Phyto Nanotoxicology

Engineered nanomaterials have become relevant in large-scale industrial applications and are used in many common devices and products. Their intentional and non-intentional release into the environment may have negative effects in terms of the health of humans and plants. There is increasing concern about nanotoxicity in plants because they are not only a fundamental part of the ecology but also the basis of trophic systems. Nanotoxicology is the branch of toxicology responsible for describing the effects of nanomaterials on living organisms and the environmental consequences resulting from their use. Thorough studies are important because nanomaterials have stronger toxicological effects than those reported for the same materials in bulk or in solution. The main toxicological factor observed in various organisms is oxidative stress. Many techniques have been used to evaluate the toxicity of nanomaterials in plants; however, currently, there is no consensus on the optimal method for evaluating toxicity in plants. A concern is that bioaccumulation of nanoparticles in plants can enter the food chain of animals and humans, constituting a health problem. Therefore, extensive safety research projects and regulations are urgently needed.

This volume focuses on the mechanisms and analytical methodologies that are important in plant nanotoxicity and reviews the present status of the nanomaterials that might be directly and indirectly encountering plants. It discusses the characterization of nanomaterials in pristine form and complex biomolecules. The properties of ENM that are important for plant growth or toxicity, and the techniques to study the physiological and molecular impacts on plant bioprocess, are summarized in this volume. Studies on new omics technologies like transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics for a deeper understanding of plant nanotoxicology are also discussed. The book serves as a valuable reference source for graduate students, researchers, academicians, and scientists of plant science and nanotechnology. It is a reference book for undergraduate and graduate students in life science disciplines as a bridge between textbooks and recent scientific literature, providing an in-depth knowledge of phyto-nanotoxicology.