Natural, incidental, and engineered nanomaterials and their impacts on the Earth system

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 363; no. 6434; p. 1414
• Main Authors: Hochella, Michael F., Mogk, David W., Ranville, James, Allen, Irving C., Luther, George W., Marr, Linsey C., McGrail, B. Peter, Murayama, Mitsu, Qafoku, Nikolla P., Rosso, Kevin M., Sahai, Nita, Schroeder, Paul A., Vikesland, Peter, Westerhoff, Paul, Yang, Yi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association for the Advancement of Science 29.03.2019; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Alveoli; Astrochemistry; Atmospheric models; Bioavailability; Brain; Carbon cycle; Cell walls; Computation; Computational neuroscience; Computer simulation; Convergence; Critical components; Earth; Electrical properties; Environmental impact; Evaporation; Evolution; Food production; Health; Human impact; Human influences; Industrial Revolution; Lungs; Mathematical analysis; Nanomaterials; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Ocean surface; Oceans; Organic chemistry; Organs; Physical properties; Quantum confinement; REVIEW SUMMARY; Self-assembly; Social sciences
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.aau8299

Nanomaterials have been part of the Earth system for billions of years, but human activities are changing the nature and amounts of these materials. Hochella Jr. et al. review sources and impacts of natural nanomaterials, which are not created directly through human actions; incidental nanomaterials, which form unintentionally during human activities; and engineered nanomaterials, which are created for specific applications. Knowledge of the properties of all three types as they cycle through the Earth system is essential for understanding and mitigating their long-term impacts on the environment and human health. Science , this issue p. eaau8299 Nanomaterials are critical components in the Earth system’s past, present, and future characteristics and behavior. They have been present since Earth’s origin in great abundance. Life, from the earliest cells to modern humans, has evolved in intimate association with naturally occurring nanomaterials. This synergy began to shift considerably with human industrialization. Particularly since the Industrial Revolution some two-and-a-half centuries ago, incidental nanomaterials (produced unintentionally by human activity) have been continuously produced and distributed worldwide. In some areas, they now rival the amount of naturally occurring nanomaterials. In the past half-century, engineered nanomaterials have been produced in very small amounts relative to the other two types of nanomaterials, but still in large enough quantities to make them a consequential component of the planet. All nanomaterials, regardless of their origin, have distinct chemical and physical properties throughout their size range, clearly setting them apart from their macroscopic equivalents and necessitating careful study. Following major advances in experimental, computational, analytical, and field approaches, it is becoming possible to better assess and understand all types and origins of nanomaterials in the Earth system. It is also now possible to frame their immediate and long-term impact on environmental and human health at local, regional, and global scales.