The Disadvantages of Nanotech
As with anything, nanotech isn’t 100% good. Whilst it poses a great many benefits, there are drawbacks to it as well. As with everything in life, we must weigh up both the positive and negative factors in order to determine whether that individual thing, be it nanotech or anything else that humans will develop, will actually improve the overall life of humans. We know of the positives that nanotech has to offer, but what about the negatives?
WEAPONIZED – One of the biggest worries involving nanotech is the potential for it to be weaponized. If something can be utilised for good, then it can also be utilised for bad. If cells can be repaired, they can also be damaged. In a worse-case scenario, an entire population could be wiped out, whilst leaving the infrastructure and resources intact. It would be wise to place nanotech countermeasures in place just in case, particularly if nanotech is going to become more involved in society, especially seeing that the technology could self-replicate, resulting in an even harder threat to combat.
DISEASE – As nanotechnology is created from nanoparticles, it is possible to inhale these certain particles. Unfortunately, there are already incidents and records of people who have inhaled these particles. This isn’t to say that by inhaling nanoparticles, you will automatically get a new disease that is potentially untreatable, however, it is a possibility that could happen which could result in lung or heart problems in the future.
TOXINS – Whilst it does do good for environment, just like it can do with our health, nanotech can also be harmful to the environment. Due to its nature, there is a possibility that it could create new toxins and pollutants, which could harm living organisms like trees, plants, animals, and even humans.
EMPLOYMENT – The level of employment in certain sectors could also be affected by nanoparticles and nanotech. With the way in which nanotech is produced, the affects that it has redundant, less effective, and less efficient materials, and the changes in production, nanotech could destroy certain jobs. For example, many jobs in the agricultural sector might struggle to survive due to the efficiency of nanotech, against the slower, human work. The silver-lining of this however, is that nanotech will also create jobs.
Nanotech is exciting. It’s new. It has the ability to change the way we live, and the way in which go about solving our problems in not just one area, but many. But, as stated, it’s not all fun and games. Nanotech can be dangerous. Very dangerous. Of course, over time as more research is done, more nanotech is implemented into society, the better we will be able to determine whether or not nanotech is the way forward for humanity.