The Dual Role of Nanomaterials in the Environment

Abstract

Unquestionably, nanoparticles (NPs) are present in all areas: food, medicine, electronics, industries, and others. The intense use of NPs has increased the concern about their fate in the environment and also the risk they may pose. On the other hand, the NPs are an important tool for environmental remediation and can be used to degrade and decrease of concentration different pollutants, such as toxic metals and also organic compounds. This scenario has motivated this review which aims to discuss the dual role of NPs in the environment by presenting their role as environmental remediators and also the possible effects on the environment such as the transformations that these particles can undergo which can increase or decrease their toxicity.