resources making more copies of itself until the world is overrun by self-replicating nanobots. Thereby creating an undifferentiated mass of nanobots, the ‘gray goo’
How did Feynman propose we move each atom individually?
Not with finger or tools, but rather rely on the natural principles of chemistry
- understand and manipulate the atomic interactions to get the desired compound
What are current nanotechnology applications?
- additives in polymer composite materials
- additives to surface treatments of fabrics
- nanoscale thin films
- Nano materials in cosmetic products
- nano-engineered materials in the food industry
- nano-engineered materials in automotive products
- nano-engineered materials in household products
- nanostructured ceramic coatings
- NPs as catalysts
Specific nanotech applications in electronics
- nanoscale transistors
- magnetic random-access memory (MRAM)
- displays (OLED)
- other computing and electronic products
Specific nanotech applications in sustainable energy
- solar panels
- improve efficiency of fuel production (through catalysts, ect.)
- nano-bioengineering of enzymes
- NPs in batteries
- Nano materials in hydrogen membranes and storage materials and catalysts for alternative fuels
Specific nanotech applications in environmental applications
- NT for filtration and purification of water
- clean industrial water pollutants as catalysts
- nanotech-based air filters
- nanofabric ‘paper towels’ for oil cleanup
Specific nanotech applications in health
- quantum dot for medical diagnostics
- NT for atherosclerosis, or the buildup of plaque in arteries
- gold NP to detect early-stage Alzheimer’s disease
- multifunctional therapeutics use NP for specific targeting of cancer cells/other locations
What are some of the risks of nanotechnology?
- new technology, not completely known
- decreased size can be dangerous
- must ensure that NPs are safe and not just that they replicate things we know are safe (like GMOs)
What are specific risks of nanotechnology?
- asbestos NPs in japan (cause cancer)
- nanotubes - recent studies found them similar to asbestos in pathogenicity
- as NPs reduce down to ultrafine, our bodies are not adept to deal with non-natural ultrafine NPs, and as NPs grow smaller they become exponentially more chemically reactive
What are the health risks of nanotechnology?
toxicity and ability of NPs to cause inflammation increase as the particle size decreases and are able to translocate to secondary organs (thus they are dangerous in lower quantities)
- NPs can enter the body through airways, skin, or ingestion
- protein misfolding and protein fibrillation induced by NPs could cause major problems in the brain
- NPs toxicity could target vulnerable fetus
- full mechanism behind some toxicity findings are not yet fully understood
What are the environmental risks of nanotechnology?
- NPs released into environment interact with air, water, and soil, changing the surface properties of the particles
- the impact of NPs in environment in complex and needs more research to fully understand their behaviours
What is the ethical concerns with nanotechnology?
- production and use of nanomaterials should be responsible
- however, much of R&D is driven by private industries which often priorities profit over comprehensive understanding of their potential health and environmental impact
- need for public awareness and trust - people need to be informed about the risks and benefits
- practical understanding - average people don’t need to understand how all this works, but should be aware of the potential risks and benefits.
What legal and regulatory framework exists in Canada for nanomaterials?
nanomaterials are regulated in Canada in existing legislation:
- Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (used to regulate NPs imported or manufactured in Canada)
- Pest Control Products Act
- Fertilizers Act
- Feeds Act
- Food and Drugs Act
What does the Canadian Environmental Protection Act allow Canada’s regulatory bodies to do in regards to NPs?
- requires importers and manufacturers of new substances to provide specific information to government officials so that it can be evaluated for potential effects on human health and environment
What is Canada doing regarding NP safety?
- federal government is funding nanomaterial health and safety research to study quantify and understand the behaviour and toxicity of nanomaterials
