Potential environmental and health benefits of nanotechnology (original) (raw)

Application of Nanotechnology in Health and Environmental Research: A Review

Research Journal of Environmental and Earth Sciences, 2013

Nano-technology is commonly considered as a new field, however, it's successful application in medicine, cosmetics, energy and the environment has been witnessed during last couple of decades. The use of nano-robots, drug production and drug delivery according to biological requirement within the body, are some of the main achievements of nano-medicine. In environmental science, nano-technology is being applied to smart and/or passive purification systems for air and water of which, zeolites, aerogels, chitosan and zerovalent iron are already in use. Another nano-product, Aerogel, has shown incredible promise in physical cleanup of oil spills and appears to have no deleterious effect on the marine ecosystems. Furthermore, nano-generation provides some solutions for cheap and easily attainable energy in the form of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) made from nano-particles. Highly efficient photovoltaic cells of lead selenide and piezoelectric generators are ideas that have already been incorporated in energy producing fabrics and in compact and efficient solar cells. However, nanotechnology has been under intensive investigation, as nano-particles are made up of toxic heavy metals; their physio-kinetic and thermodynamic aspects are questionable; and their bio-persistence in the environment are of scientific concern. Moreover, some studies have also revealed them as a cause for cell necrosis, genetic changes and developmental effects, since nano-particles are capable of crossing cell membranes and the blood-brain barrier. With all its innovations and use in medicine and other sciences, there are repercussions to nanotechnology and nano-particles. This review compiles many of the current and some possible future environmental applications and the consequences that may result from them.

Impact of Nanomaterials on Health and Environment

Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 2013

Humans have been exposed to airborne nanosized materials (<100 nm) throughout the millennia, but the extent of exposure has increased significantly since the industrial revolution with special reference to the combustion processes. The advent of nanotechnology in the last 2 decades has further increased the risk of exposure of nanomaterials through one of the following routes; inhalation, ingestion, dermal and drug delivery using engineered nanomaterials. Conversion from bulk state to nanosize imparts new properties to the nanomaterials in regard to mechanical, electrical, optical, catalytic activity, and lastly, but not the least, the biological activity. Toxicological effects of nanomaterials need to be examined during a product's lifecycle including manufacture, use and disposal. The health hazards and safety considerations of nanomaterials need further attention and basic interdisciplinary research work is called for involving materials scientists, toxicologists, medical practitioners and environmental engineers.

Benefits and Application of Nanotechnology in Environmental Science: an Overview

Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry, 2020

As a result of world population growth, consumption of energy and materials is increasing, leading to environmental consequences. Some of these consequences include increased production of solid waste, increased air pollution caused by vehicles and industrial plants, contamination of surface and groundwater. Nanotechnology has the potential of improving the environment through direct application of nanomaterials for detecting, preventing, and removing pollutants and indirect application of them by using better industrial design process and production of products compatible with the environment. Nanoparticles show higher reactivity due to their small size and high surface. While this characteristic has various benefits and applications, it may have risks for the safety of employees and the environment, such as stay suspended in the air for a long time, possibility of accumulation in the environment, easy absorption, and damage to various organs of the body. This review has investigat...

IMPACT OF NANOTECHNOLOGY ON ENVIRONMENT

Nanotechnology has direct beneficial applications for medicine and the environment, but like all technologies it may have unintended effects that can adversely impact the environment, both within the human body and within the natural ecosystem. While taking advantage of this new technology for health, environmental, and sustainability benefits, science needs to examine the environmental and health implications. The impact of nanotechnology extends from its medical, ethical, mental, legal and environmental applications, to fields such as engineering, biology, chemistry, computing, materials science, military applications, and communications.

Nanotechnology can help clean the Environment

Nano Chemistry can help Clean the Environment , 2017

This review outlines the applications of Nanotechnology in remediating polluted Air, Water and Soil. Trends in nanotechnology can be utilized to clean up toxic waste sites. In recent decade, a large volume of research work has been conducted to explore nanotechnology for cost effective decontamination. Nanotechnology has exhibited a great potential for environmental remediation and organic pollution reduction. Nano-science and nanotechnology are the study and application of extremely small things and can be used across all the other science fields, such as chemistry, biology, physics, materials science, and engineering. Eric Drexler popularized the word 'nanotechnology' in the 1980's, he was talking about building machines on the scale of molecules, a few nanometers wide-motors, robot arms, and even whole computers, far smaller than a cell.

Editorial: Environmental Impact of Nanotechnology: Analyzing the Present for Building the Future

Frontiers in Environmental Science, 2018

Recent advances in nanotechnology have shown numerous societal benefits through the development or improvement of smart materials. Several engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have been produced during the last years that may be found in related sectors like health, food, home, automotive, electronics, and computers (Hansen et al., 2016). The estimated output of ENMs produced was up to 270,000 metric tons/year and in this case considering only SiO2, TiO2, FeOx, AlOx, ZnO, and CeO2 nanoparticles (Medina-Velo et al., 2017).