Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
table . (Continued)
Public Perceptions Regarding nanotechnology based on opinion Polls
Population
sureyed
knowledge of
nanotechnology
Year
Perception of Risk
other Findings
Ref.
2004
1536.adults.
randomly.
selected.
across.U.S.
>80%.knew.little.
or.nothing.about.
nanotechnology.
78%.thought.risks.
and.beneits.were.
equal.or.beneits.
outweighed.risks;.
those.who.knew.
more.about.
nanotechnology.
believed.beneits.
would.outweigh.
risks.
Respondents.did.not.trust.
business.leaders.to.
minimize.nanotechnol-
ogy.risks.to.human.
health.
[14]
2005
177.adults.in.
U.S..focus.
groups.in.
Spokane,.
WA,;.Dallas,.
TX,;.
Cleveland,.
OH
54%.initially.
knew.almost.
nothing.about.
nanotechnology.
Participants.
opinions.were.
surveyed..They.
were.presented.
with.information.
about.nanotech-
nology,.then.
surveyed.again.
Perceptions.that.
beneits.would.be.
greater.than.or.
equal.to.risks.
increased.from.
29.4.to.75.6%;.
that.risks.would.
exceed.beneits,.
from.5.1.to.
15.3%..
(Responses.“don't.
know”.decreased.)
After.being.presented.with.
information.on.
nanotechnology,.
participants.held.little.
trust.in.government.and.
industry.to.protect.the.
public.from.the.risks.of.
nanotechnology..Focus.
group.members.also.felt.
strongly.that.the.public.
needed.to.be.better.
informed.and,.the.public.
should.have.a.role.in.
decisions.about.investing.
government.funds.in.
research.and.in.managing.
the.risks.of.
nanotechnology.
[16]
2006
503.people.
across.U.S.
Not.quantiied.in.
survey.
Consumers.are.
willing.to.use.
products.
containing.
nanomaterials.
when.the.potential.
beneits.are.high,.
even.if.there.are.
health.and.safety.
risks.
Respondents.perceived.
that.nanotechnology.
offered.beneits.on.the.
order.of.the.beneits.from.
food.preservatives.and.
chemical.disinfectants,.
albeit.at.lower.risk.
[15]
