Nano-Risks Ben Philbert Cannon

Why the concern? Initial contact Interesting aspects Future plans

Seminar Outline Miracles Health Risks Environmental Concerns Social Impact PossibilitiesConclusion

Look what we can do! Products

Look what we can do! Medical Advancements

Concept: Molecular Manufacturing Desktop will use molecular raw materials to build complete, atomically precise products Desktop nanofactories will use molecular raw materials to build complete, atomically precise products

Toxicity of Ultra-Fine Particles Surface area to volume ratio Smaller particles are more reactive Smaller particles are more reactivePlatinum Smaller molecules are more toxic Smaller molecules are more toxic Carbon Black Nanotechnology Risks, Ethics, and Law, Hunt, Mehta ed. 2006

Health Risks Nanoparticles Fixed Fixed Free Free ---- Stable – Not much worry ---- Mobile – object of concern Blood-brain barrier Overloaded phagocytes Arterial disease Free radicals → cellular damage → apoptosis & genotoxicity Protein folding errors Nanotechnology Risks, Ethics, and Law, Hunt, Mehta ed. 2006

Health Risks

Environmental Issues Nanoparticles Released into the ecosystem during production and as byproduct Released into the ecosystem during production and as byproductNanoproducts Eventually thrown away or recycled Eventually thrown away or recycled

Environmental Issues G r e y G 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 Abundance Uncontrollable Nanoreplicators Grey goo scenario isn’t an imminent danger Distant technology More desirable methods Eventually, intentional use possible

Societal Implications Time to check that nanofactory!!!

Societal Implications Weapons Improvements & Innovations Improvements & InnovationsSurveillance Intelligence & Privacy Intelligence & Privacy Economic Shifts Traditional exports replaced Traditional exports replaced

Societal Implications Corporate Control “Patenting of Matter” “Patenting of Matter” Monopolies MonopoliesNano-hype Pressure to forgo R&D Pressure to forgo R&D Now : All nano sells Now : All nano sells After one accident : Nano is evil After one accident : Nano is evil

Options Ban nanotechnology development Stunt human advancement Stunt human advancement Live without possible solutions to global problems Live without possible solutions to global problems Impose no regulations on manufacturing Possible catastrophic accidents Possible catastrophic accidents Unimpeded races for superior technologies Unimpeded races for superior technologies Responsible balance of caution and risk Progress towards a better future Progress towards a better future

Efforts NNI – National Nanotechnology Initiative CRN – Center for Responsible Nanotechnology FDA Nanotechnology Task Force Nanotechnology Now Foresight Nanotech Institute

Conclusion These are the years when the world changes into the world it is going to be for future generations. We must be sure it changes into something we want it to be.

Sources in_jw_0109soapbox.inl.html 05%20.htm Nanotechnology Risks, Ethics, and Law, Hunt, Mehta ed Drexler, Engines of Creation (1986). In Chapter 4, Engines Of AbundanceEngines of Creation

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