"Preface: The book presents scientific and technical developments in nanotechnology for applications in three areas that are expected to lead to impacts on human health: biomedical (pharmaceuticals and medical devices), agrifood and water, and environment. This technical core is preceded by an introduction including information on current nanotechnology research programs in industrialized countries and emerging economies. Apart from opportunities of nanotechnology for human health, toxicological aspects and life cycle risks and impacts are reviewed. The volume is completed by an analysis of ethical, legal, and social implications of bionanotechnology, and a concluding analysis. The collection of discussions of current nanotechnology for the abovementioned three areas together with environment, health, safety aspects, and ethical and societal implications provide the reader a unique insight into contemporary technological developments and what they may mean for human health. The work has a sound scientific basis, thereby avoiding unrealistic predictions. At the same time, the analysis of societal implications is not usually included in most technical books about trends in nanotechnology. By including these aspects, the reader with a technical or natural science background is encouraged to take more responsible care in R & D on nanotechnology that will have an impact on human health. The reader with a social science background can benefit because the technical reviews will be written for a non-specialist audience, taking care to explain terminology. The societal aspect chapters are intended to contribute to contemporary debates in social studies of science and at the same time be accessible to non-specialists"--Provided by publisher.