Impact of Nanoparticles on Human Health and Environment

摘要

Nanotechnology is used to create structures (films, tubes or particles) with at least one dimension in a size range below 100 nm. Nanoparticles have unique properties due to quantum effects arising from their large surface to volume ratio. Besides their use in technical products like computer chips or displays they have also found their way into cosmetics, medicine, food and beverages. This implicates (Ⅰ) an increasing environmental release from both fabrication facilities as well as from consumer products and (Ⅱ) a direct contact of consumers with these new compounds via skin, lung and intestine. In some cases, nanoparticles may even intentionally be introduced into the environment, e.g. if iron nanoparticles are used as catalytic agents to remove chlorinated compounds during ground- or waste water treatment. A distribution and potential accumulation of nanoparticles in the environment is therefore possible. It thus far is unknown if these processes impact on human and environmental health. To eliminate any possible risk related to nanoparticle exposure we evaluate technical nano sized particles and their effects on human and fish cells. In a first step we analysed tungsten carbide nanoparticles, which are envisioned to be used for extremely sturdy tools or polishing surfaces (Fig. 1).