26-12-2012, 03:43 PM
Challenges of Nanotechnology
Challenges.ppt (Size: 76 KB / Downloads: 109)
Nanotechnology promises significant advances in electronics, materials, biotechnology, alternative energy sources & other applications.
Nanocrystals, nanotubes, nanowires, nanofibers – next generation materials.
The challenges arising from nanotechnology is largely on target.
No single person can provide the answers to the challenges that bring nanotechnology, nor can any single group or intellectual discipline. However, those who know the technology best (those who create it) must ultimately prepare the agenda for broad discussion, and participate fully in creation of relevant policy. In the realm of nanotechnology, public policy and science have become inseparable.
5 grand challenges for nanotechnology
The five main challenges are to develop instruments to assess exposure to engineered nano-materials in the air and water and we think that that challenge will take three to ten years. The emergence of new nano-technologies we feel that there is a very real need to monitor exposure to humans in the air and within water. The challenge becomes increasingly difficult in more complex matrices like food.
The second challenge would be to develop and validate methods to evaluate the toxicity of engineered nano-materials within the next 5 to 15 years.
To develop models for predicting the potential impact of engineered nano-materials on the environment and human health.
The next challenge would be to develop reverse systems to evaluate impact on the environment and the health impact of engineered nano-materials over their entire life span, which speaks to the life cycle issue. The fifth is more of a grand challenge to develop the tools to properly assess risk to human health and to the environment.
How should nanotechnology programs be governed and controlled?
The Food and Drug Administration attempts to ensure materials that are safe and effective. EPA ensures that there is no demonstrable harm to an environment or to people in that environment. Nano-materials are just another instance of the wide array of technologies that we have developed. The regulatory agencies need to have adequate resources to monitor nano molecules properly.