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Application of Metal Oxide Nanomaterials in Agriculture: Benefit or Bane?

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Nanomaterial Biointeractions at the Cellular, Organismal and System Levels

Part of the book series: Nanotechnology in the Life Sciences ((NALIS))

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Abstract

Nanotechnology has progressed significantly in the past two decades and the use of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in industrial applications and commercial products has greatly increased. As a result of this widespread increase in ENM usage both industrially and domestically, concerns about their release and accumulation in the environment has also increased. Direct or indirect exposure and the subsequent accumulation of ENMs in the environment may have significant eco-toxicological effects on plants used as staple foods such as cereals. This in turn will potentially cause human and ecological health issues as a result of soil and plant contamination. A thorough assessment of the environmental risks of ENMs is, therefore, critical. To assess their environmental risks, understanding of ENMs unique properties such as specific surface area, high surface area to volume ratio, and variable surface charge under different environmental condition is necessary.

In this chapter, the effects of the most commonly released metal oxide engineered nanoparticles, primarily nano cerium dioxide (nCeO2, the most produced ENM in improving fuel quality) and nano titanium dioxide (nTiO2, the most produced ENM in consumer goods), on the physiology and productivity of globally important agricultural plant species are reviewed. The propensity for metal oxides to accumulate in these plant tissues is discussed in light of their phytotoxic effects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Contaminates Group, Future industries Institute, The University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, South Australia, Australia

    Nazanin Nikoo Jamal, Elliott Duncan & Gary Owens

  2. School of Natural and Built Environments, The University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, South Australia, Australia

    Nazanin Nikoo Jamal

Authors
  1. Nazanin Nikoo Jamal
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  2. Elliott Duncan
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Correspondence to Gary Owens .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY, USA

    Nilesh Sharma

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Shivendra Sahi

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Jamal, N.N., Duncan, E., Owens, G. (2021). Application of Metal Oxide Nanomaterials in Agriculture: Benefit or Bane?. In: Sharma, N., Sahi, S. (eds) Nanomaterial Biointeractions at the Cellular, Organismal and System Levels. Nanotechnology in the Life Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65792-5_9

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