Could Nanotechnology be Detrimental to Health?

Much has been heard about how nanotechnology is revolutionizing the world and making innovations and advances possible in quicker time and with greater efficiency – we know the potential it holds in the world of medicine, especially in the diagnosis and treatment of dreaded diseases like cancer; we know the promise it shows in the realm of computer technology because it allows us to achieve much more with less; and we know how many advantages it could bring to the cause of protecting and preserving our environment. However, the latest news on the horizon does not bode well for nanotechnology.

An international conference on recent trends in therapeutic advancement of free radical science organized by the Society for Free Radical Research in Chennai, India, saw Dr. Qamar Rahman of the University of Rostock in Germany putting postulating the theory that recent studies show that there are possible dangers in how nano particles might interact with the environment and the human body.

Nano particles have the potential to become toxic, said Dr. Rahman, because elements behave differently and have different properties when they’re in the nano form. So they could cause harm in the way they interact with the environment and the human body. Research has shown that some nano particles, when applied to in vitro systems and on animals, have proved toxic. The effects of these toxic nano particles on human beings has so far seen to be minimal and of no significant consequence, yet Dr. Qamar emphasized that care should be taken to ensure that this technology does not end up harming the environment and humankind.

To do this, nanotechnology research must focus on ways to get nano particles out of the human body once they’ve done their job inside, as diagnostic tools or drug-delivery systems, in order to prevent unforeseen complications that could arise if these particles turned toxic.

Nanotechnology holds great promise for the future of mankind, especially in helping to eradicate and manage diseases. But if it could end up jeopardizing its own objective, then great care must be taken when using this technology in the world of medicine.

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This guest post is contributed by Mark Davies, he writes on the topic of Masters Degree Online . He welcomes your comments at his email id: markdavies247<@>gmail<.>com.