Safety of Nanoparticles
The discovery of nanoparticles 20 years ago has revolutionized a number of industries. Nano systems are busy at work seeking out cancerous tumors, providing anti-aging effects in creams, resisting stains on clothing, keeping bacteria off countertops and leading toward energy independence. New nanotechnology applications are being discovered every day, but regulation and oversight have not kept pace with this new technology. In fact, only a fraction of the products using nano materials inform consumers of the fact, which is why many consumer advocates really have a problem.
Currently, the U.S. FDA doesn’t seem overtly alarmed about nanoparticles, which must have been clinically tested for safety by the manufacturer. FDA spokesperson Christopher Kelly admits that, “Nanoparticle versions of [FDA-approved] materials may well be new materials” that may trigger new investigations, but “this is considered on a case-by-case basis.” Since nanotechnology applications is such a new branch of science — just 20 years old — it’s hard to say when any real risks from overexposure would be revealed, but physicist Andrew Maynard warns, “We need to better understand how nano can be benign in foods, but [also] where the dangers are.” He adds, “It all comes down to the need for more research. We can’t fly blind here. We need to know what’s going on,” Maynard says. “There is no hard evidence that nanomaterials in products on the market will harm humans or the environment, but there is enough evidence to say that we need to reexamine.”
Despite rising worries over potential risks, 2009 has been a big year for the nano particle. MIT researchers discovered that nanoparticles carrying killer genes can effectively suppress ovarian tumor growth in mice. Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University researchers found success in animal trials of using a nano particle cream to treat erectile dysfunction, without all the usual side effects. University of Michigan studies confirm that a nanomaterial can be used to administer morphine on the battlefield, without dangerous side effects. Scientists at the Sharif University of Technology in Iran see promise in using coatings made of dioxide titanium nano materials to bolster the strength of steel and other building materials. At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, silver nanoparticles are helping archaeologists examine ancient, diluted dyes by absorbing and enhancing the dye molecules, while also preventing fluorescent substances from reflecting too much light when a laser is shined on them. All these exciting breakthroughs are evidence that we can’t just walk away from this new science.
A History Channel documentary about threats to our world recently featured nanoparticles. In their “worst case scenario,” researchers wondered: What might happen if these little particles encounter a glitch in their programming and suddenly begin eating all the carbon-based materials on our planet? What if the glitch causes uncontrolled replication? Suddenly, these microscopic molecules will eat up every living thing on the planet, leaving a “grey goo” in its wake. This end-of-the-world theory seems pretty improbable, but it is important to study the risks and benefits of nano science.
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