Getting nanotechnology right the first time

The article emphasizes that government and industry should work to identify and manage the possible health and environmental risks of nanotechnology. The few data available give cause for concern: some nanomaterials appear to have the potential to damage skin, brain, and lung tissue, to be mobile or persistent in the environment, or to kill microorganisms. As illustrated by the problems caused by asbestos, the fact that a product is useful does not ensure that it is benign to health or the environment. Fortunately, nanotechnology development and commercialization are still at an early stage, so it is not too late to begin managing this process wisely.