Risk Assessment of Large-scale Nanoparticle Uses

As the size of high-tech devices is becoming smaller day by day, the main field of science that feeds this demand is nanotechnology. Getting smaller is not only an issue of size reduction but, on the other hand, novel and unorthodox phenomena are uncovered. Nanotechnology is a scientific field in which nature has been familiar for a very long time and the lead role of this field is reserved for nanoparticles. For the past 60 years, the demand for nanoparticles has been increasing exponentially. To meet the demands of the industry, large-scale production routes have been developed. From one point of view, nanoparticles are now an integral part of our life and revolutionized technology but, on the other hand, large-scale production and use of nanoparticles impose many risks on humans, the environment, and different organisms by means of different exposure routes. In this book chapter, the most used nanoparticle properties, characterization methods and large-scale production routes are reviewed extensively. In addition, an elaborative discussion is presented about the risk assessment approaches for these nanoparticles. Besides the proposed validation steps for these assessments, in vitro and in vivo study results are reviewed together with the effects of engineered nanoparticles on different organisms and the environment. The worldwide regulations and legislations about large-scale engineered nanoparticles and the future perspectives are also mentioned in the context of this chapter.