Introduction
Nano-particles are minute particles that can only be observed through microscopic means, and whose tiny size make them to have larger surface areas compared to their volume, hence making them to bear and show special properties/characteristics different from those of large particles.
Sources
Several sources have been identified:
Natural occurrences
Nano- particles/ ultrafine particles are produced naturally through abrasion actions of the wind, or they can also be produced through natural combustions such as those occurring in places with volcanic eruption.
Artificial occurrence sources
A part from natural sources of the ultrafine particles; there are artificially produced nano-particles which may be intentionally or non-intentionally generated by man or his activities. The intentionally man’s- produced microscopic metal particles are used to achieve a specific function or action, thus, they are viewed as of benefit to human beings. On the other hand, those nanoparticles which are non-intentionally produced are not aimed at the achievement of any positive or negative development (Ostroumov, 2005, 378).
Environmental effects
Even though technological application of nano-particles has been on the increase over the past few years, especially in the field of biosciences as well as in physical and engineering sciences, much of the information from these areas have revealed that nano-particles pose a threat to the environment and human life (Luther, 2005, 391). Concerning this particular issue, it has been stated that “the concentration of airborne particles of ~10 µm diameter has long been implicated with human health problems. Recently it has been speculated that nano-particles of <0.1 µm may have greater health significance, especially with regard to cardiovascular disease”.
Toxicology of ultrafine particles
As mentioned earlier on this paper, microscopic metal particles, whether from natural or artificial sources, pose a threat to the environment even without the considerations of the nature of materials used, but with the holding of a single factor of the size materials or product. The pollution of the environment by nano-particles takes place with the increase of the metal minute particles in the air, when the concentration of the particles rise above the recommended concentration levels. The use of aggregate concentration of the particulate material matter in air however complicated the processes of determining and regulating the toxicological levels of different nano-particles with differing sizes.
Furthermore, the environmental pollution is generally caused by particles from the different sources. The major sources of environmental release comprises of nano-particles from combustion processes, nano-particles from industrial bulk manufacturing, nano-particles from medical and engineering manufacture. Due to the diversified field of operation, use and benefits retrieved from the usage of these minute particles by the various individuals involved in the manufacture and production, there has been a heated debate on the issue of utilization, control handling measures of nano-particles and other materials/products containing nano-particles. Despite of such differences among the professionals and experts from the various fields, it is not surprising to realize that there is a general agreement that heavy environmental concentration of nano-particles causes environmental pollution. Thus, most of them show that nano-particles have got associated health risks, including those of dermal damages and destruction of body systems of which cardiovascular system is included (Stark, 2006, 4376).
Toxicology processes and procedures
With the explanation of the effects of nano-particles, difference experts and professionals have used different approaches to express their ideas on the way nano-particles affect the bios. For instances, nano-particle manufacturing engineers express their ideas of toxicology by showing that such minute particulate materials have the potential of producing free radicals with high reactivity due to their large surface area compared to volume ratios. The produced radicals potentially cause numerous problems in the body of organisms by creating an oxidative stress environment. Additionally, there are some Bio-engineers who hold that these oxidative stresses are detrimental, and they bring about genotoxicity, which further leads to inflammatory diseases or conditions. The oxidative stress and genotoxicity are both major processes which cause adverse body effects leading to malfunctioning of foremost body systems, or organs including the brain, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Even though many cosmetic therapists and food experts together with a number of tissue engineers believe that nano-particles can be positively utilized for the benefit of human beings, they claim that nano-particles diffuses through the skin tissues, organ and cell membranes. The clustering of nano-particles and their subsequent entry into the nucleus portion affects the uptake of other important materials into the cells, and thus affecting the overall functionality of the entire cell (Kong, 2007, 2079).
Control measures of nano-particles
There are no authentic measures that can be utilized currently to ban or control completely the release of nano-particles to the environment. However, those measures which are presently available belong to the category of mitigation processes, which implies that they are suggested methodologies/ways of curbing the problem of escalating health risks associated with nano-particles. These are:
- Intensifying the research of nano-particles hazards through the engagement of researchers and manufacturers involved in nano-technology field.
- encouraging the utilization of proper cautionary methodologies/approaches
- putting efforts to reduce the great number of uncertainties involved in the use of nano-technology
- Training of shrewd expert to fill wide knowledge gap among various consumer/users of nano-products
- ensuring more stringent regulatory rules, policies and framework are put in place
- equipping both the workforce and the public with right tools and information
Conclusion
Nano-particles have found wide applications in the current world in the fields of manufacturing and production of services, linked to bioscience and engineering work. Despite of the wide applications of the nano-technology, its utilization has not guaranteed the world’s inhabitants a hundred percent benefits, thus, its utilization bears several benefits as well as disadvantages in human life. Total ban of the nano- technology do not provide a real solution to the world, or rather; it does either create more problems and/or escalates the existing ones. The only possible solution which can be attained would be through balancing of its risks with usage.
List of References
Kong, L. (2007). In vitro cytotoxicity of silica nanoparticles at high concentrations strongly depends on the metabolic activity type of the cell line. Environmental Science and Technology.
Luther, G. (2005) Metal sulfide cluster complexes and their biogeochemical importance in the environment. Journal of Nanoparticle Research.
Ostroumov, A. (2005) Identification of a New Type of Ecological Hazard of Chemicals: Inhibition of Processes of Ecological Remediation. Doklady Biological Sciences.
Stark, W. (2006) In vitro cytotoxicity of oxide nanoparticles: comparison to asbestos, silica, and the effect of particle solubility. Environmental Science and Technology.