Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is very much so an up and coming field and has become a sector of industry that is beginning to make a lot of money. For me, the most interesting part of nanotechnology that was addressed in the lecture was silver nanotechnology. As someone that runs and works out a decent amount, silver nanotechnology has directly impacted my day to day life.      

Figure 1: Example of silver nanotechnology in day to day life

Introducing silver into clothing and in household appliances helps kill bacteria, which reduces smell in athletic gear, and helps to keep cutting surfaces sterile amongst other things. However, with any introduction of new technology, there is still uncertainty how all of this exposure will impact both human lives as well as the environment that we live in.

Figure 2: Effects of mass exposure to silver nanotechnology is still uncertain

There are some studies that indicate that nanotechnology has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the human brain.[1] This can have potentially very harmful effects on human if nanotechnology, and silver technology specifically goes largely unchecked. Ian Illuminato, the director of the Friends of the Earth, US technology campaign was quoted as saying that we need to “do this in a mature and adult way. That’s not to say this isn’t a helpful technology and it doesn’t have a place in our future, but in the way it’s evolving right now, it’s very risky.”[2] Silver nanotechnology has been instrumental in preventing infection in burn patients. In addition there hasn’t been a single pathogen that studies have found that silver cannot kill.[3] It’ll be interesting to see in the future the path that this technology takes. It was been proven to have some adverse effects on the environment but has been very effective in helping human lives.

Figure 3: Example of very useful silver technology in human health

References 

[1] Seltenrich, Nate. "EHP – Nanosilver: Weighing the Risks and Benefits." EHP. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 May 2015. <http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/121-a220/>.

"Nanosilver." Issues: Antibacterials: — Beyond Pesticides. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 May 2015. <http://www.beyondpesticides.org/antibacterial/nano.php>.

[2] http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/121-a220/

[3] Jose Ruben Morones et al 2005 Nanotechnology 16 2346. doi:10.1088/0957-4484/16/10/059
Received 21 June 2005, in final form 13 July 2005. Published 26 August 2005. 
IOP Publishing Ltd

[4]Deardorff, Julie. "Silver Nanoparticles Kill Germs, Raise Health Concerns." Tribunedigital-chicagotribune. N.p., 16 Feb. 2014. Web. 25 May 2015. <http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-02-16/health/ct-nanosilver-met-20140216_1_consumer-products-other-antibiotic-drugs-germs>.

[5]"Silver Database." NanoTech Project (2011): n. pag. Web. <http://www.nanotechproject.org/process/assets/files/7039/silver_database_fauss_sept2_final.pdf>.