Lessons learned: Are engineered nanomaterials toxic to terrestrial plants?
The expansion of nanotechnology and its ubiquitous applications has fostered unavoidable interaction between engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) and plants. Recent research has shown ambiguous results with regard to the impact of ENMs in plants. On one hand, there are reports that show hazardous effects, while on the other hand, some reports highlight positive effects. This uncertainty whether the ENMs are primarily hazardous or whether they have a potential for propitious impact on plants, has raised questions in the scientific community. In this review, we tried to demystify this ambiguity by citing various exposure studies of different ENMs (nano-Ag, nano-Au, nano-Si, nano-CeO2, nano-TiO2, nano-CuO, nano-ZnO, and CNTs, among others) and their effects on various groups of plant families. After scrutinizing the most recent literature, it seems that the divergence in the research results may be possibly attributed to multiple factors such as ENM properties, plant species, soil dynamics, and soil microbial community. The analysis of the literature also suggests that there is a knowledge gap on the effects of ENMs towards changes in color, texture, shape, and nutritional aspects on ENM exposed plants.
Environmental Science and Engineering PhD Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN), The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
P Venkata Laxma
PVL
Reddy
Chemistry Department, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN), The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
J A
JA
Hernandez-Viezcas
Environmental Science and Engineering PhD Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; Chemistry Department, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN), The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
J R
JR
Peralta-Videa
Environmental Science and Engineering PhD Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; Chemistry Department, The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA; University of California Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (UC CEIN), The University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West Univ. Ave., El Paso, TX 79968, USA. Electronic address: jgardea@utep.edu.
J L
JL
Gardea-Torresdey
D049329:Nanostructures / Q000633:toxicity*; D010944:Plants / Q000187:drug effects*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
D012989:Soil Pollutants
Fate; Nanoparticle-plant interactions; Nanotoxicity; Transformation; Transport