New products: Nanotechnology’s impact will be enormous - The Charleston Gazette, USA
One of the big unknowns is, “What happens to all the nanoparticles that we put into the air, into water or into the ground?” These eventually accumulate in waste just like ordinary matter does — and there is little known as to how they would degrade in the environment. Surely this question needs to be settled before we get zillions of nanoparticles in our environment.
There are human factors to be considered. What shall we do in this country if this super-technology puts several million more people out of work? What effect will nanotechnology have on the rich vs. the poor in this country, perhaps giving the poor opportunity to buy wonderful gizmos that they can’t afford? What social and geopolitical effects will this have on the world’s nations? Will this revolution help the disadvantaged nations to catch up, or will the richer nations with their investment wealth and their patents make the poorer nations more downtrodden?

Certainly many questions must be answered in order to exploit our opportunities, forestall the negatives and share our new abundance.

Nano-scale teaching issues, macro-scale ethical questions - Thoreau for Unqualified Offerings, USA
Do I allow NanoProduct(TM) to go to stores until it’s proven to be dangerous, or do I refuse to allow NanoProduct(TM) to go to stores until a sufficient amount of evidence for safety is presented? Or do I have a disclosure requirement? Do I require the seller to buy insurance against possible hazards? Do I say that the buyer assumes all risk? Do I say that the buyer only assumes risk if the seller discloses enough info? How much info is “enough”?

Overseeing nanotechnology development - Andrew Maynard for SafeNano, UK
Last week, President Bush’s top advisors on science and the environment published a set of “principles for nanotechnology environment, health and safety oversight”.
The overriding message? Don’t make things hard for industry.
I was under the impression that environmental, health and safety oversight should be first and foremost aimed at preventing harm to people and damage to the environment...