Ecotoxicology: Nanoparticle Reactivity and Living Organisms

Abstract

Nanotechnology is a major source of innovation with important economic consequences. However, the potential risks for health and the environment have raised questions on national, European, and international levels. Past experienceof sanitary, technological, and environmental risks has shown that it is not a good policy to attempt to deal with them after the fact. It is thus crucial to assess the risks as early on as possible. A particular problem is the potential dissmination of mass produced man-made nanoparticles into the environment [1, 2]. Nanomaterials represent a particular hazard for humans due to their ability to penetrate and subsequently damage living organisms [3]. Indeed, the data available at the present time shows that some nanomaterials, especially insoluble particles, can cross biological barriers and distribute themselves within living organisms.