Nanoscience: Do I trust it?

A great number of scientists of many diverse areas agree with the idea that Nanotechnology is the science of the future (the science of the 21st century ), with powerful work in the realm of micro-particles, used in areas such as removing ageing lines, strengthen wine bottles, wash windows and cleaning clothing without water. Some rumors are worrying many people. Early studies indicate that some of these micro or nano-particles could produce side effects and diseases, specifically worrying is the links with cancer.

The nano scale is pretty amazing, tiny but powerful. The scientists are advancing at a speed. The only problem with all, is that these small particles may be harmful if they remain inside the human body. Scientists state that nanoparticles are small enough to slip unnoticed in a cell membrane but large enough to carry foreign material between strands of DNA. Furthermore it will be many more years of research to understand completely the effects of nanoparticles.

However, currently there are few studies about this issue, but according to the information we have from scientists, fish consuming just a low level of carbon nanoparticles were determined to have developed brain cancer in some of the cases analyzed. Also in other observations with rats inhaling carbon nanotubes had lung problems very similar to those caused by asbestos.

For a better understanding about this entire situation, we need to examine the attributes of the nanoparticles. The scientists working on the nano scale are experimenting with the possibility of developing nano machines, atom by atom in the same way that every living organism starts with a cell. Whether nanotechnology and science work with materials about one billion of a meter wide, what is the guarantee, not for scientists but for common people whom deal with the impact of nanotechnology?

Obviously this work is a responsibility for institutions that rule the ethics of this important scientific field. The director of the Nanoethics Group at California Polytechnic State University, Patricia Lin, declared that 'scientists working with nanoparticles are domesticating atoms'. 'That ís the big deal' said Lin, and argued that they are trying to make the building blocks of our real world do our most simple tasks.

In response of this, we have the words of the Chief Health Scientist at Environmental Defense, John Balbus when said 'There ís no reason to think that all of these things are going to be dangerous or harmful, but we should be prudent because of their ability to get into the body and access parts of it that normal chemicals don't'.

Really we don't know whether the development of products through nanotechnology processes have been regulated with a strict rules. In the case of the environment and health some institutions are proposing the promotion of campaigns in favour of these issues. Ian Illuminato from Health and Environment Campaigner at Friends of Earth said that they are calling for the government to invest more money in health, safety and environmental research so that we can make sure these products are safe.

Beside this, the problem of nanotechnology is that we don't have the security to probe whether what we are receiving is something we can trust. The Food and Drug administrating announced in the third trimester of 2007 that cosmetics, drugs or every product manufactured with nanotechnology is not required to have special regulation because there's no scientific evidence they pose any major safety risks. Moreover the American chemical company Du pont evaluated whether to proceed with the development of projects involving nanoparticles, and they agreed to a system developed with Environmental Defense.

In view of the second report released by the government of the United Kingdom about the possibility of indentify risks in health and environment, we need to be aware of five important areas: detection and measurement of nanoparticles, exposure of human and environment to nanoparticles, assess the degree of nanoparticles which are toxic or harmful, the environmental impacts and economical, social and political impact of nanotechnology.

Personally I have been wondering how far rumors and bad comments can fly, but definitely we need to examine carefully these things before taking action or making decisions. In this case we cannot dismiss scientific information, and must think about the positive and negative dimensions in this issue.

By: Hector Nicolas Suero
Staff Writer