Nanomaterials in Soil Environment: A Review

Abstract

Nanomaterials (NMs) have become an integral part of our daily life and their extensive uproduction will only increase with the coming time. These NMs exhibit significant contrast in regard to dimension, reaction, and structure. The most important aspect of the NMs is that these can be easily manipulated and engineered to custom-suit different functions/industries. Owing totheir dynamic nature, these NMs behave differently when introduced in any medium. In soil, the behavior of NMs is significantly controlled by the interactions of nanomaterials with soil phases. Although, NMs are deemed beneficial for human-use yet these also carry lethal effects. Moreover, there is dearth of adequate research with respect to the interactions amongnanomaterials and soil physicochemical properties; their accumulation-dissolution dynamics in soil-plant systems; and their long term influence on soil health. Several NMs induce physiological stress when introduced inside the body. Thus, various researchers have devised green pathways for producing NMs, although their wide applicability is still questionable. Although the domain of nanotechnology is greatly explored yet there remain several grey areaswhich need to be addressed for sustainable utilization of these unique materials in the benefit of humankind.