Plant Nanotechnology: Perspectives on Environmental and Human Health Risk
摘要
The integration of nanotechnology in plant systems has immense potential for the transformation of agriculture by enhancing productivity, improving nutrient uptake, increasing disease resistance, and promoting stress tolerance through the targeted delivery of active ingredients such as nano-fertilizers, nano-pesticides, and nanoparticle-mediated genetic engineering, which reduces reliance on traditional pesticides and fertilizers. However, their extensive use and release into the environment may have important ecological implications. This chapter provides a brief overview of the possible impact of nanobiotechnology applications in agriculture and their potential environmental consequences and effects on human health, including a discussion on case studies that highlight the effects of nano-agrochemicals (NACs) on human health. Important aspects like bioavailability, biocompatibility, and potential cytotoxic effects, including organ-specific toxicity, clinical, and preclinical evidence of nanomaterials through various exposure routes, have also been highlighted. The chapter also explores available risk assessment strategies, regulatory challenges, and methods adopted to mitigate potential hazards associated with nanomaterial exposure. Finally, the chapter outlines the future prospects and translational opportunities of plant nanotechnology in precision agriculture, nanomedicine, and environmental remediation, with a possible roadmap for their ecologically safer utilization.