ABSTRACT
For many years, special attention has been paid to synthetic nanoparticles in the public debate on nanotechnology. A vast potential market is seen for nano-based products. New products based on new properties of nanomaterials can result from either admixtures of nanoparticles or their specific applications, for instance, in a surface treatment, in cosmetics, or in sunscreens. The production, use, and disposal of products containing nanomaterials may lead to their appearance in the air, water, soil, or even organisms. They might, however, produce adverse effects on the environment or on human health (cf. Monteiro-Riviere and Tran, 2007). In analyzing this situation with respect to conclusions related to responsible risk management strategies, careful normative reflection (including ethical “enlightenment”) is required (von Schomberg, 2005). Questions of the acceptability and comparability of risks, the advisability of weighing up risks against opportunities, and the rationality of action under uncertainty are, without doubt, of great importance in the field of nanoparticles (cf. on the more general challenge of dealing with risk and uncertainty (Rescher, 1983; Shrader-Frechette, 1991; Wiedemann and Schütz, 2008). Close cooperation between ethics and toxicology, the social sciences, and jurisprudence is necessary (Renn and Roco, 2006).1 1This chapter builds on earlier work of the author (Grunwald 2008c, Grunwald 2008d) and develops it further.
