Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Engineered nanomaterials in the environment: bioaccumulation, biomagnification and biotransformation

  • Review
  • Published:
Environmental Chemistry Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Engineered nanomaterial manufacturing and usage have been increasing in commercial products. There were 1814 nanotechnological consumer products available in the market in March 2015. Nanomaterials can accumulate, transform and increase in concentrations in biological systems. Nanomaterials offer many benefits over traditional materials, yet their small size also increases their toxicity. Bioaccumulation of nanomaterials begins with nanoparticle accumulation in the organism, then biomagnification follows in the predatory organism. Biotransformation is the last stage, whereby the chemical concentration of toxins in the organism exceeds that in the environment. Here, we review the interaction of nanomaterials with biological substances. It has been observed that the effects of nanomaterials begin at the bottom of the food chain and move all the way through the human body. We have summarized the mechanisms of interaction between engineered nanomaterials and the environment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eylem Asmatulu.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Uddin, M.N., Desai, F. & Asmatulu, E. Engineered nanomaterials in the environment: bioaccumulation, biomagnification and biotransformation. Environ Chem Lett 18, 1073–1083 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-019-00947-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-019-00947-0

Keywords

Navigation