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2.1.1 Natural Nanomaterials (NNMs)
Natural nanoparticles are ones created by various natural events or processes. Only
about 10% of aerosol in the atmosphere is generated by human activities while the
rest comes from natural activities (Taylor 2002). The main sources of natural particles are volcanic eruption, dust storms from cosmic sources, ocean evaporation, and
some organisms. As these processes occur simultaneously and their interactions are
extremely complicated, they can end in considerable changes in the atmosphere and
in turn living being in it. To give some example, eruption of Krokato in 1883, one of
deadly volcanic eruptions, caused a dramatic deviation on the climate and resulted
in the global temperature decrease (livescience). Ten cubic kilometer of debris was
shot out into atmosphere (Self and Rampino 1981). Gas released during eruptions
involves HCl and H 2 S, which play a central role in acid rain generally starting just
after eruption. This acid rain adversely affects the biosphere.
As mentioned above, this is not the only source. Tunguska fireball in 1908,
Russian fireball in 2013, etc. can be exemplified among meteorites, which are
another source responsible for production of natural particle (Pichon et al. 2013).
According to astronomical observations and analyses carried out on meteorites,
stardust mainly consists of carbide, oxide, nitrate, silicate, carbon, and organicbased nanomaterials (Barnard and Guo 2012). Cosmic dust is proven to cause pneumoconiosis and fibrosis in rats when taken thorough intratracheal route (Batsura
et al. 1981).
Dust storms are the determining source of nanomaterials in deserts. The earth has
many deserts such as Sahara, Arabian, Gobi, Kalahari, and Australian desert.
Depending on the power of sand storms, nanomaterials on the deserts can be alleviated and transported to extremely longer distances, say thousands of kilometers.
This transportation has also a strong effect on climate stability and biosphere. Dust
particles hanging in air, aerosol, are in the range of 100–200 nm by 50% (Shi et al.
2005). Almost in each breadth, we inhale terrestrial airborne dust particle and for
now it is impossible to completely stop exposure to them. These particles degrade
air quality and lead to some health problems like asthma (Sapkota et al. 2005).
When inhaled, metal nanomaterials can reach the lungs and deteriorate the lung
function by producing reactive oxygen species (Rašović 2017).
2.1.2 Engineered Nanomaterials
Particles produced by natural events sometimes called incidental particles are not
controllably created in terms of size, shape, or compositions. In contrast to natural
nanomaterials, engineered nanoparticles have been intentionally and precisely synthesized by human to have certain size, shape, functionality, and composition. The
earliest engineered nanoparticles dates back to ancient Romans, Egyptians, and
Chinese. Craftsmen successfully produced nanoparticles and used them without
2 Nanomaterials and Human Health
2.1.1 Natural Nanomaterials (NNMs)
Natural nanoparticles are ones created by various natural events or processes. Only
about 10% of aerosol in the atmosphere is generated by human activities while the
rest comes from natural activities (Taylor 2002). The main sources of natural particles are volcanic eruption, dust storms from cosmic sources, ocean evaporation, and
some organisms. As these processes occur simultaneously and their interactions are
extremely complicated, they can end in considerable changes in the atmosphere and
in turn living being in it. To give some example, eruption of Krokato in 1883, one of
deadly volcanic eruptions, caused a dramatic deviation on the climate and resulted
in the global temperature decrease (livescience). Ten cubic kilometer of debris was
shot out into atmosphere (Self and Rampino 1981). Gas released during eruptions
involves HCl and H 2 S, which play a central role in acid rain generally starting just
after eruption. This acid rain adversely affects the biosphere.
As mentioned above, this is not the only source. Tunguska fireball in 1908,
Russian fireball in 2013, etc. can be exemplified among meteorites, which are
another source responsible for production of natural particle (Pichon et al. 2013).
According to astronomical observations and analyses carried out on meteorites,
stardust mainly consists of carbide, oxide, nitrate, silicate, carbon, and organicbased nanomaterials (Barnard and Guo 2012). Cosmic dust is proven to cause pneumoconiosis and fibrosis in rats when taken thorough intratracheal route (Batsura
et al. 1981).
Dust storms are the determining source of nanomaterials in deserts. The earth has
many deserts such as Sahara, Arabian, Gobi, Kalahari, and Australian desert.
Depending on the power of sand storms, nanomaterials on the deserts can be alleviated and transported to extremely longer distances, say thousands of kilometers.
This transportation has also a strong effect on climate stability and biosphere. Dust
particles hanging in air, aerosol, are in the range of 100–200 nm by 50% (Shi et al.
2005). Almost in each breadth, we inhale terrestrial airborne dust particle and for
now it is impossible to completely stop exposure to them. These particles degrade
air quality and lead to some health problems like asthma (Sapkota et al. 2005).
When inhaled, metal nanomaterials can reach the lungs and deteriorate the lung
function by producing reactive oxygen species (Rašović 2017).
2.1.2 Engineered Nanomaterials
Particles produced by natural events sometimes called incidental particles are not
controllably created in terms of size, shape, or compositions. In contrast to natural
nanomaterials, engineered nanoparticles have been intentionally and precisely synthesized by human to have certain size, shape, functionality, and composition. The
earliest engineered nanoparticles dates back to ancient Romans, Egyptians, and
Chinese. Craftsmen successfully produced nanoparticles and used them without
2 Nanomaterials and Human Health