effective in the removal of fluorides and gases, i.e., SO x , H 2 , NH 3, heavy metals,
benzene, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and organic dyes (Ibrahim et al. 2016).
Polymer-based nanomaterials have also been the subject of many studies. The
properties of those materials were particularly useful in the process of removing
polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), metal ions, dyes, and microorganisms (Tungittiplakorn et al. 2004;
Campbell et al. 2015).
The results of studies to date indicate that nanoremediation is a good alternative to
traditional technologies. The choice of the best nanomaterial to remove or reduce
pollution in a specific environmental medium requires a full analysis of the type and
concentration of the pollution removed, the suitable characteristics of the remediated
land, the amount of material necessary for the deployment of effective remediation,
and the possibility of recycling (Karn et al. 2009; Ram and Aranda 2018). Studies are
also necessary to make it clear what happens to nanomaterials used to capture or
degrade pollutants to avoid the possibility that these materials might prove to be a
source of environmental pollution. Nonetheless, nanotechnology provides many
effective strategies which can be used for the removal and prevention of environmental contamination (Guerra et al. 2018).
1.5
Ecotoxicity of Nanomaterials
Nanotechnology has been accepted by the whole of the scientific community as an
innovative and rapidly developing advanced technology. It has embraced nearly all
scientific disciplines, and its development is resulting in numerous applications. At
the same time, the uncontrolled presence of nanomaterials in the environment may
pose a threat to human health and cause changes in ecosystems (Drake and
Hazelwood 2005). Literature is available, many aspects of which point to the toxic
activity nanomaterials on living organisms (Yang and Watts 2005; Lin and Xing
2007; Kasemets et al. 2009; Ge et al. 2011; Rana and Kalaichelvan 2013; Du et al.
2017; Tripathi et al. 2017a, b; Prasad 2019).
The growing production and use of nanomaterials inevitably lead to their migration through trophic chains to all components of the environment (Klaine et al.
2008). One implication of nanomaterials may be their accumulation in the environment, and the main place where they will be deposited is the soil (Ruffini and
Cremonini 2009). The negative effects that nanomaterials can cause in the environment have already been shown, including the disturbance of biodiversity of soil
microorganisms, the influence on the circulation of elements, and the transfer of
nanomaterials accumulated by microorganisms to higher trophic levels
(biomagnification) (Werlin et al. 2011). The properties of NPs, i.e., size, chemical
composition, surface structure, catalytic processes, form, or solubility in water and
fats, may be modified through their contact with the soil environment, which may
subsequently have an effect on their transport and toxicity (Sayes et al. 2004;
Cornelis et al. 2010; Tolaymat et al. 2010; Shoults-Wilson et al. 2011; Sagee et al.
1 Nanotechnology in Agriculture, the Food Sector, and Remediation: Prospects,. . .
15
benzene, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and organic dyes (Ibrahim et al. 2016).
Polymer-based nanomaterials have also been the subject of many studies. The
properties of those materials were particularly useful in the process of removing
polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, volatile organic compounds
(VOCs), metal ions, dyes, and microorganisms (Tungittiplakorn et al. 2004;
Campbell et al. 2015).
The results of studies to date indicate that nanoremediation is a good alternative to
traditional technologies. The choice of the best nanomaterial to remove or reduce
pollution in a specific environmental medium requires a full analysis of the type and
concentration of the pollution removed, the suitable characteristics of the remediated
land, the amount of material necessary for the deployment of effective remediation,
and the possibility of recycling (Karn et al. 2009; Ram and Aranda 2018). Studies are
also necessary to make it clear what happens to nanomaterials used to capture or
degrade pollutants to avoid the possibility that these materials might prove to be a
source of environmental pollution. Nonetheless, nanotechnology provides many
effective strategies which can be used for the removal and prevention of environmental contamination (Guerra et al. 2018).
1.5
Ecotoxicity of Nanomaterials
Nanotechnology has been accepted by the whole of the scientific community as an
innovative and rapidly developing advanced technology. It has embraced nearly all
scientific disciplines, and its development is resulting in numerous applications. At
the same time, the uncontrolled presence of nanomaterials in the environment may
pose a threat to human health and cause changes in ecosystems (Drake and
Hazelwood 2005). Literature is available, many aspects of which point to the toxic
activity nanomaterials on living organisms (Yang and Watts 2005; Lin and Xing
2007; Kasemets et al. 2009; Ge et al. 2011; Rana and Kalaichelvan 2013; Du et al.
2017; Tripathi et al. 2017a, b; Prasad 2019).
The growing production and use of nanomaterials inevitably lead to their migration through trophic chains to all components of the environment (Klaine et al.
2008). One implication of nanomaterials may be their accumulation in the environment, and the main place where they will be deposited is the soil (Ruffini and
Cremonini 2009). The negative effects that nanomaterials can cause in the environment have already been shown, including the disturbance of biodiversity of soil
microorganisms, the influence on the circulation of elements, and the transfer of
nanomaterials accumulated by microorganisms to higher trophic levels
(biomagnification) (Werlin et al. 2011). The properties of NPs, i.e., size, chemical
composition, surface structure, catalytic processes, form, or solubility in water and
fats, may be modified through their contact with the soil environment, which may
subsequently have an effect on their transport and toxicity (Sayes et al. 2004;
Cornelis et al. 2010; Tolaymat et al. 2010; Shoults-Wilson et al. 2011; Sagee et al.
1 Nanotechnology in Agriculture, the Food Sector, and Remediation: Prospects,. . .
15