What Are The Uses Of Nanotechnology Environmental Sciences Essay

What Are The Uses Of Nanotechnology Environmental Sciences EssayNano in beation and nanotechnology congers up visions of making, imaging, manipulating and utilizing things really small and the delimitate feature of nanochemistry is the utilization of synthetic chemistry to take in nanoscale building blocks of varied coat and shape, composition and surface structure, charge and functionality1. The initial concepts of nanotechnology were decribed by Richard Feynman in 1959 when he gave a talk describing a act involving individual atoms and molecules that could be manipulated. Professor Taniguchi later attended define nanotechnology as a process involving separation, desegregation and deformation of materials on particles the size of an atom or a molecule2. The content nanotechnology initiative describes nanotechnology as the understanding and control of matter at dimensions amid approximately 1 and 100 nanometres where unique phenomena enable novel applications3.The nanotechno logy correction is interdisciplinary and spans across physics, biology, chemistry, medicine, materials science and computing4 and requires engineering at a nanoscale. A nanometre is equal to a billionth of a metre (10-9) and nanotechnology foot be defined found on its scale world little than 100nm5. The science of nanoscale materials is said to fall between the extremes of 1nm and 1 m lengths1. Nanotechnology incorporates science and technology to al depleted manipulation of atoms and molecules to create raw(a) systems, materials and devices with at to the lowest degree one feature of less than 100 nm in size. This provides the condenser to work at the molecular level, atom by atom, to create gravid structures with fundamentally new-fangled molecular organisation6 which signifi send wordtly presents to enhanced material properties in tangible, chemical and biological aspects as a result of their nanoscale caliber6. At the nanoscale materials fuddle different properties silver and gold nanoparticles pass water catalytic properties whilst pieces visual to the gentleman eye ar inert and unreactive. This is due to smaller particles having a a standoff larger surface be to volume ratio and at sizes beneath 100 nm quantum effects become app arent. Fabrication on a nanoscale requires the use of molecules as building blocks. There are two set somewhates interpreted towards nanotechnology. The top-down approach uses conventional methods of micro hypocrisy extending them into the molecular size regime and includes electron beam and X-ray lithography. The bottom up approach incorporates the principles of self-assembly extending them from the molecular into the micrometer size regime which in a course mimics the mode nature constructs biological systems and requires suitable building blocks.In 1959 supposed(a) concepts and experimental results for nano-size materials and devices appeared, however the recent scientific developments obtain encoura ged a revival of activity and created developments in the nanoscience field1. Nanotechnology has followed on from micro-engineering where tolerances of 10-6m put one over become usual in the motor vehicle and aerospace industries allowing the occasion of high quality and unspoiltr transportation. In the computing industry the miniaturization revolution has become most apparent. The populations original stored-program electronic digital computer nicknamed the baby was built in Manchester in 1948 and had the processing power equivalent to that of a fluent phone til now the machine itself filled an entire room. Today the components of a computer conduct been de-scaled down to the size of a mobile phone and contain nano features, whilst they idler process information much faster.Nanoscience is already a leading resultant role provider to many societal, health and environmental problems and due to its high potential difference for coming(prenominal) developments it is attra cting large amounts of funding. Nanotechnology has played a bouncy part in major revolutionary advances in medicine. Nanoparticles base be utilise to help faster detection of maladys. They are introduced into the body and bind to targeting antibodies which in vacate provide bind to the diseased cells and creates a fluorescent glow which can be detected by an imaging system which pinpoints the location of the disease from early onset. There are nano coatings that can repel dirt and restrain the spread of mrsa which has lately become a problem in hospitals. Nanotechnology is creating a path for faster diagnosis of disease and more accurate medicine targeting using smaller quantities of drugs, and so reduction cyanogenicity to the body.Looking from an environmental aspect nanotechnology is helping to develop cheaper and more efficient solar power cells to be used in homes as a spick-and-span push button source. Nanotechnology is responsible for the production of environm entally friendly nanocoatings which are extremely in force(p) and not toxic to the environment, which can be used to replace toxic cadmium and chromium coatings that are before long used. There are nanocoatings which can protect materials making them more durable and resistant to scratches and graffiti. Nanoparticles can be used to invisibly tag things which substantiate it easier for identification purposes and for crime prevention. Nanotechnology has allowed for tougher railway car tyres, change sun creams, cheaper solar cells, stronger aeroplane wings, more sensitive and particularized sensors, more efficient catalysts, hydrogen storage, tougher fabrics, new materials for sports equipment such as play clubs and to reinforce the frames and strings on tennis racquets, intelligent glass for windows and glasses, flatcar screen TV screens among many other things.Carbon nanotubes are highly electrically and thermally conductive and have a tensile carriage one hundred times st ronger than steel whilst being a lot lighter. The highly desirable properties of carbon nanotubes allow tremendous future possibilities for aviation, phalanx and medical applications. Carbon nanotubes and other materials such as plastics