Understanding the toxicity of nanotubes and nanoparticles in the environment: Are nanotubes and nanoparticles safe?
Abstract
Marjan Assefi*, Khadijeh Onsory and Alireza Iranbakhsh
Nanoparticles measures from 1 to 100 nanometers in diameter are chemically different from their corresponding bulk materials and their potential toxicity can vary according to dozens of characteristics, such as size, surface area and coating. In 2009 researchers claimed that nanoparticles were responsible for lung damage. Two workers in a printing factory in China in Beijing died (Nature 460,932/2009). Researchers at a meeting said that safety testing was needed for products containing nanoparticles, products that can be absorbed by the body like; food, cosmetics and perfumes in which nanoparticles are used in their colors or in their textures. The workers who work in an occupational exposure to nanotubes and nanoparticles are at great risk. The nanoparticles like: carbon nanotubes and nanoparticles of titanium dioxide and silver are under investigation to find out about the most toxic one via high–through put screening. Nowadays a lot of products that we have in marketplace which are labeled "nano-enabled" mean that they contain nanoscale particles. They are designed with nano to give them some beneficial features. In 2007, approximately $147 billion worth nano-enabled commercial and consumer products were sold. Nanotechnology has spread widely in the market, but it has shown mounting concerns over the human health effects. They have a very small size 100 nano-meters or less.
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