Ethics and Nanotechnology: a Basis for Action
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COMMISSION DE L’ÉTHIQUE DE LA SCIENCE ET DE LA TECHNOLOGIE POSITION STATEMENT Ethics and Nanotechnology: A Basis for Action COMMISSION DE L’ÉTHIQUE DE LA SCIENCE ET DE LA TECHNOLOGIE POSITION STATEMENT ETHICS AND NANOTECHNOLOGY: A BASIS FOR ACTION THE FRENCH VERSION PREVAILS Commission de l’éthique de la science et de la technologie 1200 route de l’Église 3rd floor, office 3.45 Québec (Québec) G1V 4Z2 Production support Coordination and supervision Diane Duquet Meeting secretary Emmanuelle Trottier Research and writing Emmanuelle Trottier and Diane Duquet, with contributions from Marco Blouin Technical support Documentation Monique Blouin Communications and editing supervision Katerine Hamel Lay-out Annie St-Hilaire Translation Summary : George Tombs, with contributions from Pamela T. Wootten Opinion Statement : Anglocom Cover design Normand Bastien With funding from the Société pour la promotion de la science et de la technologie Position statement adopted at the 25th meeting of the Commission de l’éthique de la science et de la technologie, June 14, 2006 © Gouvernement du Québec 2006 Legal deposit: 4th quarter 2006 Bibliothèque nationale du Québec National Library of Canada ISBN-10: 2-550-4780-5 ISBN-13: 978-2-550-47480-7 ISBN-13: 978-2-550-49366-2 (English version in ) MEMBERS OF THE WORKING COMMITTEE Sabin Boily, Chair Peter Grütter Valorization-Innovation consultant Department of Physics Member of CEST McGill University Scientific Director, NanoIP (NSERC) Dr François A. Auger Mark Hunyadi Department of Surgery Faculty of Philosophy Université Laval Université Laval Director of the Laboratoire d’organogenèse expérimentale (LOEX) Michèle S. Jean Centre de recherche en droit public David Carter Université de Montréal Scientific Advisor on Biotechnology President of the Canadian Commission for Ministère du Développement durable, de UNESCO l’Environnement et des Parcs (Québec) Teodor Veres Sylvain Cofsky Group Leader Director of Industrial and Regional Development Functional Nanomaterials NanoQuébec National Research Council Canada Éric David OBSERVERS : Department of Mechanical Engineering École de technologie supérieure Benoît Lussier Chaire de recherche en matériaux Advisor on Strategic Technology – Nanotechnology et équipements de protection utilisés Ministère du Développement économique, de en santé et sécurité au travail IRSST/ÉTS l’Innovation et de l’Exportation (Québec) Édith Deleury Denis Godbout President of CEST Terminology Specialist Faculty of Law Office québécois de la langue française Université Laval COMMISSION SECRETARIAT André Doré∗ Retired educator Diane Duquet, CEST Coordinator Emmanuelle Trottier, Ethics Advisor Benoît Gagnon Chaire Raoul-Dandurand en études stratégiques et diplomatiques (Université du Québec à Montréal) Doctoral candidate (Université de Montréal) Member of CEST ∗ Statement made at the request of Mr. André Doré, dated March 11th 2006 : “Considering Québec’s historically North American character and economic activity, as well as its tradition of ‘rational governance’, I wish to state that where the development of regulations in the nanotechnology sector is concerned, the top two criteria should be science and market acceptance.” TABLE OF CONTENTS List of acronyms................................................................................................................................... v Summary, Recommendations and Commentaries ........................................................................vii INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................1 CHAPTER 1 – A NEW AND EMERGING WORLD: THE UNIVERSE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY .............................................................. 5 A world to discover.......................................................................................................................5 Nanoscience and nanotechnology: on a nanometer scale...........................................................7 Important aspects to consider: a premise for ethical questioning .............................................9 The size of nanometric components ................................................................................................9 The new properties of nanometric matter .......................................................................................9 Manipulating material....................................................................................................................... 10 Multidisciplinary approaches and the convergence of disciplines ............................................. 11 A general fascination........................................................................................................................ 11 Main areas of research and innovation.........................................................................................13 Nanomaterials................................................................................................................................... 13 Nanoelectronics................................................................................................................................ 15 Nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine......................................................................................... 16 Nanometrology................................................................................................................................. 16 Expectations and concerns worth considering.......................................................................17 Projected benefits............................................................................................................................17 In the health sector........................................................................................................................... 17 In the environment sector............................................................................................................... 20 In the information technology sector ............................................................................................ 21 In the agriculture and food sector.................................................................................................. 21 From fiction to reality.....................................................................................................................22 The self-replication of nanorobots and global ecophagy............................................................ 22 Promises that sometimes prove unrealistic................................................................................... 24 Raising questions, upholding values .............................................................................................24 CHAPTER 2 – LOOKING AT METHODS FOR MANAGING THE SECTOR............27 Risk and nanotechnology...........................................................................................................27 The nature of risks to consider......................................................................................................28 Assessment and risk management methods: a few observations and questions...................29 The current framework..............................................................................................................31 Canadian statutes and regulations.................................................................................................31 Québec statutes and regulations....................................................................................................33 International instruments ...............................................................................................................34 Supporting industry.........................................................................................................................35 i Position Statement of the Commission de l'éthique de la science et de la technologie Responsible approaches to dealing with risk...........................................................................36 The precautionary principle ...........................................................................................................36 A few clarifications........................................................................................................................... 37 Action steps....................................................................................................................................... 40 The “life cycle” approach from the perspective of sustainable development .......................42 CHAPTER 3 – NANOTECHNOLOGY: ETHICAL CONCERNS ............................45 Fundamental requirements as premises...................................................................................45 The need to establish common scientific terminology and nomenclature.............................45 The importance of establishing procedures and standards.......................................................47 The pursuit of research and the dissemination of results .........................................................47 Ethical concerns about products derived from nanotechnology.........................................48 Human health...................................................................................................................................49 Health and safety .............................................................................................................................. 49 Protecting