Impact of nanoparticles on human and environment: review of toxicity factors, exposures, control strategies, and future prospects

Abstract

Nanotechnology has revolutionized the world through introduction of a unique class of materials and consumer products in many arenas. It has led to production of innovative materials and devices. Despite of their unique advantages and applications in domestic and industrial sectors, use of materials with dimensions in nanometers has raised the issue of safety for workers, consumers, and human environment. Because of their small size and other unique characteristics, nanoparticles have ability to harm human and wildlife by interacting through various mechanisms. We have reviewed the characteristics of nanoparticles which form the basis of their toxicity. This paper also reviews possible routes of exposure of nanoparticles to human body. Dermal contact, inhalation, and ingestion have been discussed in detail. As very limited data is available for long-term human exposures, there is a pressing need to develop the methods which can determine short and long-term effects of nanoparticles on human and environment. We also discuss in brief the strategies which can help to control human exposures to toxic nanoparticles. We have outlined the current status of toxicological studies dealing with nanoparticles, accomplishments, weaknesses, and future challenges.

Characteristics, Preparation Routes and Metallurgical Applications of LDHs: An Overview

“…Heavy metal, principally, but also the other by-products, are not biodegradable. They use to gather in living structures, inducing severe risks to the human beings and to the environment [67,68]. Also in this case LDHs represent a suitable solution for contaminants uptake, since they posses: a) large surface area; b) anion exchange capacity; flexible interlayer region, accessible to polar molecules and anions.…”

Nanoparticle–membrane interactions

“…NPs may also enter the body directly as nanomedicines or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents [11][12][13][14]. Given this degree of exposure, it is striking that implications for environmental and human health remain mostly unknown or poorly understood [15][16][17]. Identifying ENMs hazardous to natural organisms is difficult, given the wide variety of NPs, their diverse properties (eg particle material, size, shape, surface, charge, corona) and the complexity of biological entities (eg membrane and media composition, type of cell, cell cycle) [18].…”

“…Identifying ENMs hazardous to natural organisms is difficult, given the wide variety of NPs, their diverse properties (eg particle material, size, shape, surface, charge, corona) and the complexity of biological entities (eg membrane and media composition, type of cell, cell cycle) [18]. The interaction of inorganic NPs with biological systems can lead to severe cytotoxic effects [17,[19][20][21][22][23][24]. This cytotoxicity of ENMs is reported across a range of studies that highlight the biological impact of the NP exposure [5,[25][26][27][28].…”

Untitled

“…Nanotechnology, the industrial branch that deals with nanoparticles, is still young and promising (Savolainen et al, 2010) and has been developing rapidly for the last 20 years (Farré, Gajda-Schrantz, Kantiani & Barceló, 2009;Sajid et al, 2015). Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are used in various industries, eg.…”

“…The presence of NPs in the environment may have serious ecological consequences and may affect human and animal health (Handy, Henry, Scown, Johnston & Tyler, 2008;Sajid et al, 2015). Research on aquatic organisms Handy et al, 2011) revealed that NPs are toxic in both high and low concentrations.…”