Issues with Nanoparticles
Introduction
Although nanoparticles show promise for the future in many different aspects, there are a number of issues that arise when considering the implications that this technology will have once implemented. The basis of these problems revolves around how new this technology in general is. It is only in the last 50 years that nanotechnology has started to be seriously considered as a means to further develop existing technology. This means that we have created a entirely new type of science that must be regulated and researched. We are constantly finding more and more benefits of using nanotechnology but at the same time, the issues must be also taken into account before implementing this into daily life.
"Nanomaterials themselves constitute a new generation of toxic materials."
-Vilas Warudkar, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology
Legal, Social, and Ethical Issues
Legal Issues
As soon as nanotechnology began to grow, the question arose of who would control the research and development as well as the regulations and principals to keep in mind while researching this subject. Since it was such a novel subject, there was a lack of knowledge of the potential issues it could cause. This created the first issue: the need for adequate legislation of nanotechnology. The first notable attempt at regulation was by the European parliament, which passed a directive in 2001 that required all medical products containing nanoparticles to be labelled as such in order to ensure transparency with buyers. This issue was also addressed by several small companies and projects. One of the most notable, the Nanologue project in Germany which lasted from 2005-2006, stood to address the social, ethical, and legal implications of nanotechnology. However, this issue was most formally addressed by the European Commission (EC) starting 2008 with the implementation of the Code of Conduct for Responsible Nansciences and Nanotechnologies Research. Later, the EC also passed the REACH (Registration, Evaluation, and authorization of Chemicals) and CLP (Classification, Labelling, and Packaging) regulations. These focused on regulating the use of nanoparticles in biocides, cosmetic products, and food additives.
Social Issues
The use of nanoparticles may also present a negative impact on society. Releasing these nanoparticles into society through specialized antibiotics can lead to potentially negative effects on human and environmental health, which would both negatively influence society. Nanoparticle is a very broad term and similarly, there is a broad spectrum of effects which nanoparticles could have on society. For example, CNTs have very strong antibacterial capabilities in medicines but, if introduced into society, could have potentially negative results. CNTs have shown negative effects on human lungs, worse than quartz particles. Similarly, other nanoparticles like nanosilver can seem promising because of their medical application but can also have these negative side effects. Furthermore, nanosilver is a strong disinfectant but also may present problems for the the ecosystem. Because of the nature of nanoparticles, they are easily absorbed in animals and the soil, which may lead to the delicate balance of the ecosystem to be tipped. The EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) is conducting studies on how nanosilver will influence the environment because of this very issue. This means that to solve this issue, more research must be done on the possible negative effects of nanoparticles on society before implementation on a wide scale and introduction into society.
Ethical Issues
The nature of nanoparticles and their antimicrobial effects leads to several issues involving the ethics of distribution on a wide scale as a miracle antibiotic. First, once this technology is developed and usable to the public, the question arises whether we have a duty to help other third world countries with it or allow this technology to increase the size of the gap between first and third world countries. However, the larger question is whether or not this nanoparticle antimicrobial should even be usable for the public. This is because, without further research and development, the ability for nanoparticles to kill bacteria goes unmoderated, meaning they will kill any bacteria in contact. This leads to an issue because 99% of bacteria are known to be useful to humans. More and more research is being done on the human microbiome and its importance. Perhaps using these antibiotics will tip the balance between good and bad bacteria. In addition, certain nanoparticles can cause organ damage. For example, nanosilver can cause liver and kidney damage. Is it ethical to use nanoparticles on a patient to cure their antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection but create a possible problem later because they suffer from side effects and other forms of damage? Like other issues, we must wait to learn more about these particles so that we can moderate and control them in order to use them both more effectively and safely. Scientists should not release this brand new technology before being aware of all the repercussions.
