Everyday nano – newly released brochure
The German ministry for education and research (BMBF) has released a brochure on nanomaterials in everyday life. Different applications are explained but the focus lies on safety of nanomaterials.
The brochure guides the reader into the world of nanomaterials in our everyday life. It follows a fictional person (Nicholas Alexander Norwick), who is well versed in nanotechnology and uses its benefits but you can call him by his nickname – “Nano”. Fittingly, he knows all about nanotechnology and uses its advantages in his own life. Subsequently, important everyday uses of nanomaterials are listed and explained. Nanomaterials are already present in many fields and can provides benefits for humans. In medicine, for example, nano-gold is used in quick-test methods for early detection of cancer. In treatment, nanoparticles can then be used as carriers for active substances to deliver accurately into diseased tissue, like a tumor. The main focus of the brochure however is on presenting the newest knowledge on risks and safety of nanomaterials. In short interviews with scientists, the basic concepts and new findings on safety of nanotechnology are explained. Areas like the possible intake via the lung, the screening of nanoparticles once they are in the body and the (future) significance of nanotechnology in medicine are discussed, among others. Lastly, the brochure touches on risk assessment and regulation of nanomaterials.
Brochure (PDF, only available in German): https://www.bmbf.de/pub/Nanomaterialien_im_Alltag.pdf