Comparative analysis of nanotechnology awareness in consumers and experts in South Korea.

PURPOSE: 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.
METHODS: 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.
RESULTS: 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.
CONCLUSION: 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.

Introduction

Nanotechnology is perceived as a key emerging technology with great potential to generate new products in the market.1,2 New applications for nanotechnology extend into various areas, including biotechnology, electronics, drug delivery, cosmetics, and biosensors.3 With this rapid growth of nanotechnology products, concerns about human exposure to nanomaterials and their potential harmful effects on human health have increased recently.4 To address these concerns, a number of studies have examined the potential adverse effects of nanomaterials and nanoproducts.5–8 In addition, different institutions, including government bodies, research centers, universities, and industry, have shared significant resources to determine the potential effects of nanotechnology.9–12 However, despite these numerous research efforts, consumers, one of the main stakeholders, still lack knowledge and awareness of the exact effects nanotechnologies and their applications can have on their health and lives.

Several recent studies have examined the public perception of nanotechnology because this is one of the key factors, possibly influencing their advance. A US survey reported that most of the respondents (80%) had heard either a little or nothing about nanoparticles. Although these respondents had limited knowledge of nanotechnology, most of them expected it to have more benefits than risks.13 Likewise, a study by the European Commission showed that the majority of respondents lacked knowledge of nanotechnologies.14 It was also found that the public in Europe had a less optimistic attitude toward nanotechnology than in the United States.15 In addition, Lee et al indicated that public awareness and knowledge of nanotechnology was low.16 On the basis of these and other survey studies, we concluded that the establishment of concepts for nanomaterials or nanoproducts for the public was urgently required.

It is widely recognized that communication of the scientific results of risk assessment to the public, especially a public that lacks familiarity with an emerging technology, needs the instillation of social trust.13,17,18 This implies that information on nanotechnologies and their applications could be best disseminated by people with experience and expertise in this field. Although previous studies have found that the perception of experts did not agree with public perception or societal attitudes,17,18 it was generally considered that experts’ views on technology and its applications were key factors in influencing the implementation of this emerging technology.2 Therefore, a study on the awareness or perception of an expert group should provide the basis for deciding which perceptions would be needed among the different stakeholder groups.19

In this study, we examined how consumers and experts viewed nanotechnologies and their applications. We also asked them what should be considered when addressing the need for social consensus and education on nanotechnologies to reduce the difference in levels of awareness between consumers and experts.

Materials and methods

Participants

Customer sample

A total of 1,007 randomly selected consumers aged from their twenties to their fifties participated in this research. They were balanced in sex, religion, residence, age, education, marriage, profession, and income. The expected error rate was 95%, with a confidence interval of ±3.09%.

Expert sample

We carefully selected 150 experts who worked in the field of nanotechnology and nanomaterials in South Korea. The samples were randomly chosen from professors, researchers, government officials, industry workers, and civil campaigners. The expected error rate was 95%, with a confidence interval of ±8.0%. A comparison of the characteristics of the consumers and the experts is shown in Table 1.

Table 1

Respondent characteristics

Classification	Consumer		Expert
	Frequency	Percentage	Frequency	Percentage
Sex
Male	505	50.1	90	60.0
Female	502	49.9	60	40.0
Total	1,007	100.0	150	100.0
Age, years
11–30	331	32.9	15	10.0
31–50	406	40.3	79	52.7
>50	270	26.8	56	37.3
Total	1,007	100.0	150	100.0
Education level
Enrolled in or graduated from middle or high school	601	52.2	0	0
Enrolled in or graduated from university	228	19.8	28	18.7
Enrolled in or graduated from graduate school	315	27.4	122	81.3
Total	1,007	100.0	150	100.0

Questionnaire and survey method

For the consumer survey, we used a field survey method based on a structured questionnaire and a one-to-one interview. For the expert survey, we interviewed experts in their offices, using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire for consumers was divided into six sections and contained approximately 19 different questions; 17 different questions according to subject were prepared for the experts. To compare the perceptions on nanotechnologies, we chose the following four common questions: 1) “Do you know about nanotechnologies, nanomaterials, and nanoproducts?” 2) “How do you consider each of following items, related to the safety and risk of nanotechnology, nanomaterials, and nanoproducts?” 3) “Do you need relevant information regarding nanotechnology, nanomaterials, and nanoproducts?” and 4) “Do you think promotion and education on nanotechnology and nanoproducts are necessary?”

