Argumentative Essay N2, Draft N1

Florencia Elias
Lengua Inglesa IV
19/09/2016

Why is nanotech improving life quality?

Nanotechnology, also referred to as nanotech, is the manipulation of matter on

an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale. In the last few years, nanotechnology

has been generating excitement among scientists, businesses and governments around

the world. Many are understandably attracted to this technology for the economic

potential. However, what is more exciting is that, if correctly managed, nanotechnology

can produce great advances in science and medicine improving life quality.

Some people are still reticent about the use of nanotechnology. They say that an

inadequate application of nanotechnology may cause severe health problems, which is

not untrue. When inhaled, some nanoparticles dissolve easily and their effects on living

organisms are unnoticed. However, other nanoparticles do not degrade or dissolve

rapidly. Instead, they may accumulate in biological systems and persist for a long time,

causing lung problems, which makes such nanoparticles of particular concern. The

potential of nanotechnology, however, is such that it is reasonable to expect the

objective of improving the quality of life of everyone on the world to be the most

important aim in government-backed nanotechnology programs. These programs

obviously include training for those in charge of nanotechnology in order to avoid

potential health problems. Comments in the last few months from both the head of the

US National Nanotechnology Initiative, Mike Roco, and the EU research Commissioner

Philippe Busquin show a commitment to these programs.

Following the already mentioned reticence, some people believe that keeping

with traditional medicine is the best option to accomplish the medical advances and

developments that society has been looking for for decades. However, nanotechnology

can improve health through better diagnostics, new treatments, and even cures, for a
Argumentative Essay N2, Draft N1
Florencia Elias
Lengua Inglesa IV
19/09/2016

variety of diseases and ailments, from diabetes to cancer and from AIDS to blindness.

Whether it is the use of dendrimers to detect diseases before symptoms appear or the

use of more highly targeted drug-delivery systems, nanotechnology-enabled

applications are an excellent option to improve life quality and health.

Opponents to nanotechnology argue that, if inappropriately applied, it may cause

severe damages to the environment, leading damage to people. It has already been

established that government-backed nanotechnology programs will include training for

personnel. Not only potential health problems will be avoided, but also environmental

damages. Nanotech reduces emissions of pollution and greenhouse gases through

improvements in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Even a slight

change from the use of dirty to cleaner fossil fuels in countries with big populations as

China and India will have a fundamental ecological effect. Nanotechnology also

enhances abilities to detect environmental contamination and to predict adverse

environmental consequences of new materials and chemicals, as well as new

environmental remediation technologies.

To conclude, it is true that, if incorrectly applied, nanotechnology can be nocive

to human health, but due to its excellent potential, governments are more willing to

support programmes that will help avoid this possible damage and improve life quality

significantly.