Nanopollution

This is an indisputable fact: regardless of the origins of nanoparticles (naturally occurring nanoparticles or nanoengineered nanoparticles), they are present in the environment. Nanopollution exists in the environment and affects the entire biosphere (including Humans).

Introduction

Following my last article ("The Roots of Nano-Fear Decoded"), I start here an attempt to point out ways and propose solutions in order to demystify the nano-fear.

From what I can understand, the roots of fear seem to be of the fasciculate type. In other words, there are not a "primary root" and "secondary roots". I choose to state that they all have approximately an identical importance.

Addressing nanopollution without addressing nanotoxicity is in theory and in practice an artificial effort, I'd say. Nanopollution exists in the environment and affects the entire biosphere (including Humans). The entire biosphere is exposed to nanotoxicity and, in turn contaminates the environment. We are therefore facing an indissociable circle. However, due to space limitations, this article will try to address nanopollution. Later I will write about combating nanopollution. Only then I will address nanotoxicity. Naturally, what I write is in line with my way of understanding this issue.

Before I start writing about nanopollution, I propose a brief analysis of pollution as a concept.


Pollution

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants in the natural environment. Pollution causes instability, several disorders, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem.

The ecosystem comprises:

• Physical systems;
• Systems of living organisms (including humans)

Pollution may involve:

• Chemicals;
• Energy in various forms (e.g. heat, noise, radiation).

Pollutants are the components of pollution. Pollutants may be coming from either:

• Naturally occurring substances (or energies);
• Substances (or energy) that are strange to the environment (contaminants).

Let us focus on chemical substances as pollutants.


Nanopollution


I will continue to follow the same thinking regarding pollution.

Nanopollution is the introduction of nanosized contaminants in the natural environment. Nanopollution causes instability, several disorders, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem.

The ecosystem is the same, whether we are addressing pollution or nanopollution. The ecosystem comprises:

• Physical systems;
• Systems of living organisms (including humans)

Nanopollutants are the components of nanopollution. Nanopollutants may be coming from either:

• Naturally occurring nanosized substances;
• Nanosized substances that are strange to the environment (nanocontaminants).

Translating "nanosized substances" to a more accurate term, I would use the term nanoparticles (NPs).

In fact, there are two types of NPs causing nanopollution:

• Naturally occurring nanoparticles;
• Nanoengineered nanoparticles (NENPs) or, in other words, engineered nanoparticles.

Regarding naturally occurring nanoparticles, nature produces and always produced nanoparticles. I believe that naturally occurring NPs have always existed on our planet, even before there was life. Follow some examples of naturally occurring nanoparticles:

• Nanoparticles expelled by volcanoes, along with ash and other natural materials;
• Nanoparticles naturally occurring on the ocean spray; formed by the violent burst of waves;
• Nanoparticles naturally occurring in mineral composites.

How easily it can be concluded, naturally occurring nanoparticles have never constituted an obstacle to that life came up our planet. These naturally occurring nanoparticles also have never been an obstacle to biological evolution of species until today.

With regard to NENPs, I believe they only recently came into existence through the processes of nanofabrication.

As I pointed out on "The Roots of Nano-Fear Decoded", NENPs are nanoparticles produced by Humans that have been specifically designed for a specific function (e.g. packaging coating, protection of radiation in sunscreens).


How Can The Environment Spread Nanoparticles to The Entire Biosphere?

Nanoparticles are present in the air, in the water and in the soils. All requirements for the entire biosphere is contaminated with the ubiquity of nanoparticles are gathered.

For example, nanoparticles present in the air:

• Mix with humidity also present in the air. Consequently, precipitation (e.g. rain, sleet, snow) become contaminated with nanoparticles. Precipitation reaches the soils and the open water (oceans, seas, rivers, lakes); 
• Are incorporated in plants through their by the aerial components, for the processes of photosynthesis and respiration; 
• Are incorporated in animals through respiration; 
• Contaminate food exposed to air; 
• Contaminate drinking water exposed to air; 
• Are mixed with open water (e.g. oceans, rivers, streams, creeks, lakes); 
• Are infiltrated in soils.

For example, nanoparticles present in the water:

• Pass into the atmosphere accompanying the water vapour during the evaporation of water;
• Contaminate soils (trough groundwater);
• Are absorbed by roots of aquatic plants;
• Are absorbed by aquatic animals;
• Contaminate food during the process of washing with water and when water is used to cook.

