497
manufacturing, use, disposal of products, or waste containing
nanomaterials, such as from nanofluids used in products ranging
from cosmetics to agricultural products and general recycling initiatives that involve grinding, abrasion, or heat. In Figure 11.13, for
example, the illustrated accidental discharge could potentially be
from a large nanomaterial manufacturing facility (at least in Figure
11.13 other nanomaterials are shown treating the discharge). Nanoparticles from any of these sources might then find their way into
water, plants, and other materials. Unbound particles might again
come into contact with humans and animals and even be ingested
or inhaled by them, with potentially adverse health effects (see
Section 11.3). If accumulations occur, concentrations might increase
with time and ultimately affect animals higher up the food chain.
Questions have been raised as to whether the health of whole plant
communities themselves could be affected. Though it is broadly
acknowledged that current quantities of nanomaterials produced
today are relatively small and current impacts not large, the issue
arises when nanomaterials become far more widely produced and
used in many different products and processes.
Many concerns stem from observations that the very same physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials that often lead to
positive use and environmental benefits can also potentially cause
health problems in human and animal communities. As we have
seen, the tiny sizes of nanoparticles that make them so useful in
a host of applications can also be below the sizes of common
airborne particulates in our atmosphere that are known to cause
adverse health effects. The high surface areas that can also be so
positively exploited can potentially also be associated with toxicologically negative effects as surface reactivities can increase. In the
discussion on positive uses of nanomaterials in drug delivery, we
noted that transport through the body can be enhanced via the
use of nanomaterials. This same property can be problematic if
the wrong substance is transported that might negatively damage
human cells. For negative effects to occur, undesired nanomaterials would have to find their way into bodies via routes such as
direct ingestion, inhalation, or dermal means. These routes, in
turn, can be affected by the nature of the overall environment
that surrounds us.
Section 11.3 outlined the general nature of potential health effects
on humans; it will not be repeated here. There it was also noted that
a critical component of the health assessment issue was whether
or not nanoparticles where strongly bound to some host to the
extent that they could not easily become free to potentially enter
Environmental Benefits and Impacts
manufacturing, use, disposal of products, or waste containing
nanomaterials, such as from nanofluids used in products ranging
from cosmetics to agricultural products and general recycling initiatives that involve grinding, abrasion, or heat. In Figure 11.13, for
example, the illustrated accidental discharge could potentially be
from a large nanomaterial manufacturing facility (at least in Figure
11.13 other nanomaterials are shown treating the discharge). Nanoparticles from any of these sources might then find their way into
water, plants, and other materials. Unbound particles might again
come into contact with humans and animals and even be ingested
or inhaled by them, with potentially adverse health effects (see
Section 11.3). If accumulations occur, concentrations might increase
with time and ultimately affect animals higher up the food chain.
Questions have been raised as to whether the health of whole plant
communities themselves could be affected. Though it is broadly
acknowledged that current quantities of nanomaterials produced
today are relatively small and current impacts not large, the issue
arises when nanomaterials become far more widely produced and
used in many different products and processes.
Many concerns stem from observations that the very same physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials that often lead to
positive use and environmental benefits can also potentially cause
health problems in human and animal communities. As we have
seen, the tiny sizes of nanoparticles that make them so useful in
a host of applications can also be below the sizes of common
airborne particulates in our atmosphere that are known to cause
adverse health effects. The high surface areas that can also be so
positively exploited can potentially also be associated with toxicologically negative effects as surface reactivities can increase. In the
discussion on positive uses of nanomaterials in drug delivery, we
noted that transport through the body can be enhanced via the
use of nanomaterials. This same property can be problematic if
the wrong substance is transported that might negatively damage
human cells. For negative effects to occur, undesired nanomaterials would have to find their way into bodies via routes such as
direct ingestion, inhalation, or dermal means. These routes, in
turn, can be affected by the nature of the overall environment
that surrounds us.
Section 11.3 outlined the general nature of potential health effects
on humans; it will not be repeated here. There it was also noted that
a critical component of the health assessment issue was whether
or not nanoparticles where strongly bound to some host to the
extent that they could not easily become free to potentially enter
Environmental Benefits and Impacts