There has been great interest in the use of carbon nano-materials (CNMs) in agriculture. However, the existing literature reveals mixed effects from CNM exposure on plants, ranging from enhanced crop yield to acute cytotoxicity and genetic alteration. These seemingly inconsistent research-outcomes, taken with the current technological limitations for in situ CNM detection, present significant hurdles to the wide scale use of CNMs in agriculture. The objective of this review is to evaluate the current literature, including studies with both positive and negative effects of different CNMs (e.g., carbon nano-tubes, fullerenes, carbon nanoparticles, and carbon nano-horns, among others) on terrestrial plants and associated soil-dwelling microbes. The effects of CNMs on the uptake of various co-contaminants will also be discussed. Last, we highlight critical knowledge gaps, including the need for more soil-based investigations under environmentally relevant conditions. In addition, efforts need to be focused on better understanding of the underlying mechanism of CNM-plant interactions.

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Carbon Nanomaterials in Agriculture: A Critical Review.

With tremendous increase in development of nanotechnology, there is a developing enthusiasm toward the application of nanoparticles in diverse areas. Carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, quantum dots, dendrimers, iron oxide, silica, and gold and silver nanoparticles are frequently used in different applications such as drug delivery, ceramic materials, semiconductors, electronics, medicine, cosmetics, etc. Some of these nanoparticles have shown major toxic effects on fauna, flora, and human beings, such as inflammation, cytotoxicity, tissue ulceration, and reduction of cell viability. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) can induce oxidative stress and fibrosis in the lungs of rat and mice. SWCNTs can also induce oxidative stress to the nervous system in human beings. Inflammatory injury and respiratory distress can be observed due to TiO2 nanoparticles with small diameter. Nanoparticles can also pose detrimental effects on plants, such as decreased growth rate, genom...

Critical Review on the Toxicity of Some Widely Used Engineered Nanoparticles

An overview of graphene materials: Properties, applications and toxicity on aquatic environments.

Toxicity of carbon nanomaterials to plants, animals and microbes: Recent progress from 2015-present.

https://iris.unive.it/bitstream/10278/3673274/1/1-s2.0-S1470160X1630187X-main.pdf

Saltwater ecotoxicology of Ag, Au, CuO, TiO2, ZnO and C60 engineered nanoparticles: An overview.

Toxicological effects induced by the nanomaterials fullerene and nanosilver in the polychaeta Laeonereis acuta (Nereididae) and in the bacteria communities living at their surface.

The antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) makes them useful in a wide range of products although their environmental impact is still uncertain. The main goal of this study was to evaluate short-term effects induced by AgNP on gills oxidative status and bacterial communities living at the skin mucus of zebrafish. Both the number of bacteria colony forming units and bacteria growth obtained from skin mucus were lower in all concentrations tested (25, 50 and 100 µg nAg/L). Besides, AgNP exposure caused a significant decrease in bacteria growth in zebrafish exposed to 100 µg nAg/L. AgNP accumulated in zebrafish gills at both highest concentrations tested, but this accumulation did not appear to result in oxidative stress. Overall the results indicated toxicological effects of AgNP on bacteria communities living at the zebrafish mucus surface. Although silver accumulation was verified in gills, no evidence of toxicity in terms of oxidative stress was found.

Toxicological Effects Induced by Silver Nanoparticles in Zebra Fish ( Danio Rerio ) and in the Bacteria Communities Living at Their Surface

Toxicity of fullerene and nanosilver nanomaterials against bacteria associated to the body surface of the estuarine worm Laeonereis acuta (Polychaeta, Nereididae).

Gisela Pagano

Papers

Toxicological effects induced by the nanomaterials fullerene and nanosilver in the polychaeta Laeonereis acuta (Nereididae) and in the bacteria communities living at their surface.

Toxicological Effects Induced by Silver Nanoparticles in Zebra Fish ( Danio Rerio ) and in the Bacteria Communities Living at Their Surface

Toxicity of fullerene and nanosilver nanomaterials against bacteria associated to the body surface of the estuarine worm Laeonereis acuta (Polychaeta, Nereididae).