National survey findings released today indicate that
Americans’ awareness of nanotechnology remains low. Popular
awareness is nearly as small as the tiny nanoscale materials and
nano-enabled devices and products now flowing onto the market from this
rapidly progressing technology that experts believe will usher in a new
industrial revolution.
The poll also finds that most Americans continue to prefer
that government, not industry, oversee and manage risks associated with
advances in new areas of science and technology like nanotech, even
though public confidence in U.S. regulatory agencies overall is
declining.
The poll, a follow up to a similar poll conducted last year,
surveyed 1,014 U.S. adults by telephone on August 27-28. It, as well as
the prior poll, was commissioned by the Project
on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson
International Center for Scholars and conducted by independent research
firm Peter D. Hart Research.
Even with an estimated $50 billion worth of nanotechnology
manufactured goods on the global market last year, only 6 percent of
Americans – or fewer than one in 16 – say they have
“heard a lot” about nanotechnology, as compared
with 10 percent in 2006. In 2007, 21 percent say they have
“heard some” about nanotechnology, unchanged from
the previous year. Similarly, as in 2006, about 70 percent of adults
say they have heard “just a little” or
“nothing at all.”
Women of all ages, older Americans, and individuals with less
education and lower incomes are least likely to have heard about
nanotechnology.
“Even though the number of nanotechnology-enabled
consumer products – from dietary supplements to skin products
to electronic devices – has more than doubled to over 500
products since last year (www.nanotechproject.org/consumerproducts),
the ‘needle’ on public awareness of nanotechology
remains stuck at disappointingly low levels,” says David
Rejeski, director of the Wilson Center’s Project on Emerging
Nanotechnologies. “Efforts to inform the public have not kept
pace with the growth of this new technology area. This increases the
danger that the slightest bump – even a false alarm about
safety or health – could undermine public confidence,
engender consumer mistrust, and, as a result, damage the future of
nanotechnology, before the most exciting applications are realized. If
they do not effectively engage a broad swath of the public in steering
the course of nanotechnology, government and industry risk squandering
a tremendous opportunity.”
Specific polling questions examined opinions on the safety of
our food system as well as the use of nanotechnology in food packaging
and products. Over 60 percent of the public feels that the food supply
has become less safe in recent years. Of the federal agencies most
responsible for food safety, all earn similar public-confidence
ratings: 57 percent to 59 percent of adults say they have at least a
“fair amount” of confidence in the
agencies’ ability to maximize benefits and minimize risks
stemming from advances in science and technology.
Key findings specific to food and nanotechnology include:
- Only 7 percent of Americans say they would purchase food
enhanced with nanotechnology, while slightly more (12%) say they would
buy food-storage containers enhanced with nanotechnology.
- Substantial majorities – 62 percent in the case
of food and 73 percent in the case of nanotechnology-enhanced food
containers – say they need more information about health
risks and benefits before deciding whether to purchase such products.
- Adults who have heard a lot about nanotechnology are almost
three times more likely to use food storage products enhanced with
nanotechnology (31% compared to 11%), and are two and a half times more
likely to use foods enhanced with nanotechnology (15% compared to 6%).
Other key findings from the 2007 poll include:
- About half (51%) of the public are unwilling to make any
judgment about the anticipated risks and benefits of nanotechnology,
and another quarter of Americans think risks and benefits will be about
equal. Of the remainder, 18 percent say benefits will outweigh risks
and 6 percent think risks will exceed benefits.
- Once provided with a brief description of the potential
benefits and potential risks of nanotechnology, those who completely
lack awareness of it are significantly more likely to shift to the
opinion that the risks will outweigh benefits. Among the 42 percent of
adults who had heard nothing at all about nanotechnology, the
proportion who said risks will outweigh benefits increased 27 points,
from 4 percent to 31 percent, after being read the statement about
potential risks and benefits.
- Confidence in business dropped, falling five points since
2006. Forty-four (44) percent of Americans have a fair amount or a
great deal of confidence in business to maximize benefits and minimize
risks of new products and technologies they produce.
“As in previous polls, the results of this survey
indicate that public wants more information about nanotechnology. Most
Americans will be reluctant to use nano food and food-related products
until they know enough to evaluate the merits of these
products,” according to Rejeski.
Posted 25th September 2007
