Health and safety hazards of nanomaterials

Abstract The presence of engineered nanomaterials in the environment causes a severe threat to human health and the environment. This chapter will give a brief introduction and history of nanomaterial, its effects on human health, and safety guidelines used in the world for reducing hazards of nanomaterials to the environment and human health. The physico-chemical nature of nanoparticles and their effects on the environment have been described. All nanoparticles have distinct size, chemical composition, crystalline structure, surface area, and aspect ratio, all of which influence the nature of their toxicity. Such explicit features of nanoparticles have provided scientists and researchers with an immense challenge to evaluate their exposure and level of toxicity to the environment in general and human beings in particular. Therefore, the full spectrum of the prospect of nanoscience is discussed.