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Published on Madison's Nano Cafés (http://www.nanocafes.org)

26 November 2007

What Does Nanotechnology Mean for Energy, Environment? [1] - Congressional Quarterly Green Sheets, USA
Advocates say nanotechnology advances mark the beginning of what will be a revolution in energy efficiency and environmental protection.
Yet lurking beneath the excitement is the unknown risk of releasing into the environment particles no bigger than atoms that can go where conventional-sized particles cannot, such as through the smallest filters or across cell membranes into cells, many advocates acknowledge.

The top 10 global nanotechnology websites [2] - NanoWerk, USA
[3]

Nanotech projects for food sector [4] - FoodProductionDaily, EU
Nanotechnology is championed by several manufacturers for use in packaging to extend shelf life, or more controversally, for improving the nutritional content and impact of foods.
Scientists worldwide have been calling on the food sector and regulators to be more proactive in informing the public about the science, especially as consumers are worried about the potential health and environmental effects.

Some nanotechnology risks worry scientists more than the public [5] - NanoWerk, USA
Although the two U.S. surveys showed that scientists were generally more optimistic about the benefits and less concerned about the risks of nanotechnology than the general public, scientists expressed more concerns than the general public about two areas of potential risks: more pollution and new health problems as a result of nanotechnology. On the other hand, of more concern to the American public is a potential loss of privacy from tiny new surveillance devices and the loss of more U.S jobs.

EFSA opens the floor on nanotechnology [6] - FoodNavigator, USA
The emotional aspect of introducing a new technology that involves 'changing nature' should not be ignored, since emotions are just as valid a part of the reasoning process as science. But it is also a matter of perceived risk versus perceived benefit.
For instance, new technologies in drug delivery tend to be well-received. But Donald Bruce of ethical consultancy Edinethics pointed out that food is a trickier issue. Consumers are likely to asked whether they actually need the benefits claimed by producers.


Source URL:
http://www.nanocafes.org/nanonews_11_26_07