Biodiversity change behind wide applications of nanomaterials?

Publication date: Available online 20 September 2017
Source:Nano Today
Author(s): Ming Chen, Xiaosheng Qin, Guangming Zeng
Nanomaterials, like carbon nanotubes, graphene, metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, are increasingly applied in a wide range of areas with numerous benefits to economy and society. Large-scale production and applications of nanomaterials can increase the possibility of exposure to living organisms, pose risks to human health and ecosystems, and potentially lead to biodiversity losses. Previous environmental impact and safety studies that targeted nanomaterials typically focused on their toxicity, fate and behavior; little attention was paid on biodiversity consequences. Evidence for acute biodiversity change derived from nanomaterials is very limited. Several organizations and researchers have started to discern the relationship between biodiversity and nanotechnology. Nevertheless, more efforts are desired to explore the impacts of nanomaterials on biodiversity.

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