Review on fate, transport, toxicity and health risk of nanoparticles in natural ecosystems: Emerging challenges in the modern age and solutions toward a sustainable environment

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2024-02, Vol.912, p.169331-169331, Article 169331
• Main Authors: Tran, Thien-Khanh, Nguyen, Minh-Ky, Lin, Chitsan, Hoang, Tuan-Dung, Nguyen, Thanh-Cong, Lone, Aasif Mohmad, Khedulkar, Akhil Pradiprao, Gaballah, Mohamed S., Singh, Jagpreet, Chung, W. Jin, Nguyen, D. Duc
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioavailability; Fate and transport; Nanosized particles; Nanotoxicology; Silver nanoparticles; Toxicity
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169331

In today's era, nanoparticles (NPs) have become an integral part of human life, finding extensive applications in various fields of science, pharmacy, medicine, industry, electronics, and communication. The increasing popularity of NP usage worldwide is a testament to their tremendous potential. However, the widespread deployment of NPs unavoidably leads to their release into the environmental matrices, resulting in persistence in ecosystems and bioaccumulation in organisms. Understanding the environmental behavior of NPs poses a significant challenge due to their nanoscale size. Given the current environmental releases of NPs, known negative consequences, and the limited knowledge available for risk management, comprehending the toxicity of NPs in ecosystems is both awaiting and crucial. The present review aims to unravel the potential environmental influences of nano-scaled materials, and provides in-depth inferences of the current knowledge and understanding in this field. The review comprehensively summarizes the sources, fate, transport, toxicity, health risks, and remediation solutions associated with NP pollution in aquatic and soil ecosystems. Furthermore, it addresses the knowledge gaps and outlines further investigation priorities for the sustainable control of NP pollution in these environments. By gaining a holistic understanding of these aspects, we can work toward ensuring the responsible and sustainable use of NPs in today's fast-growing world. [Display omitted] •NPs raise concerns about critical risks, including human health, plants, animals, and microorganisms.•NPs may accumulate in organisms and transfer through food chains.•NPs' entry and fate in ecosystems depend on shape, size, surface chemistry, and aggregation.•Future research and a robust understanding of the sustainable control of NP pollution are required.