and textiles can be combined to produce lightweight bullet proof vests. Silver nanoparticles are present in socks and help combat bad odour by killing bacteria and this idea has been mimicked in dressing for wounds to keep them sterile. Nanotechnologies have enabled self- cleanup and dirt repellent clothes, which contributes to reducing the energy used to wash them.Nanotechnology developments in the pipeline include carbon nanotubes that can agentrate heat and may be ideal for electric blankets or as wall newspaper to heat cold walls and insulate homes. Research menstruationly in process includes polymer based nanofibres that can be filled with nanoparticles, enzymes, catalysts, or an antibacterial. The nanofibres can be sprayed onto cut and wo unds to activate the healing process or used to form temporary membranes or filters in the body. Nanoelectric devices have been embedded into textiles and can oversee internal temperature, chemical sensing and provide support for people that apportion in extreme sports or for firefighters and other professions wherer this could be a vital piece of equipment. To support these nanoelectric devices investigate is being conducted on the viability of man make nanfibres which are used to present new properties such as cushion absorbance, strength, heat stability and fire retardancy. Encapsulation is a process which increases the performance or shelf like of a less stable substance and has been used in the nanoencapsulation of cancer drugs to increase their efficiency. It can help to deliver improved taste and protects victuals substances from harsh processing environments and in household cleaning products they can provide longer lasting scented household fragrances and overly to he lp reduce energy and water use by lento releasing enzymes in washing detergents.Nanoscale manufacture is already puff up open with food companies. Several foods and drinks comprise of natural nanoscale ingredients which can be manipulated which oftentimes happens in the manufacture of dairy produce3. Nanotechnology has been used to incorporate new tastes, flavours, physical effects and health benefits to foods as well improving food manufacture standards by being used to create antibacterial surfaces, forwarding that is saved against contamination and special filters that can remove impurities and toxic chemicals3. Research in the motor industry is offering applications of nanotechnology to provide improved fuel cells for cleaner energy, more efficient catalysts, corrosion and scratch protection as well as stronger so far lighter engines and other motor parts. Nanoparticles are currently present as additives in fuels which enable lower fuel economic consumption and decrease a ny toxic emissions and question is being conducted to develop way in which nanotechnology could eradicate hazardous reactants and toxic emissions altogether. Cars are benefiting from nano-sensors which are reducing collisions and can detect part failures within the vehicles.The benefits surround the use of nanotechnology in our every day lives is endless, it is obvious that nanotechnology could shape the world of the future and contribute to developing a sustainable environment maybe one day nanoscience could contribute to ending world hunger. Cancer could be eradicated as surgical procedures are carried out at the molecular level and eventually with nanosurgery everything could hopefully be repairable. provided without the cycle of life and death the population on the world would increase to an unmanageable amount that would affect the sustainable environment we are supposedly aiming to achieve.Future developments of nanotechnology are totally unpredictable and the nanoscience p henomenon is alleviate in its early stages. While the many benefits of nanotechnology are apparent, scientists are head-in-the-clouds nearly what the future may hold and concerns skirt the ability to make materials come to life via means of reconstruction on the molecular level are most daunting. A particular concern is the development of nanorobotics that could potentially lead to nanorobots taking on human duties which would endanger and unbalance the world economy. However nanoscience is in the responsibility of the scientists and out of our hands for the time being, in that respect are people who fear the future of nanotechnologies and thither are those who are looking forward to their developments.Like with any new technology on the market, nanotechnologies also pose potential gambles which unavoidableness to be fully silent in order to optimize the advantages of using nanotechnology regularly. Once embedded in polymers nanoparticles are very safe, withal there is some uncertainty surrounding free nanoparticles and the health threats posed if inhaled. The government and the nanotechnology industry are extremely informed of the possible risks, it is not doubted that nanotechnology can bring profound benefits to gild but these various applications of nanotechnology need to be supervised and maintained to safe and risk free level.Public concern surrounding nanotechnology is limited as a large population of the ecumenical have not yet heard of nanotechnology7 and those who have dont fully understand what it actually entails8-10. A submit in France confirmed that 81.5% of the participants had little or no knowledge about nanotechnology (table 1) 7. Social scientists have researched what influences public perception of new up overture technologies like nanotechnology11. A recent write up in March 2011, equivalence nanoparticle risk perceptions to other known EHS risks has conclude that the public are comparatively unconcerned about nanotechnol ogy risks and the risks of nanotechnology savvyd by the public are relatively low compared to other health and environmental risks ( fig 1.)9. In this study the public have ranked street drugs as the highest posed risk followed by smoking, AIDS, nuclear waste and obesity. Nanoparticles have been ranked on the low end of the scale, 20th out of 24, along with X-rays, air travel and mobile phone use9.Fig.1. Rankings by high health risk perceptions9.A batch of the public perceptions about the use of