New nanotech risk revealed: runaway green goo could be created by nanobiotech gone bad

What is green goo? It's a runaway mass of self-replicating organisms created by biotechnology researchers relying on nanotech processes. Imagine an artificially-created microbe that can feed on practically anything, survive harsh conditions, and spread through the air. That's one rendition of the green goo threat.

Naturally, there's tremendous skepticism about these nano-threats, especially in the minds of those engaged in nanotechnology research or nano-based products. They say the threats aren't proven. But critics counter with the important point that nanotechnology should be proven safe before unleashed on the world, especially given the mere possibility of widespread, unstoppable destruction posed by tiny self-replicating machines or microbes.

What's my take? I haven't decided if nanotechnology is a legitimate threat or just an imagined one. The jury's still out in my mind. But given what I've seen with pharmaceuticals, genetically-modified crops and modern medicine in general, I'm downright suspicious of the profit motives of any corporation that promises to use nanotech to "make our lives better." Chances are, their main purpose for nanotech is to make their bank accounts fatter, and any concern for public welfare is seriously dimished by the potential for industrial profits.

In other words, nanotechnology or not, I don't trust corporate America. If they could build tiny, self-replicating machines to sneak into our homes and lift money out of our wallets, I have no doubt they'd do it.

• First it was "gray goo," the threat of self-replicating machines populating the planet.
• Now an environmental think tank is raising the specter of "green goo," where biology is used to create new materials and new artificial life forms.
• In its report, published on July 8, the Action Group on Erosion, Technology and Concentration, or ETC, said that the risks from green goo demand the most urgent foresight and caution.
• "I haven't heard of this concern anywhere else, I mean anywhere else," said Christine Peterson, president of the Foresight Institute, a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the potential benefits and anticipating potential risks of nanotechnology.
• Swiss Re, the world's second largest re-insurance firm -- an insurance company for insurance companies -- warned in a May report that the unknown risks of toxicity or pollution associated with nanoparticles are unacceptable.
• Swiss Re fears a situation akin to the impact of asbestos, where human health, big business -- and insurance companies -- took a big hit from a hazard that took years to manifest itself.
• Jim Thomas, program manager at ETC agrees.
• ETC is calling for a strict regulatory framework to govern the production and commercialization of nanomaterials.
• "Only a handful of toxicological studies exist on engineered nanoparticles, but not-so-tiny red flags are popping up everywhere," said ETC's Thomas, alluding to recent reports that nanoparticles caused brain damage in fish in just 48 hours.
• "There are already regulations covering hazardous materials, the question is when you start categorizing a new material as hazardous, and that's not really a regulation issue.