NANOTECHNOLOGY'S DUAL EDGE: EVALUATING HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF ENGINEERED NANOMATERIALS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53555/qh2hm214Keywords:
Nanotoxicology, engineered nanomaterials, environmental impact, risk assessment, oxidative stress, green nanotechnologyAbstract
The quick development of nanotechnology is reflected in the expanding use of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in industries including electronics, environmental sciences, and medicine. Although these materials have the potential to be revolutionary, their special qualities also pose serious questions about environmental safety and human health. With an emphasis on how ENMs interact with biological systems and environmental matrices, this review evaluates the toxicological and ecological effects of ENMs. The objectives include evaluating mechanisms of cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and oxidative stress, examining bioaccumulation and persistence in ecosystems, and reviewing current risk assessment strategies. A systematic review of recent peer-reviewed studies, regulatory guidelines, and toxicological data was conducted. Evidence suggests that ENMs exhibit physicochemical traits that enhance their functional value but can also lead to biological disruption. Their ability to penetrate cellular barriers, induce oxidative stress, and interfere with physiological processes raises significant safety concerns. In environmental contexts, ENM accumulation is linked to microbial imbalance and ecological toxicity. The review underscores the urgency of developing harmonized safety protocols, eco-friendly synthesis techniques, and comprehensive regulations to mitigate risks. Future research should prioritize green nanotechnology and safer-by-design principles to promote responsible innovation.
References
1. Albrecht, M. A., Evans, C. W., & Raston, C. L. (2006). Green chemistry and the health implications of nanoparticles. Green chemistry, 8(5), 417-432.
2. Brune, H., Ernst, H., Grunwald, A., Grünwald, W., Hofmann, H., Krug, H., ... & Wyrwa, D. (2006). Nanotechnology: assessment and perspectives (Vol. 27). Springer Science & Business Media.
3. Carlin, D. J. (2014). Nanotoxicology and nanotechnology: new findings from the NIEHS and Superfund Research Program scientific community. Reviews on environmental health, 29(1-2), 105-107.
4. Chen, R., & Chen, C. (2017). Environment, health, and safety issues in nanotechnology. Springer handbook of nanotechnology, 1559-1586.
5. Clunan, A., & Rodine-Hardy, K. (2014). Nanotechnology in a globalized world: strategic assessments of an emerging technology.
6. Corsi, I., Venditti, I., Trotta, F., & Punta, C. (2023). Environmental safety of nanotechnologies: The eco-design of manufactured nanomaterials for environmental remediation. Science of The Total Environment, 864, 161181.
7. Dimkpa, C. O., McLean, J. E., Martineau, N., Britt, D. W., Haverkamp, R., & Anderson, A. J. (2013). Silver nanoparticles disrupt wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) growth in a sand matrix. Environmental science & technology, 47(2), 1082–1090. https://doi.org/10.1021/es302973y
8. Gajewicz, A., Rasulev, B., Dinadayalane, T. C., Urbaszek, P., Puzyn, T., Leszczynska, D., & Leszczynski, J. (2012). Advancing risk assessment of engineered nanomaterials: application of computational approaches. Advanced drug delivery reviews, 64(15), 1663-1693.
9. Ganguly, P., Breen, A., & Pillai, S. C. (2018). Toxicity of nanomaterials: Exposure, pathways, assessment, and recent advances. ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, 4(7), 2237-2275.
10. Holden, P. A., Klaessig, F., Turco, R. F., Priester, J. H., Rico, C. M., Avila-Arias, H., Mortimer, M., Pacpaco, K., & Gardea-Torresdey, J. L. (2014). Evaluation of exposure concentrations used in assessing manufactured nanomaterial environmental hazards: Are they relevant? Environmental Science & Technology, 48(18), 10541–10551. https://doi.org/10.1021/es502440s
11. Hristozov, D., & Malsch, I. (2009). Hazards and risks of engineered nanoparticles for the environment and human health. Sustainability, 1(4), 1161-1194.
12. Huang, X., Auffan, M., Eckelman, M. J., Elimelech, M., Kim, J. H., Rose, J., ... & Alvarez, P. J. (2024). Trends, risks and opportunities in environmental nanotechnology. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 5(8), 572-587.
13. Hussain, C. M., & Mishra, A. K. (2018). Nanotechnology in environmental science, 2 volumes (Vol. 1). John Wiley & Sons.
14. Isibor, P. O., Kayode-Edwards, I. I., Oyewole, O. A., Agbontaen, D. O., Onwaeze, O. O., Paul, E., ... & Chimbekujwo, K. I. (2024). Risk assessment and management in nanotoxicology. In Environmental Nanotoxicology: Combatting the minute contaminants (pp. 267-293). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland.
