Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
that may fundamentally shift the current production practices to a more sus-
tainable paradigm.
To protect the health of their citizens, many nations have enacted legisla-
tion for pollution control. Some important examples are the European (EU)
Directive 96/61/EC, the United States (US) Clean Air and Clean Water Acts,
and the Japanese Chemical Substances Control Law. Pollution control largely
relies on monitoring to obtain data about the occurrence and concentrations
of contaminants in the environment. Environmental monitoring data are tra-
ditionally produced using analytical techniques such as mass spectrometry,
gas chromatography, and infrared spectrometry, but it was recognized that
those conventional methods do not adequately reflect the dynamic behavior
of environmental contaminants since they use large static devices, often fixed
to the ground, which cannot be easily reassembled and applied at different
spatial scales. Nanotechnology holds promise for substantial contribution
to pollution control through the development and application of more sensi-
tive environmental monitoring technologies, suitable to apply anywhere and
able to provide real-time measurements.
Excessive environmental pollution should not be allowed, but once pres-
ent, it should be removed by means of remediation. A variety of techniques
for environmental remediation exist today (e.g., surfactant enhanced aquifer
remediation, pump and treat, solidification and stabilization,
in situ
oxidation,
soil vapor extraction) and being applicable to a vast array of contaminants,
they all share the major disadvantage of being too costly. Nanotechnology
has promised to contribute to environmental quality through the develop-
ment and application of more effective and cheaper treatment and remedia-
tion technologies.
The following sections aim to provide a broad overview of the benefits of
nanotechnology for the environments in the areas of environmental sensing
and detection, remediation, and treatment, which have direct implications
for human health. In addition, the chapter seeks to discuss these benefits in
the context of the risks surrounding the production and large-scale commer-
cialization of nano-enabled products.
7.3 Nanotechnology and Environmental Monitoring
Environmental monitoring is defined as “…gathering, assessing and report-
ing environmental information, obtained through continuous or periodic
sampling, observation and analysis of both natural variation or changes,
and anthropogenic pressures and their effects on humans and the environ-
ment…” [11]. It provides important information about the concentrations of
