Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
very broad enabling technology. Most of the applications will be highly ben-
eficial to individual users, the society, and the planet, but they can also have
negative side effects (Gerloff et al. 2009; Borm and Berube 2008). These poten-
tial hazards attract a lot of attention at the moment, both from the govern-
ment side and from the different societal concern groups (Seaton et al. 2009).
As with all hazards, there is a lot of emotion involved in the discussions and
there is very little room for the objective evaluation of real risks. Although
this is usually characteristic of new technologies, it is especially true in the
case of nanotechnologies since they are not very well known to the public and
require some knowledge of scientific principles to be assessed. Moreover, it is
not very easy to obtain objective information from the normal sources since
the press is also not often objective and balanced in its coverage of the sub-
ject. Bad news and hazards sell more newspapers than positive reports. As a
consequence, most people, even well-educated persons, at the moment have
a limited understanding of nanotechnologies and predominantly associate
it with nanoparticles. As a matter of fact, if nanotechnology is discussed,
the actual discussion is about nanoparticles and the risks associated with
them (Brayner 2008). Hardly anybody understands that nanotechnologies
are much broader and that nanoparticles are just a first, very crude appli-
cation of them. Compared with the advent of electricity in the beginning
of the previous century, with nanotechnology mankind is really at a very
early stage. In analogy with electricity, the applications at the moment can
be compared with resistors, coils, and capacitors. We are still far away from
the development of a radio, let alone computers and telecom networks. If
we look at our great example, biology and the molecular processes that are
the basis of all forms of life, we can get some idea of what the potential of
nanotechnologies can be. The future holds many promises with regard to
nanotechnologies. Which of these promises will actually be developed and
in the end will benefit mankind will largely be determined by the acceptance
of the application of the technology.
5.6.1 Consumer Acceptance
The biggest issue associated with applications of nanotechnologies in food and
water is the acceptance of the technology by the consumer. Nanotechnologies
generally are regarded as unnatural and risky, whereas consumers want food
to be natural and safe (Siegrist et al. 2009). To get consumers to accept the
technology, the benefits must be clear and the individual consumer must be
able to make his of her own risk/benefit evaluation. Unfortunately, there is
very little understanding with the general public about nanotechnologies.
Moreover, people have difficulty distinguishing between hazard and risk.
They mistake hazards in circumstances they have difficulty to oversee, for
example, an application of a complex technology, with risks that they are
exposed to. However, since risk is the combination of hazard and expo-
sure, risks of potentially hazardous situations are often negligible. Lions are
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