“I’m thinking about nanotechnology today, what’s most important is understanding where it leads, what nanotechnology will look like after we reach the assembler breakthrough.”
-K. Eric Drexler
https://www.news-medical.net/life-sciences/Properties-of-Nanoparticles.aspx
We have all heard the term, ‘nano’ before. It generally means a particle that is so small, and it is measured in the order of 10-9. It is usually used to denote particles of atomic or molecular size. So, what is nanotechnology? It basically means creating or manufacturing materials or devices on the scale of atoms or molecules. At such microscopic sizes, the physical and chemical properties of substances change, making them easier to manipulate.
When used right, Nanotechnology can have many benefits in recent times. Manufacturing of products will be cheaper, as the particles are very small, and they will be energy efficient as well. They also need few raw materials for their manufacture, which is another advantage. Using nanotechnology, we can clean the environment and even solve some major health-related problems. Nanotechnology products are said to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and they control global warming as well.
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https://www.medicaldevice-network.com/comment/nanotechnology-medicine-technology/
Even though nanotechnology is looking pretty good right now, it may have some adverse effects in the future on the environment and maybe even on human health as well. While calculating all the benefits, scientists must also take note of the possible side effects it may have in the future. While some products may cause negative impacts, there are also products which can be highly beneficial for us.
Products made from nanotechnology are highly durable against stress and weathering. This increases the useful life of these products. Using dirt and water-resistant coatings made from nanotechnology can be helpful for cleaning. Nanoparticles can also reduce the weight of materials when added to them, and they can prove to save energy during transport.
We know that one of the main reasons for environmental pollution is chemical toxins that are found in many fertilizers, pesticides, paints, preservatives, and so on. Using nanomaterials, we can significantly reduce the toxic effects of these chemicals. So, basically, nanotechnology was introduced to take care of the many environmental-related issues we were facing.
https://www.automation.com/en-us/articles/2019/nanotechnology-and-the-future-of-manufacturing
Using nanotechnology, we can restore batteries, which are one of the main types of pollution in landfills. Scientists are trying to figure out a way to use nanotechnology to clean up radioactive ions present in water.
It is our common experience that oil is not water-soluble. No matter how much we try, oil is always going to float on water. So what about all the toxic oil spills that were leaked in the oceans? They pose a threat to the aquatic life present in these oceans. Scientists are looking for ways to use nanotechnology to clean up these oil spills. So far, they haven’t found any solutions, but they are still trying.
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Read Also : What is climate change, and how is it affecting Earth?
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Though we just saw a lot of benefits of nanotechnology, there are an equal number of side effects. Every coin has two sides. Not everything is too good to be true. Even though nanotoxicology research is being done, scientists cannot reach a proper conclusion about whether nanotechnology is actually safe for the environment or not.
https://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3138
Since nanotechnology is still an emerging field, we cannot be sure that it will not have an adverse effect on organisms and their ecosystems. Even though they may be microscopic, nano waste is still an issue because people are going to throw away products that they have finished using. And even though nanotechnology does not require many raw materials, the manufacture is still going to release some amount of toxic gases into the environment.
https://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=4620
Nanopollution can also be a result of smoke from car exhaust and manganese oxide from construction sites. Many people from certain urban areas are exposed to these toxins. We know that when our body detects foreign substances, the phagocytes present in our body break them down. But on continuous exposure to nano toxins, these phagocytes will be unable to break down the bacteria found in the body.
Scientists found out that nanoparticles can enter the body and cause adverse effects before they can even be detected. Even though most of the products are considered harmless at first, there is no saying which one is going to badly affect human health or even the environment.
Why are we so unsure about nanotechnology? I mean, they are created to control the bad effects on the environment and on human health. The main reason for this is, when nanomaterials are subjected to the atmosphere, the changes in the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of nanotechnology are altered, which can be dangerous and increase its toxicity.
https://www.amrita.edu/news/nanotoxicology
We have to use products made from nanotechnology responsibly such that they cannot cause any negative impacts on our health or our children’s health. When disposing of these products, care must be taken. Try recycling these products rather than dumping them in landfills.
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Read Also : CLIMATE CHANGE: 11 FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW
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Basically what we can understand from this is that Nanotechnology is both equally good and equally bad. As of now, the environmental impacts are very little compared to other substances. Their impact on human health is also very minute. The main problem with nanotechnology is that there is no saying how the nanoparticles may react when faced with environmental changes. In the future, these particles may pile up in landfills and they might cause pollution. Animals and birds may unknowingly eat these nanoparticles and it may affect their immune system.
Scientists and researchers are on the lookout for any negative side effects of using nanotechnology so that they can finally have a proper conclusion as to whether nanotechnology is safe or not. Let us hope that this new technology will help us be one step closer to saving the planet.
-Sharon Ajith -17/05/2021
Tags: #animals, #climate, #climatechange, #environmental, #getgreengetgrowing, #globlewarming, #gngagritech, #greenstories, #humanhealth, #immunesystem, #nanotechnology, #Pollution, #recycling
