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Nano Trends – A Journal of Nano Technology & Its Applications Review Article

Assessing Nanomaterial Toxicity and Environmental Behavior: Toward Sustainable and Safe Nanotechnology

  1. Md Afzal Mansoori University Department of Physics, Veer Kunwar Singh University Ara
  2. Khushboo Mishra University Department of Physics, Veer Kunwar Singh University Ara
  3. Binay Kumar Mishra University Department of Physics, Veer Kunwar Singh University Ara

Abstract

The rapid advancement of nanotechnology has introduced engineered nanomaterials into diverse sectors including medicine, agriculture, electronics, and consumer products. However, the unique physicochemical properties that make nanomaterials valuable also raise significant concerns about their potential toxicity to human health and ecological systems. This study presents a comprehensive survey-based analysis of 400 respondents from diverse professional backgrounds across seven countries to assess perceptions and understanding of nanomaterial toxicity mechanisms and environmental behavior. Through exploratory factor analysis, reliability testing, validity assessment, multiple regression, and structural equation modeling, this research identifies key factors influencing nanomaterial impact, including oxidative stress, membrane damage, and DNA damage as primary toxicity mechanisms. Results demonstrate that familiarity with scientific literature (β = 0.803, p < 0.001) and understanding of nanomaterial properties (β = 0.143, p < 0.001) are significant predictors of perceived significance of nanomaterial impact. The study supports five hypotheses confirming the significant relationships between nanomaterial types, their physicochemical properties, exposure pathways, toxicity mechanisms, and environmental persistence. Findings emphasize the urgent need for implementing safe-by-design approaches and comprehensive regulatory frameworks to ensure sustainable nanotechnology development while minimizing risks to human health and the environment.

Keywords

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