The Economist, Nov 22nd 2007
Very little is known about the risks of nanoparticles in the environment. "Humans are already surrounded by nanoparticles of one sort or another. Much of the food people eat is made of naturally occurring nanoscaled components. Each person breathes in at least 10m nanoparticles a minute. Most of them do no harm." However, there is the possibility that some classes of nanoparticles will be the asbestos of the future, creating health or environmental problems. Little is known about the chemistry of nanoparticles, so many scientists say there is an urgent need for research to identify health and environmental impacts. The results from such research could inform regulation.
It is estimated that there are some 600 products on the market involving nanotechnology. Some 4500 patents have been filed in the U.S.A. on nanotechnology. Worldwide governmental nanotechnology research funding in 2006 was nearly US$6 billion.
"Meanwhile, nanotechnology is becoming part of the global economy. It could help produce trillions of dollars of products by 2014, ranging from face creams to computer chips and car panels, according to Lux Research. The risks from these products will often be very low or non-existent. In the computer industry, for instance, making smaller and smaller features on the surface of a chip is not likely to involve much risk to computer users. Motorists probably have little to fear from carbon nanotubes being embedded into a car door to make it more crash-resistant. Yet what happens to such products at the end of their life remains a question."
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