Nanotechnology and water in Brazil/ Nanotecnologia e agua no Brasil

• Published in: Acta scientiarum. Human and social sciences 2016-07, Vol.38 (2), p.153
• Main Authors: Silveira, Sandra Maria Batista, Foladori, Guillermo
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• ISSN: 1679-7361
• DOI: 10.4025/actascihumansoc.v38i2.32668

We analyzed the stage of nanotechnology research and development applied to water treatment (nano-water), aiming to make water potable, desalting, and decontamination of water courses in Brazil. We review data provided by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation on research with public funding from 2004 to 2012, and data from the research groups listed by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development. Most of the research on nano-water refers to water remediation, which shows the potentiality for decontamination of important water courses, a significant Brazilian health problem. There is indeed enough infrastructure and human resources for the implementation of a public policy aimed to solve water problems for people with difficulties in access, from the application of specific nanotechnologies. Nevertheless, there is a lack of a solid public policy accompanying the development of new technologies with studies on the potential risks associated, which raises uncertainties on the sustainability of applying nanotechnologies. Keywords: nanoscience, research and development, water remediation. O texto analisa a situacao da pesquisa e do desenvolvimento das nanotecnologias para tratamento de agua (nano-agua), com os propositos de potabilizar, dessalinizar e/ou despoluir cursos de agua no Brasil. Com esses objetivos, revisam-se as informacoes fornecidas pelo Ministerio da Ciencia, Tecnologia e Inovacao--MCTI--sobre pesquisas que receberam financiamento publico no periodo de 2004 a 2012 e os grupos de pesquisa vinculados ao Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico--CNPq. Conclui-se que, no total de pesquisas desenvolvidas sobre nano-agua no Brasil, a maioria diz respeito a remediacao ambiental, o que indica as potencialidades no sentido da despoluicao de importantes corpos de agua. E, de fato, ha suficiente infraestrutura e recursos humanos para a execucao de uma politica publica, direcionada a solucionar problemas de agua para as populacoes com dificuldades no acesso, a partir da aplicacao de nanotecnologias especificas. Porem nao existe uma politica publica solida de acompanhamento das novas tecnologias com estudos dos potenciais riscos associados, o que levanta incertezas sobre a sustentabilidade da aplicacao das nanotecnologias. Palavras-chave: nanociencias, pesquisa e desenvolvimento e remediacao de agua.