15. Lin, D., & Xing, B. (2008). Root uptake and phytotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles. Environmental Science & Technology, 42(15), 5580–5585. https://doi.org/10.1021/es800422x
16. Ma, X., Tian, Y., Yang, R., Wang, H., Allahou, L. W., Chang, J., ... & Poma, A. (2024). Nanotechnology in healthcare, and its safety and environmental risks. Journal of nanobiotechnology, 22(1), 715.
17. Malakar, A., Kanel, S. R., Ray, C., Snow, D. D., & Nadagouda, M. N. (2021). Nanomaterials in the environment, human exposure pathway, and health effects: A review. Science of the Total Environment, 759, 143470.
18. Malik, S., Muhammad, K., & Waheed, Y. (2023). Emerging applications of nanotechnology in healthcare and medicine. Molecules, 28(18), 6624.
19. Murphy, P. (2010). Nanotechnology: Public engagement with health, environment and social issues (pp. 0-69). EPA.
20. National Research Council, Division on Engineering, Physical Sciences, Division on Earth, Life Studies, National Materials, ... & Safety Aspects of Engineered Nanomaterials. (2013). Research progress on environmental, health, and safety aspects of engineered nanomaterials.
21. National Research Council, Division on Engineering, Physical Sciences, National Materials Advisory Board, Division on Earth, Life Studies, ... & Safety Research Needs for Engineered Nanoscale Materials. (2009). Review of the federal strategy for nanotechnology-related environmental, health, and safety research.
22. Nel, A., Xia, T., Mädler, L., & Li, N. (2006). Toxic potential of materials at the nanolevel. Science, 311(5761), 622–627. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1114397
23. Oberdörster, G., Oberdörster, E., & Oberdörster, J. (2005). Nanotoxicology: An emerging discipline evolving from studies of ultrafine particles. Environmental Health Perspectives, 113(7), 823–839. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.7339
24. Patni, S., & Bhatia, A. L. (2008). Nanotechnology: A double edged sword. Asian Journal of experimental sciences, 22(2), 153-66.
25. Rajabzadeh, H. (2025). Nanotechnology in Environmental Remediation: Opportunities and Risks. International Journal of New Chemistry, 12(4), 774-791.
26. Nel, André & Grainger, David & Alvarez, Pedro & Badesha, Santokh & Castranova, Vincent & Ferrari, Mauro & Godwin, Hilary & Grodzinski, Piotr & Morris, Jeff & Savage, Nora & Scott, Norman & Wiesner, Mark & Roco, Mihail & Hersam, Mark & Mirkin, Chad. (1970). Nanotechnology Environmental, Health, and Safety Issues. 10.1007/978-94-007-1168-6_5.
27. Sargent Jr, J. F. (2011). Nanotechnology and environmental, health, and safety: Issues for consideration.
28. Sequeira, R., Genaidy, A., Shell, R., Karwowski, W., Weckman, G., & Salem, S. (2006). The nano enterprise: A survey of health and safety concerns, considerations, and proposed improvement strategies to reduce potential adverse effects. Human Factors and Ergonomics in Manufacturing & Service Industries, 16(4), 343-368.
29. Shukla, K., Mishra, V., Singh, J., Varshney, V., Verma, R., & Srivastava, S. (2024). Nanotechnology in sustainable agriculture: A double‐edged sword. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 104(10), 5675-5688.
30. Singh, N. B., Kumar, B., Usman, U. L., & Susan, M. A. B. H. (2024). Nano revolution: exploring the frontiers of nanomaterials in science, technology, and society. Nano-Structures & Nano-Objects, 39, 101299.
31. Tawiah, B., Ofori, E. A., & George, S. C. (2024). Nanotechnology in societal development. In Nanotechnology in Societal Development (pp. 1-64). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.
32. Teow, Y., Asharani, P. V., Hande, M. P., & Valiyaveettil, S. (2011). Health impact and safety of engineered nanomaterials. Chemical communications, 47(25), 7025-7038.
33. Wahab, A., Muhammad, M., Ullah, S., Abdi, G., Shah, G. M., Zaman, W., & Ayaz, A. (2024). Agriculture and environmental management through nanotechnology: Eco-friendly nanomaterial synthesis for soil-plant systems, food safety, and sustainability. Science of the Total Environment, 171862.
34. Warheit, D. B., Sayes, C. M., Reed, K. L., & Swain, K. A. (2008). Health effects related to nanoparticle exposures: environmental, health and safety considerations for assessing hazards and risks. Pharmacology & therapeutics, 120(1), 35-42.
35. Zhuang, J., & Gentry, R. W. (2011). Environmental application and risks of nanotechnology: a balanced view. In Biotechnology and nanotechnology risk assessment: minding and managing the potential threats around us (pp. 41-67). American Chemical Society.
Licensed under CC BY 4.0 International.