A review on the use of nanomaterials in agriculture: benefits and associated health risks

2022 ◽  
Vol 07 ◽  
Author(s):  
Punit Kumar ◽  
Sujata Malik ◽  
Kashyap Kumar Dubey
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Soil Microflora ◽  
World Population ◽  
Chemical Fertilizers ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Agricultural Output ◽  
High Productivity ◽  
Commercial Applications

Background: The present world population is about 7.9 billion and it is increasing continuously. Thus, there is an urgent requirement to enhance the agricultural output sustainably. Agricultural approaches such as the use of advanced agriculture methods, high productivity varieties, and enhanced application of fertilizers and pesticides have significantly increased food grain production but in an unsustainable way. Chemical-based conventional fertilizers and pesticides have been found associated with environmental pollution and other unwanted effects on the ecosystem, soil quality, and soil microflora, etc. Nanomaterials may be used to replace conventional fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture. Objective: The aim of this review is to provide information about the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and the use of nanomaterials in agriculture. Including this, the health risks of nanomaterials are discussed. Method: This review article includes a survey of literature from different online sources (for example, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar, etc.). Results: The improvement in agricultural output using chemical fertilizers and pesticides is considered unsustainable as it is increasing the cost of production, affecting the soil quality, disturbing nutrient availability in crops, and causing environmental pollution. Nanotechnology is a potent innovative practice and nanomaterials may be used in agriculture as nanofertilizers, nanopesticides, and nanosensors. Although these approaches have the potential to enhance agricultural productivity in a sustainable way, nanomaterials are also assumed to exhibit potential health risks to humans. Reports have indicated that nanomaterials have been found associated with many systematic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, neurotoxicity, and toxicity to the reproductive system, etc. Conclution: It is well accepted that chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture cause environmental toxicity and affect ecosystem activity. Nanomaterials have the potential to enhance agricultural output, but these are also associated with health risks. Thus, detailed scientific studies must be conducted about the potential health risk of nanomaterials before their commercial applications in agriculture.

scholarly journals Placenta-Expanded Stromal Cell Therapy in a Rodent Model of Simulated Weightlessness

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 940
Author(s):  
Linda Rubinstein ◽  
Amber M. Paul ◽  
Charles Houseman ◽  
Metadel Abegaz ◽  
Steffy Tabares Ruiz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Risks ◽  
Stromal Cells ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Medical Intervention ◽  
Hindlimb Unloading ◽  
Simulated Weightlessness ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
Splenic Atrophy

Long duration spaceflight poses potential health risks to astronauts during flight and re-adaptation after return to Earth. There is an emerging need for NASA to provide successful and reliable therapeutics for long duration missions when capability for medical intervention will be limited. Clinically relevant, human placenta-derived therapeutic stromal cells (PLX-PAD) are a promising therapeutic alternative. We found that treatment of adult female mice with PLX-PAD near the onset of simulated weightlessness by hindlimb unloading (HU, 30 d) was well-tolerated and partially mitigated decrements caused by HU. Specifically, PLX-PAD treatment rescued HU-induced thymic atrophy, and mitigated HU-induced changes in percentages of circulating neutrophils, but did not rescue changes in the percentages of lymphocytes, monocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, T-cells and splenic atrophy. Further, PLX-PAD partially mitigated HU effects on the expression of select cytokines in the hippocampus. In contrast, PLX-PAD failed to protect bone and muscle from HU-induced effects, suggesting that the mechanisms which regulate the structure of these mechanosensitive tissues in response to disuse are discrete from those that regulate the immune- and central nervous system (CNS). These findings support the therapeutic potential of placenta-derived stromal cells for select physiological deficits during simulated spaceflight. Multiple countermeasures are likely needed for comprehensive protection from the deleterious effects of prolonged spaceflight.

scholarly journals Impact of Bacillus in fermented soybean foods on human health

2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Trishala Gopikrishna ◽  
Harini Keerthana Suresh Kumar ◽  
Kumar Perumal ◽  
Elavarashi Elangovan
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Bioactive Compounds ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Human Consumption ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Fermented Soybean ◽  
Food Pathogens ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Fermented Soybean Foods

