14 DAY TRIAL // Throughout the past ten years or so, significant breakthroughs have been made in the field of nanotechnology.
However, it is only now that we are beginning to understand how nano-materials can impact on our lives, and lead to both positive and negative outcomes.
A recent study conducted by Melanie Kah and Thilo Hofman, both employed at the Department of Environmental Geosciences of the University of Vienna, analyzes the advantages and disadvantages posed by the use of nano-pesticides.
The need for such a research is explained by professor Thilo Hofman, as follows: “A good understanding of nano-materials is essential to evaluate whether the benefits overcome potential new risks.”
According to ScienceDaily, the professor also argued that the decision to focus on nano-pesticides stems from the following considerations: “Nano-pesticide research is emerging at high speed at the agrochemical labs; however, this topic has not reached public awareness or state authorities so far, nor are any products available at the market.”
To put it bluntly: if we are to make extensive use of nano-pesticides in the future, we must first be sure that they do not cause more harm than they help prevent.
The same source explains that, precisely because they represent a new technology, nano-pesticides could both help reduce the present levels of pollution, and lead to new kinds of contamination.
Given the fact that nano-pesticides might put us face to face with health and environmental problems we never had to experience before, it is quite likely that, but for such studies, we might find ourselves not knowing how to act or which measures to take.
More so since nano-pesticides are apparently much more persistent and have higher degrees of toxicity when compared to their traditional counterparts.
In our opinion, it is a good thing that all necessary safety precautions are taken before deciding to go ahead and use new technologies on an extensive scale.