Risks of Nanotechnology Development
                     RISKS OF 
NANOTECHNOLOGY 
DEVELOPMENT
INTRODUCTION
The field of Nanoscience and 
Nanotechnology as an area within 
Materials Science spans the 
discovery, fabrication, 
characterization, modeling and 
end-use of nanoscale materials.
Source: mse.umd.edu
NANOTECHNOLOGY
One of the most interesting things 
about nanotechnology is that the 
properties of materials may change 
when the size scale of their 
dimensions approaches 
nanometers.
Source: mse.umd.edu
MATERIALS 
SCIENTIST
Materials scientists work to 
understand and control those 
property changes and find new 
applications for nanostructures of 
well-known materials.
Source: mse.umd.edu
DAMAGING FOR HUMANS 
AND THE ENVIRONMENT
The miniature size of nanomaterials 
and the way their surfaces are 
modified to increase the ease with 
which they can interact with biological 
systems - the very characteristics that 
make them attractive for applications 
in medicine and industry - makes 
nanomaterials potentially damaging 
for humans and the environment.
Source: www.ohsrep.org.au
DAMAGE THE LUNGS
• Nanoparticles may damage the 
lungs. We know that 'ultra fine' 
particles from diesel machines, 
power plants and incinerators can 
cause considerable damage to 
human lungs. 
• This is both because of their size 
(as they can get deep into the 
lungs) and also because they carry 
other chemicals including metals 
and hydrocarbons in with them.
Source: www.ohsrep.org.au
CELL DAMAGE
• Nanoparticles can get into the 
body through the skin, lungs and 
digestive system. This may help 
create 'free radicals' which can 
cause cell damage and damage 
to the DNA.
Source: www.ohsrep.org.au
TOXIC
• The human body has developed 
a tolerance to most naturally 
occurring elements and 
molecules that it has contact 
with. It has no natural immunity 
to new substances and is more 
likely to find them toxic.
Source: www.ohsrep.org.au
NASAL REGION
• A German study found clear 
evidence that if discrete 
nanometer diameter particles 
were deposited in the nasal 
region (in rodents in this case), 
they completely circumvented 
the blood/brain barrier, and 
travelled up the olfactory nerves 
straight into the brain.
Source: www.ohsrep.org.au
INHALED CARBON 
NANOTUBES
• Inhaled carbon nanotubes can 
suppress the immune system by 
affecting the function of T cells, 
a type of white blood cell that 
organizes the immune system to 
fight infections.
Source: www.ohsrep.org.au
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