Nanoparticle pollution and associated increasing potential risks on environment and human health: a case study of China.
The aims of this study are (1) to discuss the mechanism of nanoparticle lifecycle and estimate the impacts of its associated pollution on environment and human health; and (2) to provide recommendation to policy makers on how to leverage nanopollution and human health along with the rapid development of economics in China. Manufactured nanoparticles (MNPs) could either directly or indirectly impair human health and the environment. Exposures to MNP include many ways, such as via inhalation, ingestion, direct contact, or the use of consumer products over the lifecycle of the product. In China, the number of people exposed to MNP has been increasing year by year. To better provide medical care to people exposed to MNP, the Chinese government has established many disease control and prevention centers over China. However, the existing facilities and resources for controlling MNP are still not enough considering the number of people impacted by MNP and the number of ordinary workers in the MNP related industry applying for their occupational identification through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. China should assess the apparent risk environment and human health being exposed to MNP and develop action plans to reduce the possibility of direct contacts between human beings and the emerging nanomaterials. In addition, we suggest more comprehensive studies on the MNP behavior and the development of quantitative approaches to measure MNP transport, and persistence should be carried out.
Key Laboratory of Ecosystem Network Observation and Modeling, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China. gaoyang@igsnrr.ac.cn.
Yang
Y
Gao
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA. tiantiay@uci.edu.
Tiantian
T
Yang
Beijing GeoEnviron Engineering and Technology Inc., Beijing, 100095, China.
Jin
J
Jin
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D018570:Risk Assessment
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter
Environmental health; Human health; Nanoparticle; Nanopollution; PM2.5