The chemical paradigm is bound to be repeated in the development of nanotechnology and GMOs. There are so many "miracles" that can be achieved with the use of chemicals but we are up to about 100,000 in commercial use today. Adequate testing has been determined to be a nuisance to the commercial gains so marketing of the miracles prevail.
The human body has evolved with the ability to rid itself of a certain amount of toxic chemicals and I would assume the by-products of nanotechnology as well. The problem comes in when commerce decides that the amount of toxic exposures should be determined by the marketplace - not the health of the population.
Ex: I choose not to use chemicals in my yard but am surrounded by neighbors who each use a few applications of organophosphate/carbamate pesticides a year. My state exceeds most in the amount and toxicity of roadside pesticide applications. Neighbors routinely burn such things as plastics and pressure treated wood.
Nanotecnology has been suggested for cleaning up pollution. If it is used on the bay down the street from me, I will be exposed to that too.
I have already been disabled by a textile product I was working on that was shipped in a pesticide container (the shipper wanted to save money).(and no - there was no lawsuit that compensated me) I now enjoy brain damage (short term memory loss, impaired learning ability, reading difficulties) and immune damage for the rest of my shortened life. I am one of many who have been affected like this.
Which is just to say that the miracles in the lab are one thing but the marketing by irresponsible corporations and use by ignorant consumers has very real consequences. As a nation we only want to recognize the miracles of technology and run with it.
Another example of a miracle:
COMMON PESTICIDE CAUSES AGGRESSION & BRAIN DAMAGE
Glufosinate, a pesticide used widely in the U.S. and whose residues have been found in the food and water supply, has been verified to cause brain and hormonal damage. Japanese government studies have confirmed previous research that glufosinate sets off violent behavior in lab animals. Male rats exposed to the chemical aggressively attack each other, while female rats remain peaceful. But female offspring of rats previously exposed to the pesticide "became aggressive and started to bite each other, in some cases until one died." said Yoichiro Kuroda, principle investigator of the study, adding, "That report sent a chill through me." Glufosinate, which is used as an herbicide on several varieties of genetically modified canola and corn, is also linked to neurological defects that increase the rate of hyperactivity and decrease IQs. Learn more...
http://www.organicconsumers.org/ge/bayer120904.cfm