Statistical analysis

Frequencies and chi-square tests were determined for each characteristic, with participants compared by sex, age, and education. A one-way ANOVA analysis and two independent sample t-test were performed to evaluate the significance of the differences between the means. In addition, to measure the responses, we used a 4-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 (do not know at all) to 4 (know very well) and from 1 (not at all) to 4 (very). All analyses were performed using SPSS (version 19.0; IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA).

Results

Differences in awareness of nanotechnologies, nanomaterials, and nanoproducts

To determine the differences in awareness of the technology between the consumers and the experts, we analyzed their responses using a Likert scale. The Likert scale was divided and labeled as 4 points, where 4 would indicate “know very well”. Analyses of the results showed that the expert group (2.74±0.650) knew more about nanotechnologies than the consumer group (2.11±0.573; P=0.000; Table 2).

Table 2

Awareness of nanotechnology, nanomaterials, and nanoproducts

	N	Average	Standard deviation	t-value	P-value
Expert	150	2.74	0.650
Consumer	1,007	2.11	0.573	11.260	0.000

Note: Responses were measured on a 4-point Likert scale: 1 (do not know at all), 2 (do not know well), 3 (know well), 4 (know very well).

Differences in awareness of safety factors related to nanomaterials

We analyzed the respondents’ awareness on safety factors in dealing with nanomaterials by asking them to choose from the following comments: “Nano is safe for the human body”, “Nano can be harmful for the human body”, “Nano could have a negative effect on the environment”, and “Social consensus about the safety of nanomaterials is needed”. After the survey, we scored the responses in accordances from 1 (not at all) to 4 (very).

Our results revealed that the consumer group (2.91±0.779) felt safer with respect to nanomaterials and nanoproducts than the expert group (2.11±0.671) (Table 3). We also found that the expert group had a more negative attitude toward nanomaterials and nanoproducts than the consumer group. For example, they thought that nanotechnology could be harmful for the human body (3.08±0.740) and could be negative for the environment (2.91±0.618) in comparison with the consumer group (2.18±0.719 and 2.20±0.759, respectively). There was also a statistical difference in the perceived necessity of public consensus about nanotechnologies, with the expert group (3.53±0.665) scoring higher than the consumer group (2.85±0.916; Table 3).

Table 3

Awareness of factors related to nanotechnology

Related factor and group	N	Average	Standard deviation	t-value	P-value
Safe for the human body				−11.849	0.000
Expert	150	2.11	0.671
Consumer	1,007	2.91	0.779
Harmful to the human body				13.070	0.000
Expert	150	3.08	0.740
Consumer	1,007	2.18	0.719
Negative effect on the environment				11.498	0.000
Expert	150	2.91	0.618
Consumer	1,007	2.20	0.759
Social consent is required				10.759	0.000
Expert	150	3.53	0.665
Consumer	1,007	2.85	0.916

Note: Answer was labeled using a 4-point Likert scale: 1 (not at all), 2 (not very), 3 (mostly), 4 (very).

Degree of necessity of relevant information regarding nanotechnology, nanomaterials, or nanoproducts

As shown in Table 4, there was a great difference in the extent to which the consumers and experts felt the need for accurate information about nanotechnologies. For example, most of the respondents (90.7%) in the expert group answered that “they do need relevant information”, but only a little more than half of the respondents (59.1%) from the consumer group chose this response (P<0.05). Moreover, consumers and experts had different opinions about the types of information necessary for nanotechnologies, such as concepts, effects, benefits, functions, performances, and types (P<0.05). Our analyzed results showed that the believed degree of necessity of information on both the “effects of nano on the human body” (51.2%) and the “benefit and functions of nano” (31.1%) was higher among the expert group. However, the consumer group revealed no significant difference in the type of information they considered necessary (Table 5).

