Nanoparticles in Construction Industry and Their Toxicity

Abstract

Nanoparticles (NPs) are ultrafine particles having size between 1 to 100 nm. For a few decades, the researchers have explored wide scientific applications of NPs in medicine, electronics, construction, manufacturing and in insulating materials. The benefits of using NPs in construction materials are huge; the NPs can modify the physical, thermal, antimicrobial, self-cleaning and self-sensing, and self-healing and chemical properties of construction materials. NPs such as titanium dioxide, carbon nanotubes, clay and aluminium dioxide are widely used in construction materials. The NPs used in the construction materials are released to the environment or the workers handling the materials likely to be exposed to the NPs, the exposure can be detrimental to the environment and human health. NPs can enter the human body through skin, via inhalation or ingestion. However, the rate of exposure to NPs can cause serious respiratory, cardiovascular, skin and nerve related diseases. This chapter briefs about the importance of NPs in construction materials/industry together with their adverse effects on environment and human life.