Introduction
The nanoparticles are ultrafine particles ranging from one to 100 nanometers in size. The discovery of nanoparticles is used for industrial applications, medical imaging, drug delivery, cancer treatment, gene therapy, and other fields. The potential of nanoparticles is infinite with newly engineered novel nanoparticles (NPs). The ultrafine particles of nanoparticles are called nuisance dust. These ultrafine particles have their own unique features, and when engineered, they may exhibit biological effects. The enhancement in the technology of nanoparticles has enhanced the quality of life but also resulted in a human health burden. There are many health concerns with nanoparticles that are unknown.
Precautionary measures should be taken before the use of nanoparticles due to a lack of knowledge of the health effects of the nanoparticles. Exposure to ultrafine particles (UFPs) can result in possible toxic human health. Nanoparticles can have cardiopulmonary effects due to their anthropogenic activities. Therefore, it is important to know the toxic health effects of nanoparticles so that they can be used for occupational purposes. This article explains the health effects and uses of nanoparticles.
What Is a Nanoparticle?
The discovery of nanoparticles is considered the biggest engineered discovery since the Industrial Revolution. The discovery promises to bring change to commercial products, from machines to medicine, with the help of technology. The Industrial Revolution brought changes in products for human health. The new advancements in molecular manufacturing alter the relationship between materials, which has positive and negative health effects on the health and environment. The total estimated manufacturing using nanotechnology was one trillion dollars in the United States by 2015. The nanoparticle (NPs) and ultrafine particles (UFPs) are similar in size, even when engineered. The diameter of NPs and UFps is less than 100 nanometers. They both possess the same characteristics. Ultrafine particles refer to nanometer-sized particles that are incidentally produced through combustion, industrial processes, welding, automobiles, diesel, soil, and volcanic activities. Traditionally, UFPs refer to airborne particles with a diameter of less than 100 nanometers. The particulate matter size (PM) ranges from 2.5um. The life of UFPs is longer and found in the atmosphere, which can be transported over 1000 kilometers. It can remain suspended in the atmosphere for many days. Due to their large surface area, UFPs can carry large amounts of adsorbed pollutants, oxidant gases, organic compounds, and transition metals. This is the main reason for cardiotoxicity. It can be deposited in the lungs which have larger surface areas. UFPs possess various chemical, physical, and thermodynamic properties. The source of UFPs can interact with oxygen, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and sulfur dioxide present in the atmosphere through chemical reactions. The amounts of metal and aromatic components vary greatly depending on the location and source of UFPs. Therefore, the toxic effects caused by UFPs can range from mild to severe, depending on the mixed exposure to UFPs.
Nanoparticles (NPs) are engineered particles of size less than 100 nanometers. NPs are produced by different industrial activities, such as milling or grinding. NPs have specific physical and chemical properties.
What Are the Pros of Nanoparticles?
Nanotechnology has potential health benefits, which are perceived with apprehension for potential human health risks. These particles have enhanced strength, durability, flexibility, performance, and inimitable physical properties, which are used in multiple industries and treatment modalities such as the detection of tumors, targeted drug delivery, monitoring, and prognosis factors.
The following are the pros of the nanoparticles:
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Imaging and Diagnosis - The nanoparticles are used as probes in molecular imaging, which help to detect, quantify, and display molecular and cellular changes inside the human. The nanoparticles are inert and can interact without loss of sensitivity in a variety of cellular reactions. Therefore, NPs are used as biological markers.
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Drug Delivery - The therapeutic drug dose is site-specific targeted (targeted to the specific site). The targeted drug is delivered in encapsulated NPs form. The encapsulated NPs are more effective and site-specific. It has minimal side effects, bioavailability, decreased toxicity to other organs, and is cheap.
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Anticancer Therapy - The traditional methods to treat cancer are non-specific to target killing tumor cells. Conventional methods can also induce systemic toxicity and drug resistance. Exploring tumor-specific scalpel heat and burn tumors is a new advancement and potential use of nanotechnology.
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Gene Therapy - Transferring normal genes is a new method to cure genetic diseases. Gene therapy refers to transferring normal genes in place of abnormal disease-causing genes using a carrier molecule. The conventional methods of gene therapy lead to inflammatory reactions and disease in the host. The NP-based therapy was found to be effective in systemic lung cancer and used as a tumor suppressor gene. The NPs- based gene therapy has less systemic toxicity (cytotoxicity).
What Are the Cons of Nanoparticles?
The exposure of nanoparticles to other toxic materials in the workplace can cause adverse health effects. The failure to address the disease due to exposure of NPs by government and healthcare may lead to detrimental health effects. Occupational exposure to NPs, along with air pollution, are major concerns. The NPs can be inhaled, which causes systemic health effects by crossing cell membranes.
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Cardiovascular Disease - The anthropogenic sources of human exposure have dramatically increased since the beginning of the industrial revolution. The high mortality and morbidity rates have increased due to ambient air pollution. Several studies have shown a direct relationship between air particulate matter and increased health effects such as cardiovascular diseases.
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Pulmonary Morbidity - The major target of ambient air pollution is the lungs. There are adverse health effects due to ambient air pollution. Individuals with asthma in adults are most affected. Increased hospitalization, decreased function of the lungs, increased respiratory infections, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are the respiratory symptoms.
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Pulmonary Inflammation - The susceptible individuals with asthma have to provoke pulmonary health effects due to pulmonary inflammation.
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Toxicity to Other Organs - The secondary targets of inhaled air pollution are cardiovascular, neurological, and excretory systems. The toxic air pollutants are transferred to the systemic circulation, liver, heart, and brain.
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Skin Problems - The air pollutants affect the skin. The human skin is the largest organ in the body. Human skin has the largest surface area of nearly 18,000 centimeters. Human skin protects against the environment. There may be penetration of particles of size less than 1um through scratched, injured, and mechanically stretched skin.
Conclusion
The advancement in nanoparticles offers new opportunities such as early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease. This article provides a glimpse of the toxic nature of NPs. The toxicology and adverse health effects of UFPs and NPs outweigh the beneficial effects. Proper knowledge about the use of NPs is mandatory before large-scale production and industrial use. While the advantages of nanotechnology currently dominate our imagination. The potential for unwelcome human health results should not be disregarded. Nanotechnology will undoubtedly have a significant impact on a variety of applications and, consequently, on many facets of human life, such as environmental cleaning, better disease treatment options, more affordable electricity, and water purification. One significant problem facing businesses and governments is the absence of knowledge about potential negative health impacts brought on by exposure to various nanomaterials.
