This document discusses the potential risks and downsides of nanotechnology. It outlines several types of risks including known risks from effects that are understood, and unknown risks from effects that are not yet well understood. Some of the potential toxic effects of nanoparticles are described, including increased surface area leading to reactivity. The document also discusses social implications like new weapons and uncontrolled self-replicating nanomachines. Ethical issues around development and regulation are raised.

1. THE DARK SIDE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
Sonu Gonekar
2017pph5303
M.Sc. PHYSICS

2. OUT LINES
• Toxic Effect
• Economic Hazards
• Social Implications of Nanotechnology
• Health Implications of Nanotechnology
• Potential Hazards
• Environmental Risks
• Nano safety

3. INTRODUCTION:-
• As the developing concepts in nano
materials have their advantages, it also has
disadvantages.
• So its necessary for all to concentrate on the
second side of the coin.
• The researches all over the world begin to
put forward their efforts to create a new
generation of science with minimum or
without adverse effects.

4. What Could a “Nano Particle” be?

7. Cells in Petri dish

8. TYPES OF RISKS
• Known Risks
– Cause and effects known
– Responsibility can be generally attributed & prevention
developed
– Most macro scale risks are known and preventable.
• Unknown Risks – “Potential Risks”
– Causality of cause and effects/damage not well known
– Thus; danger is unclear
– Degree of damage/danger not well quantifiable
– Significance of probability of occurrence unknown
– Evokes suspicion/perceived risks
– Applies in case of nanotechnologies both in humans & the
environment

9. “Nanobot” with red blood cells

10. REASONS FOR TOXICITY OF NANOPARTICLES:-
• As it is well known fact that , when the particle size of
a material decreases, its surface area to volume ratio
increases, leading to SPECIAL characteristic properties
as well different adverse effects on ENVIRONMENT.
• Like all nano materials , iron-based nanoparticles ,like
these can vary in their toxicity, depending on their
chemical composition, coating, size, and shape.

11. • To better assess the biological effects of
Nano materials , researchers have
developed a rapid screening tool that can
evaluate large numbers of nanomaterials
and identify groups of materials that are
more likely to pose a risk.
• Due to the quantum size of these
nanoparticles these possess toxicity.

12. TOXIC EFFECTS OF SOME INORGANIC
NANOPARTICLES:-
Type of nanoparticle:-
1. Magnetic
2. Metallic
3. Nano shells
Disadvantages:-
1. Aggregates lead to
thrombosis and
embolization
2. Poor biocompatibility &
Uncertain in viva
3. Relativity large compared
with quantum dots

13. TOXIC EFFECTS OF ORGANIC
NANOPARTICLES:-
Type of nanoparticle:-
1. Carbon Nanotubes
2. Quantum Dots
Disadvantages:-
1. Insoluble in aqueous media
2. intrinsic cytotoxicity
3. poor capacity to incorporate &
release active compounds
1. Composed of cytotoxic heavy
metals
2. Unstable when exposed to UV
may release toxic cadmium ions

14. 3. Dendrimers
4. Liposomes
5.Polymer
1. Many cause dose and
surface charge dependent
hemolysis.
2. Cytotoxic in vitro.
1. May cause pseudo allergy
2. Inflammation
1. Low efficiency of delivery
2. May cause complement
activation related pseudo
allergy

16. Effects Of Nanoparticles

17. Lab Rats

18. Social Implications of Nanotechnology
Unfortunately, the technology can be used for dangerous
ends.
• The flip side to these benefits is the possibility of assemblers
and disassemblers being used to create weapons, be used as
weapons themselves, or for them to run wild and wreak havoc.
• These types of weapons which is growing as a big threat to the
whole society is another dark side of the nano technology which
can’t be neglected and should be considered with maximum
seriousness.

19. • Weapons
o Miniature Weapons and Explosives
o Disassemblers for Military Use
• Rampant Nanomachines
o The Gray Goo Scenario
o Self Replicating Nanomachines
• Nanoterrorism
• Surveillance
o Monitoring
o Tracking
Different Threats in Military

21. • Weapons
extending today's weapon capabilities by miniaturizing guns, explosives,
and electronic components of missiles would be deadly enough
• Nanomachines and Nanoterrorism
There could be a use for nanomachines in combating current threats such
as bio and chemical weapons. In addition, following recent events, such as
September the 11th, we cannot by any means ignore the threat of global
terrorism.
• Gray Goo Disaster
with nanotechnology, armies could also develop disassemblers to attack
physical structures or even biological organisms at the molecular level. A
similar hazard would be if general purpose disassemblers got loose in the
environment and started disassembling every molecule they encountered

22. Example 1
•
Star, February 16, 2009
• Questions on potential risks were
explicitly raised by the media
• Link of CNTs and asbestos
health effects on lungs were
inferred
• Robots replacing humans and
getting out of control
• Unethical aspects related to
nanotechnology were raised
Example incident of anti-nano movement

23. •
Sunday Times, May 25, 2008
• CNTs link to health risks similar
to asbestos suggested
• Current researchers’ findings
reported in Journal of Nature
supports this view
• Not yet single case of disease
has been reported associated with
CNTs
• Cautionary approach was
proposed
• Risk health effects postulated
after the products lifespan
• Greatest risk for workers in
research labs and manufacturing
sector were raised
Example 2

24. Ethical Issues & Analysis
• With such awe full potential dangers inherent in
nanotechnology, we must seriously examine its potential
consequences.
• We must examine the ethics of developing nanotechnology
and create policies that will aid in its development so as to
eliminate or at least minimize its damaging effects on society.

25. • Nanotechnology's highest and best use should be to create a
world of abundance where no one is lacking for their basic
needs. Those needs include adequate food, safe water, a clean
environment, housing, medical care, education, public safety,
fair labour, unrestricted travel, artistic expression and freedom
from fear and oppression.
• All published research and discussion of nanotechnology
should be accurate as possible, adhere to the scientific
method, and give due credit to sources. Labeling of products
should be clear and accurate, and promotion of services,
including consulting, should disclose any conflicts of interest.

27. Ethical Challenges faced by Nanotechnology
We are reaching a critical point where technology will enable us to build
complex molecular machines. Molecular assemblers and disassemblers could
be developed from this technology, which would have great potential for both
good and bad. The two greatest threats from development of nanotechnology
are catastrophic accidents and misuse.
• Professional Issues
• Legal/Policy Issues
• Ethical Issues
• Stakeholders

28. Conclusion
1 Transparency of all activities.
2 Communicate with stories focusing on
customer value.
3 Assure an excellent scientific level of research
on risks of nanotechnologies.
4 Balanced communication between risks and
benefits.

29. Framework conditions for fruitful
communications
• Create a Gene Suisse like organization.
• Raise awareness of the Nano science
community for the need of communication to
the public.
• Learn from Biotech –
divide Nanotechnologies in green and red
• Use existing frameworks like science et citee
as communication platform to the public
• Maintain an ongoing dialog with all stake
holders

30. (Additional remarks)
1. Avoid yuck words such as:
a) atomically modified rice
b) terminator technology
2. Communication topics:
a) Take care of the losers
b) Stories, not education
c) Attract viewers
d) Science is self correcting the press not.
3. Solve important problems with science, not
without give the cirrect and adequate answers.

31. 4. Rode Map addressing safety and risk
issues of:
a) fullerenes , nanotube and other
nanoparticles, that have already been
developed, commercialized and distributed
in the environment in the past .
b) Ongoing and future research, aiming at the
development and implementation of new
nanomaterials or other Nano technological
products.