Solution to Nanotechnology Pollution

Regulations

Regulations by the United States and other major contributors to nanotechnology pollution may be the only realistic solution as of right now. The debate is over whether these nano-materials should be specifically regulated like other products that are released to the public market are.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration and also the Health & Consumer Protection Directorate of the European Commission have begun to deal with the risks that go along with extensive nanotechnology use. As of today, there are no specific regulations concerning nanomaterials or products that contain such particles for labeling, handling, or producing. The Material Safety Data Sheet that is required for some materials is not different between macro or nano scales.

If nanotechnology is to develop as a further part of society, many argue that strict regulations are required to ensure both people and the environment’s health and security are protected. In addition, if regulations are concrete and clear, then communities can efficiently instill nanotechnology policies and materials into their local products, thereby increasing the positive effect nanotechnology has. Therefore, our government and major nanotech producers around the world must take the responsibility of tightly managing their nanotechnology to ensure its longevity and to safeguard society.

Nanotechnology: Solution to Water Pollution

Did you know?

884 million people do not have access to safe water supplies: about one in eight people in the world

3.6 million people die every year from water-related diseases

98% of water-related deaths happen in developing countries

84% of water-related deaths (reported) are children (0-14 years of age)

see http://www.scidev.net/global/water/feature/nanotechnology-for-clean-water-facts-and-figures.html for more information.

          The UN has now moved water treatment in the world to one of its top priorities through its Millennium Development Goals. The ultimate goal is to cut the number of people lacking safe water access around the world in half. Nanotechnology is a promising tool for this large world project and aspiration.

          Nanotechnology can be used to filter water of heavy metals and biological toxins because the nano-particles can be fine adjusted and engineered. Materials at nano-levels usually have different electrical properties than at their larger size: this fact can be utilized to employ nano materials in a wide variety of applications. For water pollution, nanotechnology could be used to efficiently remove bacteria, viruses, arsenic, mercury, pesticides, and salt from water around the world.

          Nanotechnology is a promising solution to water pollution because it is efficient in both use and production. Corporations can mass produce it with less environmental damage than from making any other mass produced filter for water. Also, nanomaterials are durable and in general, cost effective. Therefore, nanotechnology could be the one thing needed around the world to quench the thirst of millions.

Nanotechnology and Energy

What Nanotech is Capable of:

-Steam from sunlight: Sunlight, focused on nanoparticles can make steam with high efficiency. This has been labeled the “solar steam device” and is targeting developing countries where efficient electricity is needed for water disinfecting and other health procedures.

-High efficiency light bulbs: Nano-infused polymer matrix is being tested with new light bulbs: they make white light and their possible shapes are boundless. In addition, the bulbs are shatterproof and about twice as efficient as compact fluorescence light bulbs.

-Increasing output generated by windmills: An adhesive spread with carbon nanotubes is being used to produce better windmill blades. These blades are stronger, less heavy, and longer: therefore, each windmill can export larger amounts of energy.

-Producing electricity from waste heat: Developers are testing sheets of nanotubes making thermo units that would generate electricity if the sides of the units were different temperatures. These sheets could be wrapped around hot pipes, like the exhaust pipe in cars, to make electricity from the energy that normally leaves as wasted heat.

-Clothes making electricity: Scientists are developing piezoelectric nanofibers which are flexible enough to be woven into cloth. When you moved wearing these, they could turn your kinetic energy into electricity that could potentially charge your phone and iPod. (Crazy!)

-Causing the production of fuels from raw sources to be more efficient: Nanotech could be the next major solution to the shortage of fossil fuels through making low grade raw materials cost-effective for production. In addition, nanotechnology can increase the amount of miles cars get to the gallon, and make the production of normal raw material fossil fuels more efficient: this would be a plus to the environment because there would be less demand from nature for fuel products.