Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
and especially toxic metals such as Hg, Cr, Cd, As, Pb, etc. h ese toxic
metals can cause long-term damage to biological systems, can disrupt bio-
logical events at the cellular level and causes signii cant oxidative damage.
Uncontrolled discharge of waste, use of agricultural herbicides, pesticides,
insecticides and sewage disposal are the major contributors of contami-
nants [3]. Groundwater in many parts of the world is not suitable for direct
consumption due to high salt concentrations and in some cases due to
naturally occurring hazardous contaminants [2].
Industrialization of various countries without proper measures to con-
trol the mineral waste leads to unwanted sewage of el uents in soil as well
as in water. Another factor is that due to the world's increasing popula-
tion, water pollution becomes more complex and dii cult to remove; and
global climate change threatens to exacerbate water scarcity in many areas.
Excess quantities of these chemicals in the groundwater are toxic and
ot en accompanied by high salt concentrations requiring severe treatment
before they are suitable for human consumption and most other uses. h e
magnitude of this challenge is rapidly increasing. Its safety and availability
are inextricably linked to global health, energy production and economic
development [4]. Even they are major hazards to the soil-plant system [5].
Water scarcity is being recognized as a present and future threat to human
activity and as a consequence, water purii cation technologies are gaining
major worldwide attention.
New technologies that provide high ei ciency and high l exibility in sys-
tem and coni guration are needed. Nanotechnology possesses all these fea-
tures and thus may of er great opportunities in the above transformation
as seen in Figure 10.1. Nanotechnology has been identii ed as one of the
most promising technologies that could play an important role in resolving
Water
treatment
Drinking
water &
other uses
Waste
water
Figure 10.1
Graphic representation of conceptual improvements to water treatment.
