Small considerations

摘要

There is no doubt that nanotechnology will bring many benefits. Take the mobile phone, for instance. Nanotechnology-containing materials are now being developed for use in advanced batteries, electronic packaging and in displays. Although such materials will account for a very small fraction of the weight of the whole product, they will be responsible for most of the functions offered by the devices. It will be pretty impressive stuff. But hand-in-hand with opportunities come problems. There are fears that the minuscule particles being made by the nanotechnology industry could pose a threat to human health and/or the environment. These concerns have prompted the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE) and the Royal Society to call for urgent new laws to eradicate any such dangers.