Nanomaterials have one dimension <100 nm and possess physico-chemical properties dictated by their unusually small size, large surface area, shape and chemical composition. New properties of nanomaterials have boosted their production and industrial applications in many fields (e.g., microelectronics, catalysis, fuel cells, materials science, textiles, biotechnology and medicine). In biomedical fields, nanomaterials are of the appropriate dimensions to interact with biological matter. However, they may also have negative effects on biological systems. Nanotechnology is a major, innovative, scientific and economic growth area, but the increasing production and use of nanomaterials have led to calls for more information regarding the potential impacts that their release may have on human health and the environment. This review addresses analytical approaches for characterization and quantification of nanomaterials in the environment and recent studies on their occurrence, fate and behavior.

This work has been funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the projects CEMAGUA (CGL2007-64551/HID) and SOSTAQUA (led by Aguas de Barcelona and funded by CDTI within the framework of the Ingenio 2010 Program under the CENIT call).

Peer reviewed