Nanotechnology offers potential benefits but also raises ethical and social issues that must be addressed. It allows redesigning all materials at the nanoscale which could have unintended consequences. To support responsible development, nanotechnology stakeholders must educate others on its risks and benefits, and guide societies toward appropriate uses. They should also alert people to technological failures and develop personal and societal understanding of related issues. A 10-step risk management model is proposed to control hazards, including identifying nanoparticles and exposure risks, assessing severity of hazards, and reviewing procedures if work or materials change.

1. ETHICAL, SOCIAL AND
POLICY ISSUES OF
NANOTECHNOLOGY
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY WEEK 13 LESSON

2. ETHICAL AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS
NANOTECHNOLOGY
• As we design systems on a nanoscale, we develop the capability to
redesign the structure of all materials– natural and synthetic–along
with rethinking the new possibilities of the reconstruction of any and
all materials.
• Such increases in design power present significant social and ethical
questions.
• To support sustainable, ethical, and economic nanotechnological
development, it is imperative that we educate all nanotechnology
stakeholders about the short-term and long-term benefits,
limitations, and risks of nanotechnology.

3. It is essential for nanotechnology stakeholders
to strive to achieve four social objectives:
(1) developing a strong understanding of local
and global forces and issues that affect people
and societies
(2) guiding local/global societies to appropriate
uses of technology
(3) alerting societies to technological risks and
failures, and
(4) developing informed and ethical personal

4. Nanotechnology has an enormous potential to do good
in society. However, like many technologies, its
introduction and implementation raise serious societal
and ethical issues.
The Risk Management Model in Nanotechnology
Goudarzi, et.al. has suggested the 10-step model for
nanotechnology risk management in related projects
and believe that these considerations could
considerably control the hazardous effects of the
materials in workplaces and the environment.
• Step 1: A basic knowledge of the work is essential for
doing an adequate assessment. Therefore, workplace

5. • Step 2: To be able to make a thorough risk
assessment, divide the work into sections, subsections
and tasks or process-units according to Work
Breakdown Structure (WBS).
• Step 3: Identify all nanoparticles that are, or will be,
used or produced in every work unit and process. A
nanoparticle might be produced in the form of a
powder, liquid, gel, vapor, dust, mist or fume in the
workplace.
• Step 4: Identify the type of nanoparticle. Nanoparticles
can be found in several forms, from relatively safe
such as engineered insoluble nanoparticles in a matrix

6. • Step 5: The supplier should provide information about
the nanomaterials.
• Step 6: How are hazardous nanoparticles released into
the work area? Are persons exposed to hazardous
nanoparticles through respiration, skin, ingestion or
eye contact, or is there a possibility of accidental
injection into the body?
• Step 7: Consider the nature and severity of the hazard
and the degree of exposure of people involved in the
process.

7. • Step 8: If the assessment shows that there are significant risks to
health, besides the executions mentioned in step 7, further actions
should be acquired if needed:
• Complementary employee training
• More precise monitoring procedures
• Health surveillance system
• First aid and emergency facilities
• Step 9: The record should be concise and should include a
description of the work unit, name of assessor or assessment team
personnel, date, time and a list of hazardous nanomaterials used
or produced in the project unit. The above mentioned record
should be saved either on paper or electronically in a permanent
format.

8. • Step 10: Review and regulation of the assessment is
required if:
• There should be significant changes in project
products, work, material, process or control
procedures
• Nanoparticle-related intoxication is reported
• Inadequate control procedures are reported
• New evidence about risks of nanoparticles emerges
from recent publications

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