Nanoparticles present in soils:

• Pass into the atmosphere accompanying the water vapour during the evaporation of water; 
• Are absorbed by underground roots of terrestrial plants; 
• Are absorbed by underground and terrestrial animals; 
• Contaminate groundwater. 

On the other hand, nanoparticles present into plants and animals traverse the entire food chain until reach Humans.

Therefore, this is an indisputable fact: regardless of the origins of nanoparticles (naturally occurring nanoparticles or nanoengineered nanoparticles), they are present in the environment and humans are exposed to them.

Good Winds From FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published yesterday (April 9, 2012) in YouTube a video entitled "Innovation Pathway at FDA."

Personally I really like the video and especially the positive message it conveys. Here in my blog I give my Sincere Congratulations to the FDA by the video, and especially by the highly positive message it sends.

This message is a very strong set of clear positive signs of optimism, hope, constructive spirit, innovative spirit, proactive and highly dynamic attitude announced to the world.

As far as I know, FDA is among their counterparts around the world an entity with an unquestionable credibility and effectiveness. My perception is that FDA is the reference with respect to regulations in the areas it is responsible.

However, FDA has been discussed in the most recent years with destructive attacks and comments. For example:

• Apparently innocent criticism;
• Explicit accusations of not updating (or updating very slowly) its regulations when confronted with new challenges brought by an emerging new reality which includes the requirement for innovation and new and emerging sciences and technologies;
• Unfounded conspiracy theories which proliferate throughout the Internet;
• Sensationalist news trying to undermine the credibility of this organization.

Some of these attacks had eventually caused some abrasion on the image of FDA as an organization.

Therefore, FDA needed to launch a campaign containing a very strong message of positivism, optimism, hope and confidence addressed to the world.

The reality has changed in recent years. It is a fact that reality has changed and will change constantly. Thus, FDA and similar organizations must adapt to new realities, new paradigms and the requirements they entail.

But what really happened in the most recent years that really made ​​this change and therefore lead to attacks on FDA and similar organizations, and consequently the release of this video?

Several changes took place.

Firstly, the counterfeit medicinal products began to proliferate in practically the entire world. The counterfeit drugs have become a real scourge in terms of public health and a threat to the pharmaceutical industry.

Moreover, nanoscience and nanotechnology grew and developed at an impressive speed.

Similarly, nanomedicine grew and developed at a considerable speed. Nanomedicine gained critical mass and is proving to have potential to contribute constructively to improve medicine and biomedicine. This is just the beginning. Many more discoveries are to be announced and to a higher speed.

Likewise also grown and developed the applications of nanotechnology-based products in the food & beverages sector. This includes not only food, but also packaging and manufacturing processes.

With the fast development of nanotechnology with applications in medicine (nanomedicine) and in the food & beverages industry, have also emerged real risks associated with toxicity, both environmentally and in terms of public health. These risks are directly related to nanoengineered nanoparticles (nanoparticles intentionally modified by humans for the fulfilment of certain specific purposes). Scientific studies show that these nanoparticles (in opposition to naturally occurring nanoparticles) present the greatest risks to the environment and public health, with respect to toxicity.

Anyway, regulating with quality and adjusted to the real needs of today's society (especially regarding nanotechnology-based health products and food & beverages) is an enormous task, having a complexity of unique proportions. I would say, of historic proportions. It is a complicated challenge and only give good results if integrated, coordinated, standardized and implemented with much committed collaboration with different players, such as innovators, scientists, R&D institutions, universities, industries, health professionals, consultants, IT professionals and many more players.

It is notorious that the video puts much emphasis on technological innovation and collaboration. It is an extremely strong reinforcing of confidence message. In my opinion this message is fully justified, to calm down conspiracy theories and media sensationalism.

This version was published on April 11, 2012, since the original one was removed.

In these areas of science and technology, the worst that can happen is a lack of regulation, which causes a gray zone, providing opportunities to bad professional journalists to make pieces of questionable quality, thus generating fears, suspicions and unfounded conspiracy theories.

FDA is really working hard. I did not learn that with this video. I had already noticed with various press releases issued recently, mainly during the year of 2011 and during the current year. This video just confirmed what I already knew.

However, the ordinary citizen, who is not involved in these matters, did not know. Through this video, the ordinary citizen gets to know.

The tasks that FDA faces are of odd proportions and dimensions absolutely gigantic in the history of our civilization. I can only wish the greatest success to FDA and give them strength.