21
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to
Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
V. Kumar et al. (eds.), Nanotoxicology and Nanoecotoxicology Vol. 1,
Environmental Chemistry for a Sustainable World 59,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63241-0_2
Chapter 2
Nanomaterials and Human Health
Süleyman Tekmen and Selda Öksüz
Contents
2.1 Introduction: Nanomaterials
22
2.1.1 Natural Nanomaterials (NNMs)
27
2.1.2 Engineered Nanomaterials
27
2.2 Applications of Nanomaterials
29
2.3 Exposure Pathways of Nanomaterials
33
2.4 Potential Health Effect of Nanomaterials
36
2.5 Risk Assessment
44
2.6 Summary and Conclusion
46
References
47
Abstract In this chapter, nanomaterials are reviewed according to their physicochemical properties. The reasons for these properties and in turn their behaviors are
underlined. Most properties of nanomaterials, such as physical, chemical, electrical,
optical, and structural, are strongly size dependent. It has been observed that metallic particles tend to behave like semiconductors, as their dimension decreases.
Carbon nanotubes can be engineered to be lighter and stronger than steel. 1D ZnS
nanobelts are shown to absorb both UV (320 nm) and visible light (600 nm). Then,
how the attributes of nanomaterials can be appropriate for a specific application is
discussed. A wide range of nanomaterials and their applications including biosensor, drug carrier, bandage, etc. are concisely addressed. Thereafter, the black side of
the nanotechnology, concern related to human health and environment, is elucidated
and some experimental studies related to toxicity are compared. It has been shown
that their toxicity mechanisms are quiet complex. It has been claimed that generally
increase in concentration and decrease in dimensions result in higher toxicity and
higher cellular uptake. Copper nanoparticles are shown to be more lethal with
S. Tekmen (*)
University of Bayburt, Central Research Laboratory, Bayburt, Turkey
e-mail: stekmen@bayburt.edu.tr
S. Öksüz
Science Faculty, Department of Biology, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
e-mail: seldaoksuz@ktu.edu.tr
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to
Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
V. Kumar et al. (eds.), Nanotoxicology and Nanoecotoxicology Vol. 1,
Environmental Chemistry for a Sustainable World 59,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-63241-0_2
Chapter 2
Nanomaterials and Human Health
Süleyman Tekmen and Selda Öksüz
Contents
2.1 Introduction: Nanomaterials
22
2.1.1 Natural Nanomaterials (NNMs)
27
2.1.2 Engineered Nanomaterials
27
2.2 Applications of Nanomaterials
29
2.3 Exposure Pathways of Nanomaterials
33
2.4 Potential Health Effect of Nanomaterials
36
2.5 Risk Assessment
44
2.6 Summary and Conclusion
46
References
47
Abstract In this chapter, nanomaterials are reviewed according to their physicochemical properties. The reasons for these properties and in turn their behaviors are
underlined. Most properties of nanomaterials, such as physical, chemical, electrical,
optical, and structural, are strongly size dependent. It has been observed that metallic particles tend to behave like semiconductors, as their dimension decreases.
Carbon nanotubes can be engineered to be lighter and stronger than steel. 1D ZnS
nanobelts are shown to absorb both UV (320 nm) and visible light (600 nm). Then,
how the attributes of nanomaterials can be appropriate for a specific application is
discussed. A wide range of nanomaterials and their applications including biosensor, drug carrier, bandage, etc. are concisely addressed. Thereafter, the black side of
the nanotechnology, concern related to human health and environment, is elucidated
and some experimental studies related to toxicity are compared. It has been shown
that their toxicity mechanisms are quiet complex. It has been claimed that generally
increase in concentration and decrease in dimensions result in higher toxicity and
higher cellular uptake. Copper nanoparticles are shown to be more lethal with
S. Tekmen (*)
University of Bayburt, Central Research Laboratory, Bayburt, Turkey
e-mail: stekmen@bayburt.edu.tr
S. Öksüz
Science Faculty, Department of Biology, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Turkey
e-mail: seldaoksuz@ktu.edu.tr