Effects of Nanoparticles on the Environment and Outdoor Workplaces

Our plain-English summary of Effects of Nanoparticles on the Environment and Outdoor Workplaces, by S.M. Taghavi, M. Momenpour, M. Azarian, et al (Electronic Physician, 2013).

The study

• Authors: S.M. Taghavi, M. Momenpour, M. Azarian, M. Ahmadian, F. Souri, S.A. Taghavi, M. Sadeghain, M. Karchani
• Journal: Electronic Physician
• Published: 2013;5(4):706-12
• Type of article: Review
• Cited by: 40 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

Abstract

Today, most parts of different nanotechnologies are growing and developing without any special rules and regulations. This could result in undesirable changes in the environment and affect workers in indoor and outdoor workplaces. Carbon-based nanoparticles, such as fullerenes, nanotubes, the oxides of metals such as iron and titanium, and natural inorganic compounds, including asbestos and quartz, can have biological effects on the environment and human health. The risk assessment of such nanoparticles requires evaluation of their mobility, reactivity, environmental toxicity, and stability. With the increasing use of nanoparticles for commercial and industrial purposes, the debate becomes whether the numerous benefits of nanoparticles can overcome the economic costs, environmental impacts, and unknown risks resulting from their use. To date, few studies have been conducted on the toxic and environmental effects that result from direct and indirect exposure to nanoparticles, and there are no clear standards to determine their effects. Lack of technical information in this regard has provided an appropriate context for supporters and opponents of nanoparticles to present contradictory and ill-considered results. Such an uncertain atmosphere has caused increased concerns about the effects of nanoparticles. Therefore, adequate studies to determine the exact, real risks of the use of nanoparticles are required. The information resulting from these studies can be useful in minimizing the environmental hazards that could arise from the use of nanoparticles. Thus, this paper briefly explains the classification of environmental nanoparticles and how to deal with their formation, diffusion, environmental fate and impacts, and our exposure to them.

In plain English

This article was a review, not a new study. The authors gave a brief overview of published work on nanoparticles, which they defined as materials less than 100 nm in size, and their effects on the environment and on workers in indoor and outdoor workplaces. The article did not describe how the reviewed studies were chosen. The review covered natural and manufactured nanoparticles, including soot and carbon black, fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and inorganic particles such as silver and titanium dioxide. It summarized earlier research on how these particles enter cells and on their toxic effects on bacteria, fish, small water animals and plants. Asbestos was named only once, in the abstract, as a natural inorganic compound that can have biological effects. The main text did not discuss asbestos. On outdoor workers such as construction workers, police and farmers, the authors wrote that few studies existed, and that the limited research available suggested an increased risk of adverse health effects. The authors concluded that environmental risk assessments of nanoparticles across their lifecycles, and measurement of outdoor workers' exposures, are essential.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: review article (no methods for selecting the reviewed literature are described)
• Who was studied: No study population; the review discussed published research on nanoparticles, including their relevance to workers in outdoor jobs such as construction, pipeline work, policing and farming
• Exposure: Nanoparticles (materials less than 100 nm), including carbon-based nanoparticles (fullerenes, nanotubes, soot and carbon black), metal oxides such as iron and titanium oxides, and natural inorganic compounds; asbestos and quartz are named only in the abstract
• Main results:
  • The review stated that few studies had examined nanoparticle exposure in outdoor workers, and that the limited available research suggested these workers face an increased risk of adverse health effects
  • Citing earlier work, the review stated that nanoparticle toxicity is related to small size, large surface area and the ability to produce reactive oxygen species
  • The authors wrote that accurate data on the expected concentrations of nanoparticles in environmental systems were not yet available for risk assessment
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that environmental risk assessments of nanoparticles during their lifecycles are essential, and that measuring outdoor workers' exposure to nanoparticles is essential

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