Silver Nanoparticle's Toxicological Effects and Phytoremediation.

Muhammad Ihtisham,Pragati Kumari,Mohammad Sarraf,Anshu Rastogi,Azam Noori,Fuxing Jiang,Saurabh Yadav,Muhammad Imran,Xiaojun Yan,Marian Brestic

doi:10.3390/nano11092164

Abstract

The advancement in nanotechnology has brought numerous benefits for humans in diverse areas including industry, medicine, and agriculture. The demand in the application of nanomaterials can result in the release of these anthropogenic materials into soil and water that can potentially harm the environment by affecting water and soil properties (e.g., soil texture, pH, organic matter, and water content), plants, animals, and subsequently human health. The properties of nanoparticles including their size, surface area, and reactivity affect their fate in the environment and can potentially result in their toxicological effects in the ecosystem and on living organisms. There is extensive research on the application of nano-based materials and the consequences of their release into the environment. However, there is little information about environmentally friendly approaches for removing nanomaterials from the environment. This article provides insight into the application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), as one of the most commonly used nanomaterials, their toxicological effects, their impacts on plants and microorganisms, and briefly reviews the possibility of remediation of these metabolites using phytotechnology approaches. This article provides invaluable information to better understand the fate of nanomaterials in the environment and strategies in removing them from the environment.

Highlights

Nanotechnology is a growing and advanced area of science and engineering that focuses on the synthesis, and application of matters on the nano scale with at least one dimension less than 100 nm [1]
Nanotechnology is used in various areas [6,7], including agriculture to improve crop yield by offering innovative agrochemical formulations and delivery methods, which in turn reduces the need for pesticide application [8]
Nanoparticles are used in precision farming [9] to achieve sustainable agriculture, as these particles are attributed to altering critical plant life events and are used in agriculture for a variety of purposes such as minimizing nutritional loss, reducing various environmental stresses, and increasing crop yield [10,11]

Summary

Introduction

Nanotechnology is a growing and advanced area of science and engineering that focuses on the synthesis, and application of matters on the nano scale with at least one dimension less than 100 nm [1]. Nanotechnology is used in various areas [6,7], including agriculture to improve crop yield by offering innovative agrochemical formulations and delivery methods, which in turn reduces the need for pesticide application [8]. Nanoparticles can be released into the soil during production, agricultural or industrial applications, or accidental spillage [15]. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are among the most commonly used engineered nanomaterials with medicinal, industrial, and agricultural applications [17]. Considering the vast usage of AgNPs, there is a possibility of their release into the environment, and their potential toxicological effects on plants and animals. This review focuses on three objectives to discuss this issue including: the possible pathways for the release of AgNPs into the environment; the toxicological effects of AgNPs on plants and microorganisms; and the recommended phytoremediation approaches. This review provides invaluable information for a more sustainable application of AgNPs

Applications of Silver Nanoparticles

Environmental and Toxicological Effects of AgNPs

Effects of AgNPs on Plants

The Effects of AgNPs on Soil Microorganisms

Nanoparticle’s Phytotechnology

Conclusions