Yin Xiao-Hui, Xu Yan-Ming, Lau Andy T Y
Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Epigenetics, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China.
Toxics. 2022 Jan 22;10(2):50. doi: 10.3390/toxics10020050.
Since the rise and rapid development of nanoscale science and technology in the late 1980s, nanomaterials have been widely used in many areas including medicine, electronic products, crafts, textiles, and cosmetics, which have provided a lot of convenience to people's life. However, while nanomaterials have been fully utilized, their negative effects, also known as nano pollution, have become increasingly apparent. The adverse effects of nanomaterials on the environment and organisms are mainly based on the unique size and physicochemical properties of nanoparticles (NPs). NPs, as the basic unit of nanomaterials, generally refer to the ultrafine particles whose spatial scale are defined in the range of 1-100 nm. In this review, we mainly introduce the basic status of the types and applications of NPs, airborne NP pollution, and the relationship between airborne NP pollution and human diseases. There are many sources of airborne NP pollutants, including engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) and non-engineered nanoparticles (NENPs). The NENPs can be further divided into those generated from natural activities and those produced by human activities. A growing number of studies have found that exposure to airborne NP pollutants can cause a variety of illnesses, such as respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders. To deal with the ever increasing numbers and types of NPs being unleashed to the air, we believe that extensive research is needed to provide a comprehensive understanding of NP pollution hazards and their impact mechanisms. Only in this way can we find the best solution and truly protect the safety and quality of life of human beings.
自20世纪80年代末纳米科学技术兴起并迅速发展以来，纳米材料已广泛应用于医学、电子产品、工艺品、纺织品和化妆品等诸多领域，给人们的生活带来了诸多便利。然而，在纳米材料得到充分利用的同时，其负面影响，即所谓的纳米污染，也日益显现。纳米材料对环境和生物体的不利影响主要基于纳米颗粒（NPs）独特的尺寸和物理化学性质。NPs作为纳米材料的基本单元，通常是指空间尺度在1-100nm范围内的超细颗粒。在本综述中，我们主要介绍NPs的类型、应用的基本状况、空气中NP污染以及空气中NP污染与人类疾病之间的关系。空气中NP污染物有许多来源，包括工程纳米颗粒（ENPs）和非工程纳米颗粒（NENPs）。NENPs可进一步分为自然活动产生的和人类活动产生的。越来越多的研究发现，接触空气中的NP污染物会导致多种疾病，如呼吸系统疾病、心血管疾病和神经紊乱。为应对不断增加的释放到空气中的NP数量和种类，我们认为需要进行广泛的研究，以全面了解NP污染危害及其影响机制。只有这样，我们才能找到最佳解决方案，真正保护人类的安全和生活质量。
