Inorganic Contaminants - Nanotechnology

What are Inorganic Contaminants?

Inorganic contaminants are chemical compounds that do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds. These can include metals, salts, and minerals that are often found in water, soil, and air. Common examples include arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium. These contaminants can be harmful to human health and the environment.

How Do Inorganic Contaminants Affect Health and Environment?

Inorganic contaminants can pose significant risks to both human health and the environment. For instance, lead exposure can cause neurological damage, especially in children. Mercury can affect the nervous system and kidneys, while arsenic is a known carcinogen. Environmental impacts include the contamination of water sources, which can affect aquatic life and terrestrial ecosystems.

How Can Nanotechnology Help in Detecting Inorganic Contaminants?

Nanotechnology offers advanced methods for the detection of inorganic contaminants at very low concentrations. Nanosensors and nanoprobes can be designed to specifically target and identify contaminants like lead and mercury. These devices often use nanoparticles that exhibit unique optical, electrical, or magnetic properties, enabling real-time and highly sensitive detection.

What Role Do Nanomaterials Play in Remediation?

Nanomaterials can be used for the remediation of contaminated environments. Nanoparticles like zero-valent iron (ZVI) are effective in reducing and immobilizing contaminants such as arsenic and chromium. Carbon nanotubes and graphene are also being explored for their ability to adsorb heavy metals from water and soil efficiently.

Are There Any Concerns Regarding the Use of Nanotechnology?

While nanotechnology has great potential, there are concerns related to the toxicology and environmental impact of nanomaterials themselves. The behavior, fate, and transport of nanoparticles in the environment are not fully understood. There is a need for rigorous assessment to ensure that the benefits outweigh the risks and that any potential adverse effects are minimized.

What Are the Future Prospects?

The future of using nanotechnology to address inorganic contaminants looks promising. Advances in nanofabrication and nanocomposites are expected to yield more efficient and cost-effective solutions. Further interdisciplinary research and collaboration will be crucial in developing sustainable nanotechnological applications for environmental remediation and public health protection.

Relevant Publications

Microbial electrochemical Cr(VI) reduction in a soil continuous flow system.

Issue Release: 2024

Investigation of TiO/PPy nanocomposite for photocatalytic applications; synthesis, characterization, and combination with various substrates: a review.

Issue Release: 2024

Harnessing plant extracts for eco-friendly synthesis of iron nanoparticle (Fe-NPs): Characterization and their potential applications for ameliorating environmental pollutants.

Issue Release: 2024

Real-Time Diagnosis and Monitoring of Biofilm and Corrosion Layer Formation on Different Water Pipe Materials Using Non-Invasive Imaging Methods.

Issue Release: 2024

Effective elimination of Hg(II) from water bodies with acid-modified magnetic biomass spent coffee grounds: conditional optimization and application.

Issue Release: 2024

Incidence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in private drinking water supplies in Southwest Virginia, USA.

Issue Release: 2024

Screening of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria helps alleviate the joint toxicity of PVC+Cd pollution in sorghum plants.

Issue Release: 2024

Quantitative Tracing the sources and Human Risk Assessment of Complex Soil Pollution in an Industrial Park.

Issue Release: 2024

Trace elements and legacy and emerging organic contaminants concentrations datasets in sediments cores in L\'Albufera Natural Park (Valencia, East of Spain): Association with \"in-deep\" sediment characteristics and risk assessment to the aquatic biota.

Issue Release: 2024

Modified diatomite for soil remediation and its implications for heavy metal absorption in Calendula officinalis.

Issue Release: 2024

Determination of organic fluorinated compounds content in complex samples through combustion ion chromatography methods: a way to define a \"Total Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)\" parameter?

Issue Release: 2024

In-situ groundwater remediation of contaminant mixture of As(III), Cr(VI), and sulfanilamide via electrochemical degradation/transformation using pyrite.

Issue Release: 2024

Multifunctional molecularly imprinted nanozymes with improved enrichment and specificity for organic and inorganic trace compounds.

Issue Release: 2024

Differential capacity of phragmites ecotypes in remediation of inorganic contaminants in coastal ecosystems: Implications for climate change.

Issue Release: 2024

Safeguarding drinking water: A brief insight on characteristics, treatments and risk assessment of contamination.

Issue Release: 2024

Chemical contaminants in blood and their implications in chronic diseases.

Issue Release: 2024

Sludge-based candidate reference materials for enhanced quality control of particulate processes in total organic carbon analysis for wastewater.

Issue Release: 2024

Pro-vegetarian dietary patterns and essential and heavy metal exposure in children of 4-5-years from the INfancia y medio Ambiente cohort (INMA).

Issue Release: 2024

A Fenton-based approach at neutral and un-conditioned pH for recalcitrant COD removal in tannery wastewater: Experimental test and sludge characterization.

Issue Release: 2024

Synthesis and performance evaluation of S-scheme heterostructured LaFeO/TiO photocatalyst for the efficient degradation of thiamethoxam.

Issue Release: 2024

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