Nano-RisksNano-Risks

Ben Philbert CannonBen Philbert Cannon

Why the concern?Why the concern?

Initial contactInitial contact

Interesting aspectsInteresting aspects

Future plansFuture plans

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0145487/

Seminar OutlineSeminar Outline

Miracles Miracles

Health RisksHealth Risks

Environmental ConcernsEnvironmental Concerns

Social ImpactSocial Impact

PossibilitiesPossibilities

ConclusionConclusion

Look what we can do!Look what we can do!ProductsProducts

http://www.forbes.com/newsletter/2006/01/10/apple-nano-in_jw_0109soapbox.inl.htmlhttp://www.voyle.net/Nano%20Products%202005/Main%20Products%202005%20.htm

Look what we can do!Look what we can do!Medical AdvancementsMedical Advancements

http://www.foresight.org/Nanomedicine/Gallery/index.htmlhttp://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0606/feature4/gallery5.html

Concept: Molecular ManufacturingConcept: Molecular Manufacturing

Desktop Desktop nanofactories will use molecular will use molecular raw materials to build complete, raw materials to build complete, atomically precise productsatomically precise products

http://www.lizardfire.com/html_nano/nano.htmlhttp://www.lizardfire.com/html_nano/nano.html

Toxicity of Ultra-Fine ParticlesToxicity of Ultra-Fine Particles

Surface area to Surface area to volume ratiovolume ratio Smaller particles are Smaller particles are

more reactivemore reactivePlatinumPlatinum

Smaller molecules are Smaller molecules are more toxicmore toxic

Carbon BlackCarbon Black

Nanotechnology Risks, Ethics, and Law, Hunt, Mehta ed. 2006

Health RisksHealth Risks

NanoparticlesNanoparticles FixedFixed FreeFree

---- Stable – Not much worry

---- Mobile – object of concern

• Blood-brain barrier• Overloaded phagocytes• Arterial disease• Free radicals → cellular damage → apoptosis & genotoxicity• Protein folding errors

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotechnology#Risks_from_nanoparticlesNanotechnology Risks, Ethics, and Law, Hunt, Mehta ed. 2006

Health RisksHealth Risks

Environmental IssuesEnvironmental Issues

NanoparticlesNanoparticles Released into the ecosystem during Released into the ecosystem during

production and as byproductproduction and as byproduct

NanoproductsNanoproducts Eventually thrown away or recycledEventually thrown away or recycled

Environmental IssuesEnvironmental Issues

G r e y G r e y G o oG o o

"Thus the first replicator assembles a copy in one thousand seconds, the two replicators then build two more in the next thousand seconds,

the four build another four, and the eight build another eight. At the end of ten hours, there are not thirty-six new replicators, but over 68 billion. In less than a day, they would weigh a ton; in less than two days, they

would outweigh the Earth; in another four hours, they would exceed the mass of the Sun and all the planets combined - if the bottle of chemicals

hadn't run dry long before."

Drexler, Engines of Creation (1986). In Chapter 4, Engines Of Abundancehttp://www.crnano.org/BD-Goo.htm

• Uncontrollable Nanoreplicators

• Grey goo scenario isn’t an imminent danger•Distant technology•More desirable methods

• Eventually, intentional use possible

Societal ImplicationsSocietal Implications

Time to check that Time to check that nanofactory!!!nanofactory!!!

Societal ImplicationsSocietal Implications

WeaponsWeapons Improvements & InnovationsImprovements & Innovations

SurveillanceSurveillance Intelligence & PrivacyIntelligence & Privacy

Economic ShiftsEconomic Shifts Traditional exports replacedTraditional exports replaced

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotechnology#Societal_risks

Societal ImplicationsSocietal Implications

Corporate ControlCorporate Control ““Patenting of Matter”Patenting of Matter” MonopoliesMonopolies

Nano-hypeNano-hype Pressure to forgo R&DPressure to forgo R&D Now : All nano sellsNow : All nano sells After one accident : Nano is evilAfter one accident : Nano is evil

http://www.ieee-virtual-museum.org/collection/event.php?id=3457012&lid=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotechnology#Societal_risks

OptionsOptions

Ban nanotechnology Ban nanotechnology developmentdevelopment

Stunt human advancement Stunt human advancement Live without possible solutions to global Live without possible solutions to global

problemsproblems

Impose no regulations on Impose no regulations on manufacturingmanufacturing

Possible catastrophic accidentsPossible catastrophic accidents Unimpeded races for superior technologiesUnimpeded races for superior technologies

Responsible balance of caution Responsible balance of caution and riskand risk

Progress towards a better futureProgress towards a better future

EffortsEfforts

NNI – National Nanotechnology InitiativeNNI – National Nanotechnology Initiative

CRN – Center for Responsible NanotechnologyCRN – Center for Responsible Nanotechnology

FDA Nanotechnology Task ForceFDA Nanotechnology Task Force

Nanotechnology NowNanotechnology Now

Foresight Nanotech InstituteForesight Nanotech Institute

ConclusionConclusion

These are the years These are the years when the world when the world changes into the changes into the world it is going to be world it is going to be for future generations.for future generations.

We must be sure it We must be sure it changes into changes into something we want it something we want it to be.to be.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0145487/

SourcesSources

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0145187/

http://www.forbes.com/newsletter/2006/01/10/apple-nano-in_jw_0109soapbox.inl.html

http://www.voyle.net/Nano%20Products%202005/Main%20Products%202005%20.htm

http://www.foresight.org/Nanomedicine/Gallery/index.html

http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0606/feature4/gallery5.html

http://www.lizardfire.com/html_nano/nano.html

Nanotechnology Risks, Ethics, and Law, Hunt, Mehta ed. 2006

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotechnology#Risks_from_nanoparticles

Drexler, Engines of Creation (1986). In Chapter 4, Engines Of Abundance

http://www.crnano.org/BD-Goo.htm

http://www.ieee-virtual-museum.org/collection/event.php?id=3457012&lid=1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotechnology#Societal_risks

The EndThe End