Handbook of Functionalized Nanomaterials

Book excerpt: Handbook of Functionalized Nanomaterials: Environmental Health and Safety discusses the reactive properties of FNMs used in a range of applications, and their toxic impact on the environment. Nanomaterials have unique properties that can make them highly reactive. This reactivity can cause unwanted interactions with living cells, an increase in oxidative stress or damage to genetic material - resulting in damage to the environment and local wildlife. This negative impact is often further increased after surface functionalization of nanomaterials with other materials which offer unique properties of their own. To ensure environmental safety and ecological balance, rigorous toxicity testing of functionalized nanomaterials (FNMs) is necessary. This book discusses the toxicological uncertainties of FNMs and the limitations of FNMs in a range of applications. Later chapters propose methods to reliably assess the harm that functionalized nanomaterials can cause to the environment and wildlife, as well covering recent developments in the field of environmental health safety. The book concludes with a discussion on the future prospects of safe functionalized nanomaterials. - Offers a novel, integrated approach, bridging the gap between FNMs and environmental health and safety - Analyses the reactive properties of FNMs and their toxicological potential - Provides an in-depth look at the impact of functionalized nanomaterials on the environment