Ethical, Social, Environmental, And Legal Aspects Of Nanotechnologies: A Reading From Mexico

The capacity to manipulate matter at the atoms scale promises such a potential that, both positive and eventual negative aspects of nanotechnology are part of current debate. Nano-applications promise to revolutionize healthcare, energy production, agriculture, environmental remediation solutions, and most of manufacturing processes; in fact some earliest products are already hitting the market. At the same time socioeconomic, legal, environmental and ethical aspects stand as issues of legitimate public concern that policy makers are faced to address. It is a context in which an open, constructive, and permanent dialogue among diverse social actors seems to be needed in order to avoid or reduce unnecessary costs and probable risks, while promoting benefits. This paper offers an overview of such aspects from Mexican perspective. After a general introduction, it describes and contrasts the promotion of nanoscience and nanotechnology worldwide and in Mexico. A brief discussion on legal aspects follows, including intellectual rights and patenting challenges ahead. Finally the need of anad hocregulatory framework takes us to discuss the relevance of a social dialogue and management as a democratic way of promoting a responsible development of nanotechnologies.