Review of Bioaccumulation, Biomagnification, and Biotransformation of Engineered Nanomaterials

Engineered nanomaterial manufacturing and utilization has been increasing in both consumer and commercial products. As stated by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, there are 1814 nanotechnology consumer products available in the market as of Mach 2015. In Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies’ consumer product inventory list, nanoproducts are categorized into eight main categories; house appliances, automotive, cross-cutting, electronics and computers, food and beverage, goods for children, health, and fitness, and home and garden. Nanomaterials provide numerous advantages over conventional materials, even though their small size, shape and related properties may likewise expand their toxicity levels. The bioaccumulation of nanomaterials begins with nanoparticle accumulation in the organism, and then biomagnification follows the toxins accumulated by the predatory organism. Bioconcentration is the last stage, whereby the chemical concentration of toxins in the organism exceeds that in the environment. Here, we have reviewed the interaction of nanomaterials with biological substances focusing on bioaccumulation, biomagnification, and bioconcentration, in order to determine the effect of each nanomaterial on the microorganism as well as the environment from beginning to end. It has been observed that the effects of nanomaterials begin at the bottom of the food chain and move all the way through the human body.