What are the Issues?
With the increasing development of nanotechnology new issues are constantly created. Old innovations are being revived and all contribute to the growing field of nanotechnology. The technology itself is a delicate field because it can be connected to ethical, legal, and social issues.
Ethical Issues
The potential dangers that arise with the advances of nanotechnology include weapons, rampant nanomachines, and surveillance.
Legal Issues
As a result of the risks to human health by nanotechnology, regulations are needed to make the public aware of both the risks and benefits of this new science. Certain problems by treatment are unavoidable,
The cost of nanotechnology also carries the issue of pricing for profit. Companies that deliver nanomedicines or other nanotreatments use the market to set prices that benefit their profit, not for the profit of lesser fortunate people who cannot afford these treaments.
Social Issues
New discoveries and innovations in nanotechnology have escalated great amounts in the past years, but the time needed to create new products and treatments means the pricing is also very high, so only the rich can afford it.
Social constructs in different countries and cultures also differ. Future treatments to treat height differences, education and personal life may have different opinions on the matter by different people.
The use of nanotechnology requires many preclinical and clinical testing before it can be fully released to the public and with this, patients treated can experience setbacks after years of treatment. In order to subdue these effects, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health have established numbers of programs to study and reduce these risks.
scientists are required to report these issues