Kim Yu-Ri, Lee Eun Jeong, Park Sung Ha, Kwon Hyo Jin, An Seong Soo A, Son Sang Wook, Seo Young Rok, Pie Jae-Eun, Yoon Myoung, Kim Ja Hei, Kim Meyoung-Kon
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Korea University Medical School and College, Seoul, South Korea.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, UK.
Int J Nanomedicine. 2014 Dec 15;9 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):21-7. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S57921. eCollection 2014.
This study examined the need for public communication about nanotechnologies and nanoparticles by providing a comparative analysis of the differences in risk awareness of nanotechnologies and nanoparticles between consumers and experts.
A total of 1,007 consumers and 150 experts participated in this study. A questionnaire was prepared examining their awareness of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials and their view of the necessity for information and education about the latest nanotechnologies and nanomaterials.
Our results indicated that the expert group recognized that they knew more than consumers about nanotechnology and that there was a need for relevant education in nanotechnology and nanomaterials among consumers. We found that the consumer group had a more positive attitude toward nanotechnology, even though they did not know much about it. Moreover, the consumer group was inconclusive about the type of information on nanotechnology deemed necessary for the public, as well as the suitable party to be responsible for education and for delivering the information.
An education and promotion program targeting consumers should be established to overcome the differences between consumers and experts in their awareness of nanotechnology. Specifically, the establishment of concepts for nanomaterials or nanoproducts is required immediately. With clear standards on nanomaterials, consumers can make informed decisions in selecting nanoproducts in the market.
本研究通过对消费者和专家在纳米技术及纳米颗粒风险认知方面的差异进行比较分析，探讨纳米技术和纳米颗粒公众沟通的必要性。
共有1007名消费者和150名专家参与了本研究。编制了一份问卷，调查他们对纳米技术和纳米材料的认知，以及他们对最新纳米技术和纳米材料信息与教育必要性的看法。
我们的结果表明，专家组认识到他们比消费者更了解纳米技术，并且消费者中存在对纳米技术和纳米材料进行相关教育的需求。我们发现，消费者群体对纳米技术持更积极的态度，尽管他们对此了解不多。此外，消费者群体对于公众所需的纳米技术信息类型以及负责教育和提供信息的合适方尚无定论。
应建立针对消费者的教育和推广计划，以弥合消费者和专家在纳米技术认知上的差异。具体而言，需要立即建立纳米材料或纳米产品的概念。有了明确的纳米材料标准，消费者在市场上选择纳米产品时就能做出明智的决定。
