Comprehensive Risk Assessment of Carbon Nanotubes Used for Agricultural Applications

Abstract

Carbon-based nanomaterials (CBNs) are often used for potential agricultural applications. Since CBNs applied to plants can easily enter plant organs and reach the human diet, the consequences of the introduction of CBNs into the food chain need to be investigated. We created a platform for a comprehensive investigation of the possible health risks of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) accumulated in the organs of exposed tomato plants. Quantification and visualization of CNTs absorbed by plant organs were determined by microwave-induced heating (MIH) and radio frequency (RF) heating methods. Feeding mice with CNT-contaminated tomatoes showed an absence of toxicity for all assessed animal organs. The amount of CNTs accumulated inside the organs of mice fed with CNT-containing fruits was assessed by an RF heating technique and was found to be negligible. Our work provides the experimental evidence that the amount of CNTs accumulated in plant organs as a result of nanofertilization is not sufficient to induce toxicity in mice.

Targeted mutagenesis of the vacuolar H+ translocating pyrophosphatase gene reduces grain chalkiness in rice

“…Samples were filtered again using syringe filters and transferred directly into glass autosampler vials. LC-MS processing of samples was conducted as described previously (Rezaei Cherati et al, 2022). Raw files were loaded into MZMINE3 (http://mzmine.github.io) and processed as described by Pluskal et al (2010).…”

Emerging investigator series: differential effects of carbon nanotubes and graphene on the tomato rhizosphere microbiome

“…Indeed, metabolomics analysis revealed that soil amendment of CNTs could induce up- or down-regulation of a variety of pathways in tomato roots, including carbon metabolism, biosynthesis of amino acids and secondary metabolites, and amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, among others. 17 Similarly, foliar application of carbon dots to maize seedlings increased the levels of succinic acid, pyruvic acid, and betaine in root exudates. 7 It is very likely that in this study, CNMs triggered changes in the tomato root metabolome.…”

“…At the metabolome level, CNTs applied to soil as plant growth regulators affected tomato pathways including carbon metabolism, biosynthesis of amino acids and secondary metabolites, and amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism, among others. 17 Moreover, foliar-applied carbon dots were shown to promote maize drought tolerance by increasing the levels of root exudates (e.g., succinic acid, pyruvic acid, and betaine). 7 Besides modulating plant biological pathways, CNMs can influence the soil microbiome through changing microbial abundance, diversity, community composition, and function.…”

Nano‐enabled stress‐smart agriculture: Can nanotechnology deliver drought and salinity‐smart crops?

“…For instance, the concerns raised in the medical field, especially regarding carbon nanotubes (Hansen & Lennquist, 2020), cannot be overlooked. The use of carbon nanotubes in agriculture increases several concerns, and the primary concern is their impending impact on human health and the environment (Rezaei Cherati et al, 2022). Thus, other NPs/nanomaterials should be examined before applying them to agricultural fields.…”