Slashdot Mirror
UK Scientists Recommend Caution in Nanotechnology
PizzaFace writes "An independent study of issues posed by nanotechnology has warned that nanoparticles could pose unique risks and should be regulated by government, and generally should be considered hazardous until shown to be safe. Nanoparticles are now being used in some cosmetics, and workers in some industries face exposure on the job. As the report summary notes, 'Concerns have been expressed that the very properties of nanoscale particles being exploited in certain applications (such as high surface reactivity and the ability to cross cell membranes) might also have negative health and environmental impacts.' The year-long study was commissioned by the United Kingdom and done by a joint working group of the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering. The Washington Post reports that the U.S. government is aware of nanotechnology but is letting industry regulate itself for now."
Hasnt biology been crafting nano-stuff since.. the beginning?
Whether it be a buckeyball or a double helix, cant the body handle it? You know.. evolve?
Hopefully US companies remember asbestos and the like. And understand that they will get their asses sued into the ground if they arn't sure these product are absolutly safe.
Obviously, some caution is required. But it would also be a shame to see this technology be slowed down. What we really need is some kind of consortium that will let companies work together to come up with reasonable standards that wont hinder their work. Legislation should be avoided until it proves necessary.
You can disagree about how tightly nanoscale particles should be regulated and you can disagree about what stem-cell research should be funded by the government (for the bazillionth time, stem-cell research is not banned, let alone "*banned*") but one has nothing to do with the other.
What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
This is utterly ridiculous. Like horses worried about car exhaust. We ruthlessly kill bacteria and bugs and such as a matter of course because we are so much superior to them, but then nanotechnology is as superior to us as we are to bugs, and yet we protest at dying to support its first stirrings! Truly the human race is the most arrogant, if not the most intelligent, thing that will ever exist on the planet!