Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 17
Guo-Bin Shan, Rao Y. Surampalli, R.D. Tyagi, Tian C. Zhang, Zhiqiang Hu,
and S. Yan
With the development of nanotechnology-enhanced products, there is a growing
public debate on whether the environmental and social impacts of nanomaterials (NMs)
outweigh their many benefits. Vicki Colvin calls it "the wow-to-yuck trajectory": a new
technology is heralded for its amazing benefits, but over time, its dark side emerges in
the form of unintended negative effects on the environment or human health (Dagani,
2003). Currently, NMs are typically classified as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), metal
containing nanomaterials (including metal oxides), semiconductor nanocrystals (e.g.,
quantum dots), zero-valent metals nanomaterials, and dendrimers (Klaine et al., 2008).
The production and application of the NMs will inevitably lead to their appearance in air,
water, and soil environments. The unique physicochemical properties and high surface
areas of the NMs not only provide the potential to bind and treat toxic pollutants, but
also present toxic hazards during their applications. A variety of living organisms
including human beings will directly or indirectly expose to these NMs. Human
exposure to NMs, most likely occurs during NM manufacturing, through the drinking of
contaminated water, or the breathing of the polluted air containing nanoparticles of
harmful materials.
More and more attention has been given to the exposure, health consequences
and risk implications of the NMs. Research has shown that there may be considerable
risks associated with nanomaterials (NMs). The behavior and fate of NMs in organisms
are much more complicated than previously thought because NMs may cause variable
responses once they contact and/or enter a host. This chapter will discuss routes of NMs
into the water environments, human and animal exposures to NMs, harmful effects of
NMs, how to manage and minimize the risk of NMs to workers, consumers, and the
591
Search WWH ::
Custom Search