Exposure to Engineered Nanomaterials in the Environment

Exposure to Engineered Nanomaterials in the Environment provide a new, holistic framework for testing and evaluating the potential benefits and risks of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), including their potential socioeconomic impacts, ethical issues and consumers’ expectations and fears. The book covers nanomaterial presence in various environments, agroecosystems and other areas within the human sphere of actions. The book includes sections on (i) Chemical, physical and biological properties, (ii) Presence and diffusion of ENMs in human environments, agriculture, food and drug products, (iii) ENMs as a pillar in biological and medical research, and (iv) Social and regulatory issues emerging from years of application.

The book is designed to increase awareness to key end-users and stakeholders, including food producers and processors, industry, representatives of society and consumers, and those looking to implement an accurate and effective risk analysis procedure that promotes the sustainable use of nanotechnology.

Assesses both the positive and negative impacts of engineered nanomaterials in the environmentShows how engineered nanomaterials are used in agricultural environments, food products, drugs and cosmeticsDiscusses the unique properties of a range of engineered nanomaterials that lead to their environmental effects

Part I: Synthesis and characterisation of ENMs 1. Procedures for synthesis of ENMs 2. Methods for characterisation, chemical and physical properties 3. Standardisation of testing

Part 2: ENMs in the environment 4. Natural environments 5. Agricultural environments 6. Food products, drugs, cosmetics

Part 3: ENMs in biology and medicine 7. Toxicology in model organisms, risk assessment 8. Methods for toxicological studies, in vivo, in vitro, genome wide 9. Strategies for drug delivery 10. ENMs in therapy

Part 4: Social and regulatory aspects of ENMs 11. Social and economic impacts 12. Consumer acceptance 13. Ethics and regulation