Nanotechnology: Risk, Ethics and Law (The Earthscan Science in Society Series) [Hardcover]

Geoffrey Hunt (Editor), Michael Mehta (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1844073580 | ISBN-13: 978-1844073580 | Publication Date: July 1, 2006

Nanotechnology - technology at the molecular level - is held out by many as the Holy Grail for creating a trillion dollar economy and solving problems from curing cancer to reprocessing waste into products and building superfast computers. Yet, as with GMOs, many view nanotech as a high risk genie in a bottle that once uncorked has the potential to cause unpredictable, perhaps irreversible, environmental and public health disasters. With the race to bring products to market, there is pressing need to take stock of the situation and to have a full public debate about this new technological frontier. Including contributions by renowned figures such as Roland Clift, K. Eric Drexler and Arpad Pusztai, this is the first global overview of the state of nanotech and society in Europe, the USA, Japan and Canada, examining the ethics, the environmental and public health risks, and the governance and regulation of this most promising, and potentially most dangerous, of all technologies.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This valuable collection provides many insights into nanotechnology's impacts.' - Chris Phoenix, Director of Research, Center for Responsible Nanotechnology

'This edited volume provides an overview of the state of nanotech and society in Europe, the USA, Japan, and Canada, examining the ethics, the environmental and public health risks, and the governance and regulation of this enabling technology.' - Journal of Consumer Policy

'The book provides much food for thought as nanotechnology becomes a part of everyday life.' - M. Fosmire, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

'A much-needed general introduction to the social, safety, and ethical aspects of nanotechnology... concise, cogent, and well documented.' Choice

'This is a good general text book providing good quality analysis of the very broad range of nanotechnology topics.' Jim McLaughlin,  Journal of Environmental Health Research

About the Author

Geoffrey Hunt is Professor of Ethics at the University of Surrey, UK and Professional Fellow of the Institute of Nanotechnology. Michael Mehta is Professor of Sociology and Chair of the Sociology of Biotechnology Program at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 319 pages
• Publisher: Routledge (July 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1844073580
• ISBN-13: 978-1844073580
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,628,329 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars new problems arising, October 1, 2007

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This review is from: Nanotechnology: Risk, Ethics and Law (The Earthscan Science in Society Series) (Hardcover)

As nanotechnology starts to emerge in the form of products for the marketplace, this book confronts various societal issues about its safety and usage. The contributors are varied. Most notable is Eric Drexler, who, in his seminal work, "Engines of Creation", helped kick off this entire field in 1986. His paper is a summary of the field's development. Well written, but nothing especially striking here.

Another chapter looks at a thorny problem of genetic analysis. As genomics becomes cheaper and more powerful, genetic testing raises issues of privacy versus need to know by others, including employers and insurers. Genetic discrimination has really not yet been significant. But mostly due to a paucity of solid information. The increasing availability of the latter can thus be awkward.

Overall, the book can be used as a non-technical briefing on the field.