Jacobs Johannes F, van de Poel Ibo, Osseweijer Patricia
Nanoethics. 2010 Aug;4(2):103-113. doi: 10.1007/s11569-010-0090-y. Epub 2010 Jun 20.
The risks of novel technologies, such as nano(bio)technology cannot be fully assessed due to the existing uncertainties surrounding their introduction into society. Consequently, the introduction of innovative technologies can be conceptualised as a societal experiment, which is a helpful approach to evaluate moral acceptability. This approach is illustrated with the marketing of sunscreens containing nano-sized titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) particles. We argue that the marketing of this TiO(2) nanomaterial in UV protective cosmetics is ethically undesirable, since it violates four reasonable moral conditions for societal experimentation (absence of alternatives, controllability, limited informed consent, and continuing evaluation). To remedy the current way nano-sized TiO(2) containing sunscreens are utilised, we suggest five complementing actions (closing the gap, setup monitoring tools, continuing review, designing for safety, and regulative improvements) so that its marketing can become more acceptable.
由于纳米（生物）技术等新技术引入社会时存在诸多不确定性，其风险无法得到全面评估。因此，创新技术的引入可被视为一项社会实验，这是评估道德可接受性的一种有益方法。含有纳米级二氧化钛（TiO₂）颗粒的防晒霜的营销就说明了这种方法。我们认为，这种TiO₂纳米材料在紫外线防护化妆品中的营销在伦理上是不可取的，因为它违反了社会实验的四个合理道德条件（没有替代方案、可控性、有限知情同意和持续评估）。为了改进目前含纳米级TiO₂防晒霜的使用方式，我们建议采取五项补充行动（弥补差距、建立监测工具、持续审查、安全设计和监管改进），以便其营销能变得更可接受。