Abstract Purpose Fermented soybean foods (FSF) is popularly consumed in the South-East Asian countries. Bacillus species, a predominant microorganism present in these foods, have demonstrated beneficial and deleterious impacts on human health. These microorganisms produce bioactive compounds during fermentation that have beneficial impacts in improving human health. However, the health risks associated with FSF, food pathogens, biogenic amines (BAs) production, and late-onset anaphylaxis, remain a concern. The purpose of this review is to present an in-depth analysis of positive and negative impacts as a result of consumption of FSF along with the measures to alleviate health risks for human consumption. Methods This review was composed by scrutinizing contemporary literature of peer-reviewed publications related to Bacillus and FSF. Based on the results from academic journals, this review paper was categorized into FSF, role of Bacillus species in these foods, process of fermentation, beneficial, and adverse influence of these foods along with methods to improve food safety. Special emphasis was given to the potential benefits of bioactive compounds released during fermentation of soybean by Bacillus species. Results The nutritional and functional properties of FSF are well-appreciated, due to the release of peptides and mucilage, which have shown health benefits: in managing cardiac disease, gastric disease, cancer, allergies, hepatic disease, obesity, immune disorders, and especially microbial infections due to the presence of probiotic property, which is a potential alternative to antibiotics. Efficient interventions were established to mitigate pitfalls like the techniques to reduce BAs and food pathogens and by using a defined starter culture to improve the safety and quality of these foods. Conclusion Despite some of the detrimental effects produced by these foods, potential health benefits have been observed. Therefore, soybean foods fermented by Bacillus can be a promising food by integrating effective measures for maintaining safety and quality for human consumption. Further, in vivo analysis on the activity and dietary interventions of bioactive compounds among animal models and human volunteers are yet to be achieved which is essential to commercialize them for safe consumption by humans, especially immunocompromised patients.

Profiles and potential health risks of heavy metals in polluted soils in NE-Iran

Toxin Reviews ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Masumeh Taheri ◽  
Mohamad Hosein Mahmudy Gharaie ◽  
Jalil Mehrzad ◽  
Michael Stone ◽  
Reza Afshari
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Polluted Soils ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Ne Iran

scholarly journals Land-Use Change and Health Risks in the Process of Urbanization: A Spatiotemporal Interpretation of a Typical Case in Changzhou, China

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 820
Author(s):  
Dongyang Yang ◽  
Chao Ye ◽  
Jianhua Xu
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Urban Land ◽  
Urban Land Use ◽  
Urban Land Expansion ◽  
Process Of Urbanization ◽  
The Relationship

China has undergone rapid urban expansion in recent decades. At the same time, environmental pollution and its risk to public health have increased. However, the relationship between urban land-use changes and health is ambiguous and insufficiently understood. Based on a typical city-scale case—namely, Changzhou, China—this research aimed to interpret the evolution of health risks alongside land-use change during the process of urbanization. We gathered data from multiple sources, including population mortality data, socioeconomic data, remote-sensing images, data for the points of interest of enterprises, and relevant information on environmental health events and cancers. The results showed that Changzhou’s urbanization was typical insofar as it was characterized by massive growth in industry, a rapid increase in the urban population, and urban land expansion. Health risks related to environmental pollution increased considerably with urban land expansion over time, and they increased with proximity to the pollution. The results from a generalized linear model confirmed that Changzhou’s urbanization triggered increasing health risks. Our study interpreted the relationship between urban land expansion and health risks from a spatiotemporal perspective. It can be used as a reference for urban planning and policymaking with regard to urban environmental health.

A nanobiological approach to nanotoxicology

2009 ◽  
Vol 28 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 393-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
JF Nyland ◽  
EK Silbergeld
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
Structural Biology ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Research Council ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Toxicity Testing ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Biological Approach ◽  
The Us ◽  
Key Events

There is an urgent need to develop efficient and rapid strategies in order to characterize the potential health risks associated with nanomaterials, given the speed with which applications and uses are increasing. Use of standard toxicity methods will not be sufficient to meet this need. This article proposes the adoption of two novel guidances: the system’s biological approach to toxicity testing advocated by the US National Research Council and a nanobiological perspective that identifies key events at the nanoscale that are relevant to signal transduction and structural biology.

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