Table 4

Degree of the need for relevant information regarding nanotechnology, nanomaterials, or nanoproducts

Group	Yes	No	Total	Pearson chi-square
Expert				55.970*
Case	136	14	150
Percentage	90.7	9.3	100.0
Consumer
Case	595	412	1,007
Percentage	59.1	40.9	100.0
Total
Case	731	426	1,157
Percentage	63.2	36.8	100.0

Note:

P<0.05.

Table 5

Necessary information about nanotechnology, nanomaterials or nanoproducts

Group	Concept	Effects	Benefits and functions	Types	Total	Pearson chi-square
Expert
Case	27	107	65	10	209	65.462*
Percentage	12.9	51.2	31.1	4.8	100.0
Consumer
Case	195	352	284	187	1018
Percentage	19.2	34.6	27.9	18.4	100.0
Total cases	222	459	349	197	1227

Note: The data include plural responses;

P<0.05.

Degree of necessity for the education and promotion of nanotechnology, nanomaterials, or nanoproducts

In response to the question of whether “education and promotion on nano are needed”, most of the respondents (98.7%) in the expert group chose “Yes”. In the consumer group, 70.7% selected “they are needed”. Interestingly, 18.3% answered that they “do not know well” (Table 6). For the delivery of education and promotions, the expert group chose professionals (77.3%), including professors, researchers and specialists, nongovernment organizations (NGOs) (72.0%), and central government (63.3%), as suitable parties. The answers from the consumer group also included the central government (24.9%), NGOs (21.4%), and other professionals (16.5%). International organizations (expert, 14.7%; consumer, 13.5%) scored lower than the media (expert, 30.0%; consumer, 16.9%) in both groups. However, we found that the rates of responses for this question were much lower in the consumer group than in the expert group (Table 7).

Table 6

Degree of need for education and promotion about nanotechnology

Group	Yes	No	Do not know well	Total	Pearson chi-square
Expert
Case	148	2	0	150	53.799
Percentage	98.7	1.3	0.0	100.0
Consumer
Case	708	111	183	1,002
Percentage	70.7	11.1	18.3	100.0
Total
Case	856	113	183	1,152
Percentage	74.3	9.8	15.9	100.0

Table 7

Recognition of nanotechnology education and promotion, by reliability of nanotechnology information source

Group	International organization	Government agency	Enterprise	NGO	Professionals	Media	Total	Pearson chi-square
Expert
Case	22	95	13	108	116	45	150	327.976*
Percentage	14.7	63.3	8.7	72.0	77.3	30.0	100.0
Consumer
Case	131	241	65	207	160	163	967
Percentage	13.5	24.9	6.7	21.4	16.5	16.9	100.0
Total cases	153	336	78	315	276	208	1,117

Notes: The data include plural responses.

P<0.05.

Abbreviation: NGO, nongovernmental organization.

Discussion

The capability of nanotechnology in producing new manufacturing processes and products in vastly varied sectors from agriculture to medicine could create changes in society as a whole.3 Some recent studies and our survey have found that consumers had little knowledge or awareness of nanotechnology.20–24 Therefore, people with experience and expertise in the field of nanotechnology from research institutes, universities, industry, government, and NGOs should provide accurate information on nanotechnologies and their applications to the public.2 In our study, we surveyed consumers and experts on their awareness of the risks and the need for public education about nanotechnologies and then compared the differences between their responses.

We found that consumers and experts differed in their perceptions of nanotechnologies, nanomaterials, and nanoproducts. The awareness or understanding of nanotechnologies in the expert group was higher than the consumer group. Although consumers did not know much about nanotechnologies and nanomaterials, they perceived lower levels of risk from the technology than the experts. Furthermore, the experts had higher concern than the consumers and thought that more negative effects of nanotechnology could influence the human body and the environment. It was generally recognized that experts and the public had differences in their perceptions of risk.17,18 In contrast, a recent study by Siegrist et al on the differences in risk perceptions of the hazards of nanotechnology between the public and scientists reported that experts saw fewer risks than lay people.1 We speculate that this was because the experts had greater training and experiences in nanotechnologies than consumers. Similarly, Siegrist et al assumed that experts, unlike lay people, based their risk assessments on actual or perceived knowledge about nanotechnologies.1 Moreover, some studies on emerging biotechnology showed that even experts could have conflicting (or different) opinions. For example, Priest and Gillespie reported that scientists had a more optimistic view than the public, but Gunter et al revealed that scientists worried more about the consequences of biotechnology.25,26

