Impact of Nanomaterials on Health and Environment

Throughout the millennia, humans have been exposed to airborne nanomaterials in the size of <100 nm, but over time, the extent of exposure significantly increased with the industrial revolution. In commercial products, a large number of nanomaterials result in growing public discussion to understand whether the social and environmental costs of nanotechnology offset its benefits. Advancement in nanotechnology in the past few decades significantly increased the exposure risks of nanomaterials through ingestion, drug delivery, inhalation, and dermal routes. Conversion to nanosized materials from bulk forms imparts many promising properties such as electrical, catalytic, optical, and biological activities. The product lifecycle with its synthesis, application, and disposal needs to be examined along with toxicological effects. Associated health hazards and safety consideration of these nanomaterials need much attention and research work in the interdisciplinary field, which calls for connecting toxicologists, environmental engineers, materials scientists, and medical practitioners.