Safer nanoformulation for the next decade

Abstract

Nanotechnology is one of the exciting, albeit infrequent, technological change that can infl uence all industries. It holds the potential for pervasive and revolutionary changes. These changes can either follow a path leading to waste, pollution and energy ineffi ciency or follow a path of green nanotechnology to a more sustainable future. It is our choice while the window of opportunity still remains open. Green nanotechnology offers the opportunity to head off adverse effects before they occur. It can proactively infl uence the design of nanomaterials or products by eliminating or minimizing pollution from the production of the nanomaterials, taking a life cycle approach to nanoproducts to estimate and mitigate where environmental impact might occur in the product chain, designing toxicity out of nanomaterials and using nanomaterial to remediate existing environmental problem.