ASSESSMENT 4.
4- Nanotechnology
1. In what way can nanotechnology become a disruptive
form of technology in our society? Provide specific
scenarios and explain.
Like any other technology, nanotechnologies have disadvantages too.
Nanotechnology can be disruptive to society—the environment, health, and
economy. This technology has become disruptive to the environment as it
can generate high levels of toxins and pollutants on the surfaces of plants. It
can also be spread widely without being noticed due to its very small size. In
medicine or in health, once in the blood stream, nanomaterials can circulate
throughout the body and lodge in organs and tissues, including the brain,
liver, heart, kidneys, spleen, bone marrow, and nervous system. Once inside
cells, they may interfere with normal cellular function, cause oxidative
damage, and even cause cell death. This circulation or spread of
nanomaterials cannot be easily noticed without the knowledge of scientists.
When it comes to the economy, as nanotechnology can make alternatives,
better products, or variants of goods, there would be an effect on the
market, especially on traditional industries and their employees. This
technology can also be costly for investment because it can only be
accessed by wealthy people and may conduct monopolies in which they are
in control of the prices.
2. What are the ethical considerations before employing
nanotechnology or using the products of
nanotechnology?
Employing nanotechnology requires a lot of ethical considerations, as it
must ensure the safety and health of people as well as the environment. This
technology must have benefits that exceed its negatives. It must be properly
executed and spread with caution, thinking about the risks it can pose. The
technology must be equitable and beneficial not just to people, not just for
profits, but rather for the development of society. It must be properly used to
solve the economic, health, and social problems that the world has. Given
the fact that technologies can be harmful too, they must undergo several
trials and applications to test their harmful effects before being made public.
The ethical considerations must focus on safety, privacy, health, and
accessibility.