nanotechnology in foods and food packaging concluded that the public are ambiguous and pessimistic surrounding applications in the food industry7. However the study only surveyed 752 individuals, so this is not a reliable and fair representation of the views of the public world or UK wide. The study highborn The public understanding of the food domain was carried out in France and revealed that the worldwide consensus of the participants was that they were doubtful about nanotechnology in food and food packaging and hence viewed that the benefits equalled the risks7. However as the percentage of unfamiliarity surrounding nanotechnology of the participants was extremely high7 it could be argued that with more understanding of the topic participants and also the rest of the public would be more swayed to support nanotechnology if they were more informed of the benefits and risks. The unknown causes people to be doubtful and cynical and view something they have no knowledge about in a negative light. Evidence suggests that the public however perceive nanotechnology to pose more of a risk than experts do but broadly speaking the public believe that the benefits associated with nanoscience outweigh the impact of risk10, 12.Table 1. Frequencies and percentages nanotechnology food packaging (nano-outside), nanofood (nano-inside) and nanotech familiarity (N=752) 7. afterwards the public backlash against genetically modified foods the public perceptions of new and emergin g technologies are highly valued and extremely important and need to considered fully13. Given the important and lucrative benefits of nanotechnology for the future the public need to be made fully aware of the advantages before they make negative judgements themselves based on their lack of knowledge surrounding the topic. Uninformed people will automatically have a negative biased opinion of new technology if they are not slowly introduced to the idea and made aware of the advantages before they hear about the minor risks and pass judgement themselves. plurality in industry fear that without more research and public cognisance there may be an outcry against their use of nanomaterials14.It was embraceed that increase education on new technologies led to increased public concern of the subject15. Will giving the public more information, provide them with more ammunition for a repeat of the public out cries against genetically modified foods and gene technology.Communication betw een the public and decision makers in nanoscience and the government ineluctably to be established sooner rather than later to gain the public approval and to ensure there isnt a repeat performance of the GM food backlash13. Already public protestors present at Nanotechnology debates held in France in 2010 chanted Nano, its not green, its totalitarian16.Public perception depends upon the type of utilization surrounding the new technology 17 and most of the time applications involving food and medicine are considered to cause the most controversy in the public eye18, 19. A imperial Commission on Environmental Pollution in the UK found no register that nanomaterials have harmed people or the environment, but recommended further research and evidence to confirm this14. The public need to hear positive evidence surrounding the pencil eraser of nanotechnology maybe before they are introduced to current and future developments.Public concern includes whether manufacturers and industry will benefit more in terms of revenue from nanotechnology than the consumers20. The concern over nanotechnology in food is more of a worry to the public than its use in packaging which is deemed to be quite useful in fact 20. Titanium-dioxide, one of the most normally used nanoparticles used in consumer products such as sun creams 21 has recently been slated after finding that Titanium dioxide nanoparticles caused chromosomal damage, as well as inflammation, all of which increase the risk of cancer when tests were carried out on mice22. However a year later the same source of information, UCLAs NanoSystems Institute revealed how nanoparticles have been used in the delivery of cancer drug therapy in mice23 which could have huge potential in the development of human anti-cancer drugs.As of yet the various warnings against nanotechnology can not be justified as there is a lack of concrete evidence to support such claims against nanotechnology. fit to new laws from the European Parlia ment cosmetics containing nanomaterials will have to be duly labelled and the new regulation states Nanomaterials labelling, definition and safety assessment needed24. After Germanys Federal Environment Agency revealed a report about nanotechnology25 which hence lead to media headlines reading The German Environment agency warns against nanotechnology and Nanotechnology can make you sick26 the environment agency retaliated by declaring that we havent make any of our own research and as a result feel the report has been misinterpreted 27. This is an example of fabrication of warnings against nanotechnology and without adequate evidence the public misconception with regards to new nanotechnology will continue.A report published in 2010, Report on the European Commissions Public Online quotation towards a Strategic Nanotechnology Action Plan concluded a rate of points related to public concerns with regards to nanotechnology amongst other cohorts28. The majority public opinion on nanotechnologies was reasonably optimistic and not a single person voted remote towards nanotechnologies (fig). The public perceived food and healthcare to be most at risk with respect to nanotechnology (fig). Toxic nanomaterials and the nanomaterial workers health were both highlighted as being the most important major issues the public had concern over (fig). The general consensus across all areas questioned was that more action needed to be done with regards to the EU Policies in the new action plan. The areas highlighted the most included addressing safety concerns, developing better tools and adapting existing nanomaterial legislation (fig).Fig.28Fig. 28Fig. Public concerns about the current state of development of nanotechnologies29.Fig. 28