Future Potential of Nanotechnology In Public health

Nanotechnology is an extremely diverse field whose theme is to control matter in molecular or an atomic scale. It deals with the development of materials or devices at particle sizes of 100 nanometers (10-9) or smaller, roughly the width of three or four atoms. Nanotechnology has a variety of applications in the areas of medicine, public health, toxicology, pharmacology, electronics and energy production. Lux research, which is an independent research and advisory firm for emerging technologies, estimates that by the year 2014, approximately $2.6 trillion in manufactured goods will incorporate nanotechnology. Nanotechnology could provide the field of public health with new ways to manage, monitor, measure, and reduce environmental contaminants. United States Environmental Protection Agency states that contaminants from soil and ground water can be removed by using iron nanoparticles. Though nanotechnology has a great potential to benefit humankind, it is necessary to understand its potential health and safety implications. The products used by nanotechnology in electrical, medical and various other fields like engineering, food, biotechnology may have potential health effects. For example, carbon nanotubes that are useful in several applications of nanotechnology and materials science are limited by their potential toxicity that can cause lung damage similar to that of asbestosis. It is not only important to recognize the significance of the applications of nanotechnology for advancements in the field of public health, but also identify potential exposures that can cause adverse health effects as a result of the use of new technologies.