'Buckypaper' may build the future

No mention of the very special and real danger of nano-technology.

Nanoparticles are so small they get everywhere, and even when the product breaks down over time, those tiny particles just remain, a'floating around, and damaging living tissue they may contact.

Many nanotechnology researchers are worried about the inevitable nanopollution.

Think plastics pollution is bad, at least they break down after a few centuries, the nanoparticles seem immortal.

Kind Regards....

The jury is still out on the dangers of "nanopollution". Inevitably, as with all new technologies there may be some inherent dangers such as nanotubes accumulating in the lungs much like asbestos. However, as an engineer working for a nanofabrication and research company I would point out that we have all been inhaling naturally occuring nano-particles since the day we were born. Perhaps that even contributes to why some folks who have never smoked a cigarette in their lives get lung cancer. I'm not disagreeing that there may be some inherent dangers. I'm just making a point. And frankly, nanotechnology is not going to go away so perhaps our efforts should be better applied to indentifying potentials risks and finding solutions than simply decrying the dangers.

Are there any naturally occuring binders for these? Something that will take them out of the air. Or even non-natural that could be introduced into an environment?

In the case of an "accident", how do you control a cloud of these particles?

I'm not aware of any binders, though my first thought is that inhalation or exposure to same could be potentially more harmful than the particles themselves. We depend upon the laminar air flow, HEPA filters and surgical masks worn in our clean rooms to exhaust and trap any stray airborne particles. If someone were to drop and shatter a boat of product on the floor, theoretically any small particles would be quickly pulled out of the room through exhaust vents along the floors.

Mostly certainly you are taking a constructive approach to the problem and probably something more of us should be doing.

flying boots,

where do the used HEPA filters go? if nano tubes don't eventually decay into something non toxic, how do you safely store these away for eternity? do you just say, oh, get over it"? "now that we have released them, they are part of the environment". no putting them back in the bottle? what happens when a product made with nanotubes is thrown into an incinerator? or is the disposal going to be an EPA event like disposing of a mercury filled light bulb?

if i sound like i am against nanotubes, it is because i am against all forms of pollution, and this is sounding like one of the worst. Toxic, indestructable, harmful if inhaled. will there be any place safe from them? is it that someone else's profits are more sacred than life?