Editorial overview: Nanomaterials as materials for removal, extraction, sensing, and detection of environmental contaminants
Abstract
The industrial revolution has brought many benefits to humanity regarding life accessories, food, health, communication, transportation, and others. However, it has also caused severe damage to the environment by releasing toxic contaminants that are frequently found in different environmental compartments. For example, plastics, a revolutionary material of the 20th century, used in thousands of products, are now considered a global issue because of their persistence and extended stay in the environment. Microplastics have been found in all environmental compartments [1] and even within the samples obtained from the human body [2]. Combating microplastic pollution has emerged as a challenging area for researchers, and efforts are being made to develop strategies for their detection and remediation in different matrices [3]. This is just one famous example of the contaminants released into the environment. The pollutants released into the environment are diverse and can be broadly classified into inorganic and organic pollutants. The inorganic pollutants include heavy metals, anions, radioactive elements, and others. The organic pollutants include dyes, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, phthalate esters, and many others. Some organic pollutants can stay in the environment for a long time and thus be classified as "persistent organic pollutants" [4]. Most inorganic and organic pollutants are toxic and can induce severe health issues in humans and wildlife. For example, some of these chemicals become functional even at trace levels and can cause endocrine disruption leading to many carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic disorders. These chemicals are known as endocrine-disrupting compounds [5].
- Publication:
-
Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health
- Pub Date:
- April 2023
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.coesh.2023.100441
- Bibcode:
- 2023COESH..3200441S