Nanotechnology and the Environment

Hosted by: Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education – National Enabling Technologies Strategy (NETS)

When: Wednesday 8th February, 2012

Where: River View Rooms 4 & 5

Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre

21 Mounts Bay Road, Perth WA 6000

Time: 6.00pm – 8.00pm

How do we ensure that nanotechnology contributes positively to environmental challenges, without creating new environmental problems? This interactive forum will look at what nanotechnology is, how it may contribute to environmental performance and protection, and how it may cause environmental impacts. The forum will consider how responsible innovation and regulation can ensure that nanotechnology is positive for the environment, and how community engagement can assist to keep citizens informed and to get their input on future directions for this important technology. Forum will consist of panel perspectives and audience discussion/participation. Panel will include professionals from areas such as Community Engagement, Nanotechnology Research, Regulation and Environment.

What is Nanotechnology? 

Nanotechnology, from the Greek word nanos, meaning dwarf, is the science of the very small, dealing with particles only several nanometres wide. A nanometer (nm) is one millionth of a millimetre, and a nanoparticle may contain only several hundred atoms. A human hair is around 80,000 nanometres in diametre.

At this tiny scale, the properties of ordinary materials such as carbon and silicon change, allowing us to make all-new materials and devices. Nanotechnology describes the work that scientists and engineers undertake to manipulate these minute objects to make useful products.

Nanoparticles can be naturally-occurring or synthetic. Naturally-occurring nanoparticles can be found in the air and in food and water. Some milk components, for example, are nanosized, and traditional processes such as pasteurisation and curdling are known to change the size of these particles.

Manufactured nanomaterials include:

• gold nanoparticles used to make ruby coloured glass
• some of the particles in carbon black, used in tyres
• micronized zinc and titanium oxide particles in sunscreens

 Nanomaterials are not new. What is new is the ability of scientists to engineer nanoscale products and processes, and thereby exploit the properties of materials at the nanoscale. Scientists have focused on ‘going small’ because of changed properties at the nanoscale. For example, carbon nanotubes, which are hollow fibres of pure carbon, are much stronger than graphite based carbon fibre and can conduct electricity. Future potential applications of carbon nanotubes include artificial muscles, electronic textiles and bulletproof clothing.

Environmental Benefits of Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology has the potential for benefits to the environment, including in environmental monitoring and remediation and in resource and energy efficiency.

Specific applications of nanotechnology in remediation include sensors to detect pollutants, compounds to detoxify soil, and filters to remove pollutants and contaminants from water and air.

In terms of resource efficiency, the miniaturisation associated with nanotechnology e.g. in electronics offers potential to reduce resource and energy use in manufacturing. There are also specific applications of nanotechnology to improving solar cells, fuel cells and batteries.

An example of a beneficial application includes the use of tiny beads of silica (beach sand) with a nano-thin coating of material that can remove bacteria and viruses, and potentially other contaminants from water. The technology uses recyclable and non-toxic material, works without needing additional energy and could be available in about two years.

Another example is the application of various nano-structures to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of photovoltaic cells. Nano-crystals of silicon and other compounds may improve efficiency and produce a new type of thin, flexible solar cell film that can be used as a coating on any surface.

A further example is the application of nanotechnology in new water filters. In this case, materials are created which have nano-sized pores, which allow water molecules to pass, but restrict the passage of contaminants and pollutants. Such filters could potentially be produced at a small scale, appropriate to remote applications.

Environmental Risks of Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology also has potential risks for the environment. Because they’re so small, nanoparticles are not visible, and can potentially get into air, water or even living organisms. Nanoparticles and materials have new properties, which also means that they may interact with biological systems, both bodies and ecosystems, in new ways. In particular, nanoparticles have a higher effective surface area than bulk materials, so may be more reactive. For these reasons, nanotoxicology has become an important area of nano-research.

An example of a potential risk is exposure to carbon nanotubes, which may cause respiratory problems due their structure as small asbestos-like fibres. Many applications using carbon nanotubes involve fixed structures and materials, in which the nanotubes can’t escape, but the concern is with the manufacture of these, and their disposal. This has lead to calls for a life-cycle approach to assessing and managing nanomaterials.

Another area of concern about nanotechnology is the use of nanoparticles in sunscreen. Nano-versions of zinc and titanium oxide are used in sunscreen to make them invisible. There is uncertainty about whether these nanoparticles can penetrate the skin, and what biological effects they may have if they do. Concern about these uncertainties is weighed against the importance of sunscreen in protecting against skin cancer.

A further concern relates to the use of nano-silver in consumer products. Silver is used as an antiseptic and is important in hospitals. Increasingly, nano-silver is being used in consumer products for its anti-bacterial properties e.g. in socks, sportswear and domestic appliances. Apart from risks of toxicity, particularly where the nano-silver may be washed out of products into the environment, there are concerns that the greater amount of silver may lead to increased resistance to silver amongst disease-causing bacteria.

Nanotechnology Governance and Regulations

Government agencies are guided by a number of objectives in their decision-making processes and policy development for nanotechnology. These objectives include:

• protecting humans and the environment
• fostering an informed community debate
• obtaining social and economic benefits from nanotechnology.

 Regulation of nanotechnology is conducted by a number of federal and state agencies responsible for particular application areas, e.g chemicals, food and workplace safety. One of the challenges for these agencies is to keep abreast of developments in nanotechnology and to review existing regulatory frameworks in order to ensure that new nanotechnologies and nano versions of existing products are adequately covered. This requires communication with the scientific community, additional research on nanosafety issues, and education of potentially affected groups, such as workers.

The Australian Government also has a NationalEnabling TechnologiesStrategy (NETS) to provide the Government with a coordinated approach to managing these challenges. NETS is also responsible for public awareness and community engagement about nanotechnology and other emerging technologies.

 FurtherReading

 You can get more information about nanotechnology and environment from Wikipedia and from the website  TechNyou, including a brochure on nano safety and regulations. There are also critical accounts of nanotechnology  from non-government organisations who have concerns about the technologies (Friends of the Earth and the Australia Institute) and positive accounts from organisations who are involved in their development (Australian Nanotechnology Alliance). There are also international organisations that study nanotechnology and society and several web sites you can visit on which people discuss these technologies (,2020 Science, Soft machines).