Nanotechnology in Agriculture: Opportunities, Toxicological Implications, and Occupational Risks

Details

• Personal Author:
  Beezhold, Donald H. ; Iavicoli I ; Leso V ; Shvedova AA
• Description:
  Nanotechnology has the potential to make a beneficial impact on several agricultural, forestry, and environmental challenges, such as urbanization, energy constraints, and sustainable use of resources. However, new environmental and human health hazards may emerge from nano-enhanced applications. This raises concerns for agricultural workers who may become primarily exposed to such xenobiotics during their job tasks. The aim of this review is to discuss promising solutions that nanotechnology may provide in agricultural activities, with a specific focus on critical aspects, challenging issues, and research needs for occupational risk assessment and management in this emerging field. Eco-toxicological aspects were not the focus of the review. Nano-fertilizers, (nano-sized nutrients, nano-coated fertilizers, or engineered metal-oxide or carbon-based nanomaterials per se), and nano-pesticides, (nano-formulations of traditional active ingredients or inorganic nanomaterials), may provide a targeted/controlled release of agrochemicals, aimed to obtain their fullest biological efficacy without over-dosage. Nano-sensors and nano-remediation methods may detect and remove environmental contaminants. However, limited knowledge concerning nanomaterial biosafety, adverse effects, fate, and acquired biological reactivity once dispersed into the environment, requires further scientific efforts to assess possible nano-agricultural risks. In this perspective, toxicological research should be aimed to define nanomaterial hazards and levels of exposure along the life-cycle of nano-enabled products, and to assess those physico-chemical features affecting nanomaterial toxicity, possible interactions with agro-system co-formulants, and stressors. Overall, this review highlights the importance to define adequate risk management strategies for workers, occupational safety practices and policies, as well as to develop a responsible regulatory consensus on nanotechnology in agriculture. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Environmental Exposure Environmental Pollution Fertilizers Forestry Hazardous Substances Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Toxicology

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• Keywords:
  Agricultural Agricultural Chemicals Agricultural Processes Agricultural Workers Author Keywords: Nano-enabled Agrochemicals Biological Effects Carbon Environmental Exposure Environmental Hazards Exposure Levels Health Hazards Metal Oxides Nano-enhanced Environmental Remediation Nanocellulose Nanomaterials Nanotechnology Nanotoxicology Occupational Risk Assessment And Management Risk Assessment Risk Factors Xenobiotics

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• ISSN:
  0041-008X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  96-111
• Volume:
  329
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20049910
• Citation:
  Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2017 Aug; 329:96-111
• Contact Point Address:
  Ivo Iavicoli, Department of Public Health, Division of Occupational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
• Email:
  ivo.iavicoli@unina.it
• CAS Registry Number:
  Carbon (CAS RN 7440-44-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:1a2cf483d9a1d7a5bd02d762b8280dd45508b7dabd0a13d15da03ef5bef677dcc5ecd5c01b6b2e4c0661d27aa33e907fc318440dcdbc8b6f597e333b19f39bf1
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/210504/cdc_210504_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 3.32 MB ]