Toxicity of nanomaterials; an undermined issue.

Mehdi Mogharabi,Mohammad Ali Faramarzi,Mohammad Abdollahi

doi:10.1186/s40199-014-0059-4

Mehdi Mogharabi, Mohammad Ali Faramarzi + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40199-014-0059-4

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Abstract

Nanomaterials are employed in extensive variety of commercial products such as electronic components, cosmetics, food, sports equipment, biomedical applications, and medicine. With the increasing utilization of engineered nanomaterials, the potential exposure of human to nanoparticles is rapidly increasing. Nowadays when new nanomaterials with new applications are introduced, mostly good and positive effects are mentioned whereas possible hazards arising from nanosize of the compounds are undermined. Toxicology studies of nanomaterials demonstrate some adverse effects in some human organs such as central nerve system, immune system, and lung. There is lack of complete information about human toxicity and environmental waste of nanomaterials. We aimed to highlight current toxicological concerns of potentially useful nanomaterials which are now used in pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences.

Highlights

Nanomaterials are employed in extensive variety of commercial products such as electronic components, cosmetics, food, sports equipment, biomedical applications, and medicine
Development of nanomaterials with numerous industrial applications such as electronic components, medical devices, tires, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics has increased the chance of accumulation in the environment and consequent entering into food chain and human body (Figure 1) [1,2]
* Correspondence: faramarz@tums.ac.ir 1Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy & Biotechnology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417614411, Iran 2Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417614411, Iran zinc sunscreens and 70% of titanium sunscreens are formulated with nanosized ingredients

Summary

Introduction

Nanomaterials are employed in extensive variety of commercial products such as electronic components, cosmetics, food, sports equipment, biomedical applications, and medicine. Nanotechnology possesses a progressively sophisticated ability to manipulate matter at the nanoscale, making new materials, products, and devices that demonstrate new and unique behavior. Exposure to products containing nanomaterials may cause effects which differ from those observed with conventionally scaled materials.

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