RSC Publishing


Publishing

 

Cover image for Journal of Environmental Monitoring, select for current issue

Journal of Environmental Monitoring

Cutting-Edge Research on Environmental Processes & Impacts



Subscribers

Non-subscribers

Free access



Nanotechnology in Perspective

J. Environ. Monit., 2008, 10, 291 - 300, DOI: 10.1039/b718127m


Nanotechnology, risk and the environment: a review

William Hannah and Paul B. Thompson


Nanotechnologies are already interacting with the environment. Scientists and engineers are manipulating matter at the nanoscale, and these nanoscale processes and products are being used by industry in commercially available products. These products are either applied directly to the environment or end up in the environment through indirect pathways. This review examines the state of current environmental risk assessment of nanotechnologies. Nanotechnology is described generally, then both the possible benefits of nanotechnology and the risks are reviewed in a traditional way. Subsequently, a philosophical criticism of the traditional way of looking at risks is offered.

Graphical abstract image for this article  (ID: b718127m)