Our results also indicate significant differences between the consumers and experts for the need for disseminating information and education on nanotechnologies and their applications. More than 90% of respondents in the expert group answered that they thought relevant information and education were needed. These experts selected “effects on the human body” and “the benefits and function of nanomaterials and nanoproducts” as urgent categories and important information that the public should receive. In contrast, we did not find any differences in the type of necessary information selected by the consumer groups. Moreover, approximately 20% of the respondents in the consumer group did not even decide whether they needed education and promotion of nanotechnology. As consumers are unfamiliar with nanotechnology, we urgently need to prepare guidelines for nanoproduct labeling, and they should be in a form that consumers clearly and immediately understand. Even though nanoproduct labeling is a key information source for consumers, current labeling information is insufficient. For example, most consumers have not obtained this information about nanoproducts, and the information on nanoproducts labels is classified into benefits and effects, which makes it hard for consumers to understand. In relation to nanoproduct labeling, only European Commission regulation 1123/2009 of the European Council and Parliament in the case of cosmetics, in 2010, clearly required the labeling of nanoenabled products.27 The International Organization for Standardization has been working toward an international labeling standard for nanotechnology, “Labeling of Manufactured Nano-Objects and Products Containing Manufactured Nano-Objects.”28 At the international level, there was no other policy associated with nanoproduct labeling.29 If that the risk assessment of nanomaterials is not properly performed, this labeling can help protect consumers without doubt of the effect of hazard warning on nanoproducts. Therefore, labeling information for nanoproducts should be designed to include nanomaterials which are added, safety measures, possible exposure routes, and disposal information.30

In choosing the appropriate agents or routes for delivering education and promotion about nanotechnology, the experts had higher trust in professionals, NGOs, and central government. Although we found the consumers also chose central government, NGOs, and professionals, their rates of response were very low in comparison with those of the expert group. We assumed that the consumers had lower conviction in these agents because they have not been exposed to relevant information about nanotechnology from various sources. This is because of the gap between the experts’ and the public’s perception of nanotechnology. To decrease this gap in perception, there should be an increased communication and understanding between the public and the experts on nanotechnology. In contrast, we interestingly found that international organizations scored lower than the media in both groups. Continuous strengthening of international solidarity might be helpful to overcome this lower awareness and confidence in international organizations, and it could also bring about international consensus on national policy on nanotechnology.

It is necessary to form a consultative group to grasp the public’s perception and understanding on up-to-date research and depth of knowledge, as well as to form a possible and effective risk communication system for nanotechnology and nanoproducts. The public, the main perceivers of the dangers of nanotechnology, have the right to obtain all the necessary data and information for a better and accurate understanding of nanotechnology. In addition, the consumers of such information, including companies, scientific researchers, and the public, need to actively participate in the decision-making process. In earlier studies, it was indicated that the public reaction to nanotechnology could be affected by how the government, NGOs, and industry dealt with issues.31 In particular, confidences and trusts in governmental agencies were strong predictors for the risk awareness of nanotechnology.1,32 Therefore, the way that regulation and education programs were managed by the government, NGOs, and industry should be reflected in the high levels of trust from consumers, established by their knowledge-based risk awareness. An education and promotion program for consumers should focus on how reliable relevant information could be easily communicated, considering the unfamiliar concepts and definitions of various nanotechnologies. According to results from scientific evaluations, the government should exercise tighter control over nanomaterials, and further social surveillance should be conducted in examining the levels of public understanding on the risks of nanotechnology and nanoproducts.

Conclusion

This study examined the differences in awareness of nanotechnology between consumers and experts for the first time in South Korea. We found that consumers had a more optimistic view of nanotechnologies and their applications, even though they had less awareness of them than the expert group. In addition, the majority of experts thought that relevant information and education were needed, but some consumers were undecided or realized the needs for awareness and education. Therefore, a risk communication system aimed at consumers of nanotechnology should be starting to recognize these multiple values and incorporate them into the decision-making process. Simultaneously, communications channels should be established and implemented to ensure continuous education about newly developing nanotechnologies and products.