Abstract
Nanowaste is defined as waste derived from materials with at least one dimension in the 1–100 nm range. The nanomaterials containing products are considered as “nanoproducts” and they can lead to the development of nanomaterial-containing waste, also termed as “nanowaste”. The increased production and consumption of these engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) and nanoproducts that generate enormous amounts of nanowaste have raised serious concerns about their fate, behavior, and ultimate disposal in the environment. It is of the utmost importance that nanowaste is disposed of in an appropriate manner to avoid an adverse impact on human health and the environment. The unique properties of ENMs, combined with an inadequate understanding of appropriate treatment techniques for many forms of nanowaste, makes nanowaste disposal a complex task. Presently, there is a lack of available information on the optimized standards for identifying, monitoring, and managing nanowaste. Therefore, this review highlights concerns about nanowaste as future waste that need to be addressed. The review focuses on ENMs waste (in the form of NP, nanotubes, nanowires, and quantum dots) generated from the manufacture of a wide variety of nanoproducts that end up as nanowaste and adversely affect the environment. Furthermore, the review considers different types of ENMs in waste streams and environmental compartments (i.e., soil, water, and air). Detailed studies are still required to identify data gaps and implement strategies to remove and control this future waste.
Highlights
The massive increase in global production and consumption of nanomaterials has raised concerns about new forms of waste, known as “nanowaste”
There has been a further increase in the use of nanomaterials in such industries, more so since they can be used widely due to their diverse properties, such as their ability to reflect UV light while remaining transparent, anti-aging skin effects, antibacterial effects and antioxidant properties that are even greater than Vitamin E (e.g., C60 fullerene)
The use of cosmetics made from nanomaterials results in the environment being exposed to NP which end up polluting the soil as well as water bodies
Summary
The massive increase in global production and consumption of nanomaterials has raised concerns about new forms of waste, known as “nanowaste”. Ural or anthropogenic tasks are the two major means of contamination of the environment due to nanowaste, with the latter source being either intended or unintended. Natural or anthropogenic tasks are the two major means of contamination of the environment due to nanowaste, with the latter source being either intended or unintended. This intended or unintended contamination of the environment is enabled by introducing nanowaste into the soil, air, and water. Nanowaste contamination can occur in the environment through raw materials’ manufacturing processes, nanowaste management, nano-enabled products, and the use of such products [11]. Nanowaste sources can be divided into two main categories: point sources and non-point sources
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