Summary
This narrative review examines nanowaste as an emerging environmental concern, defining it as waste from engineered nanomaterials with dimensions of 1–100 nm. The authors survey sources of nanowaste generated from nanoproduct manufacture, trace its environmental fate and behaviour across soil, water, and air, and review available disposal and removal strategies. The paper concludes that significant knowledge gaps and the absence of standardised management protocols present substantial challenges for appropriate nanowaste handling to mitigate adverse environmental and human health impacts.
UK applicability
This review addresses global nanowaste challenges relevant to UK manufacturing and waste management sectors. Findings may inform UK environmental policy and regulatory frameworks for nanomaterial waste, though the review does not present UK-specific data or analyse UK nanoproduct production or disposal practices.
Key measures
Types of engineered nanomaterials (nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanowires, quantum dots); environmental compartments affected (soil, water, air); disposal and removal technique effectiveness
Outcomes reported
The review identified sources of nanowaste from nanoproduct manufacture and surveyed environmental fate and behaviour in soil, water, and air compartments. The authors documented available disposal and removal strategies whilst highlighting critical knowledge gaps and lack of standardised management protocols for nanowaste handling.
Topic tags
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