The Toxic Side of Nanotechnology: An Insight into Hazards to Health and the Ecosystem

Abstract

The objective of the present article is to provide an insight into the toxicity aspect of Nanoparticles on health and ecosystem along with risk assessment and monitoring. After a detailed screening of various research reports from the peer-reviewed journals, books, and research news, the article was prepared. Due to nanotechnology's various significant advantages over conventional technologies, it has been explored for diverse research and commercial needs such as cosmetics, medical, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, electronics, catalysts, robotics, and so on. However, nanotechnology has several challenging elements for the health, environmental, societal and economic aspects, and unpredictable consequences can happen due to its unknown detailed nature, which needs to be identified. Therefore, in this review, an attempt has been made to cover the two most important aspects of the toxicity of nanoparticles i.e. influence on health and the ecosystem. The health hazards to various organs, especially lungs, gastrointestinal tract and dermis and aquatic organisms, have been elaborated. Further, the ecotoxicological aspect describing fate, mechanism of ecotoxicity, ecotoxicological challenges and solutions to ecotoxicologist are discussed. Risk assessments, related to the approaches that can be used for the optimization of nanotechnology, are also mentioned. Its high time when nanotechnology field needs reconsideration and uncompromising attention at a public and private level about its use, handling, storage, proper treatment and disposal. Also, risk analysis and establishment of regulatory guidelines for optimization and safe practice of nanotechnology for human and nature welfare are recommended.