Nanoparticles in fossil and mineral fuel sectors and their impact on environment and human health: A review and perspective

Abstract

Nanoscience and technology have enabled better insights into the environmental and health impacts arising from the mining, production and use of fossil and mineral fuels. Here we provide an overview of the nanoscience-based applications and discoveries concerning coal and mineral fuel (i.e., uranium-containing minerals) mining, refining/production, use, and disposal of wastes. These processes result in massive nanoparticle release and secondary nanoparticle generation which have highly significant environmental implications and human health consequences on local, regional, and even global levels. Until recently, very little was known about nanoparticle fractions. Recent advancements and sophistications enable us to detect, collect and study these materials which are roughly 1 nm (0.001 μm) up to several tens of nanometers in size. These materials are known to behave differently (chemically, electrically, and mechanically), relative to their macroscopic equivalents. This is what makes nanoscience fascinating and difficult to predict, underscoring the importance of this emerging new field. For example, nanoparticles associated with coal and mineral fuel influence the release, uptake, and transportation of hazardous elements associated with mining, processing, and waste storage in the surrounding areas. This includes long distance transport down streams, rivers, and eventually to oceans such as from coal and uranium mine drainages. In terms of human health, in all phases of mining, production/refining, use, and waste disposal, the associated nanoparticles can be acquired through oral ingestion, inhalation, and dermal absorption. Inhalation has been shown to be particularly damaging, where lung, heart, kidney, and brain diseases are prevalent.Relative to all other fields of science and engineering associated with coal and mineral fuel mining, production, use, and clean-up efforts, nanoscience, although a much newer field then the rest by comparison, is still greatly under-represented and under-utilized. There is also a continuing gap between what we so far know about the behavior of nanoparticles, and what remains to be discovered.

Use of geospatial tools to predict the risk of contamination by SARS-CoV-2 in urban cemeteries

“…This small size allows this virus to agglomerate in particles suspended in the air. Microscopic particles that contain viruses can be absorbed into the human body and cause infection by: eating contaminated food and/or water; inhalation of these particles through the airway; and dermal absorption through the skin ( Romer et al, 2011 , Bakshi, 2020 , Leung and Sun, 2020 , Silva et al, 2021 , Shao et al, 2021 ).

Figure 3 Representation of the structure of UFPs and NPs (A) and SARS-CoV-2 (B).

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Nano-biofortification of different crops to immune against COVID-19: A review

“…On the other hand, natural nanoparticles in fossil or coal and mineral fuel sectors have serious impacts on human health and still need more studies about their mining and behavior, which could acquire through inhalation, oral ingestion and dermal absorption causing damage or diseases on heart, lung, kidney and brain particularly through inhalation ( Silva et al, 2021 ). Due to the accumulation of the nanoparticles and its unsafe discharge in the environment especially soil-plant systems, human exposure becomes inevitable through direct touching or via edible plant tissues causing hazardous health impacts ( Rajput et al, 2020 ).…”

“…This new approach has several advantages and disadvantages like nano-fertilizers or nanoparticles-based nutrients ( El-Ramady et al, 2020a , El-Ramady et al, 2020b , El-Ramady et al, 2020c ). These nano-nutrients like other nanomaterials have positive and negative impacts on the natural ecosystem and human health ( Malakar et al, 2021 , Silva et al, 2021 ). The positive sides may include promoting crop production and the nano-remediation of soils and water, whereas the main negative impacts may include the toxicity and nano-pollution ( Martínez et al, 2021 , Rizwan et al, 2021 ).…”

Geo-environmental parametric 3D models of SARS-CoV-2 virus circulation in hospital ventilation systems

“…The dynamics of atmospheric contamination by microorganisms and aggregates in ultrafine particles suspended in the air on a global scale is a frontier theme in geo-environmental studies ( Silva et al, 2020 , Oliveira et al, 2021 , Shao et al, 2021 , Silva et al, 2021 ). Neckel et al (2021) reported that moving air could carry fungi, viruses and bacteria to other regions, thus spreading environmental contamination.…”