Social, Environmental and Ethical Impacts of Nanotechnology

Abstract

For the past few decades there has been a considerable research interest in the area of nanotechnology. This paper present the basics of nanotechnology and some predictions about its social consequences, environmental effects, health effect and the ethical issues it raise. Certain features of nanotechnology have been found that are likely to be important in determining its impact in the areas of society and environment. More importantly, responding to the challenge of nanotechnology will require confronting “philosophical” questions about the sort of society we wish to create and the role that technology might play in creating it.