Nanotechnological Treatment of Water and Its Impact on Biota – An Overview | Original Article

ABSTRACT:

There is the huge hope that nanotechnological applications and products will lead to a cleaner and healthier environment [1], maintaining and re-improving the quality of water, so that the Earth will be able to support human and other life. The scarcity of water, in terms of both quantity and quality, poses a significant threat to the well-being of people, especially in developing countries. Great hope is placed on the role that nanotechnology can play in providing clean water to these countries in an efficient and cheap way [2]. On the other hand, the discussion about the potential adverse effects of nanoparticle has increased steadily in recent years and is a top priority in agencies all over the world. When nanoparticle eventually enter the environment, the catalytic activity of a nanoparticle can be advantageous when used for the degradation of pollutants, but can induce a toxic response when taken up by a cell. The high sorption capacity of certain nanoparticles is exploited for the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants while this property may also mobilize sequestered pollutants in the environment The engineering of nanoparticles that are easily taken up by cells will have a huge impact on medicine and pharmacological research, but the dispersion of such particles in the environment can lead to unwanted and unexpected effect. This paper will give a general overview of potential environmental applications of nanotechnology and nanoparticle and will also give a short overview of the current knowledge about possible risks for the environment.