Lessons learned: Are engineered nanomaterials toxic to terrestrial plants?

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Plant Biology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Nanotechnology's growth leads to increased engineered nanomaterial (ENM) interactions with plants.
• Existing research on ENM effects on plants yields conflicting results, showing both hazardous and beneficial impacts.
• This ambiguity necessitates a comprehensive review to clarify ENM-plant interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demystify the ambiguous effects of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) on plants.
• To analyze various ENMs and their impacts across different plant families.
• To identify factors contributing to the divergence in research findings.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of recent literature on ENM exposure studies in plants.
• Analysis of diverse ENMs including nano-Ag, nano-Au, nano-Si, nano-CeO2, nano-TiO2, nano-CuO, nano-ZnO, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs).
• Examination of effects across various plant families and exposure conditions.

Main Results:

• Divergent research outcomes on ENM effects are attributed to factors like ENM properties, plant species, soil dynamics, and microbial communities.
• Specific ENMs like nano-Ag, nano-Au, nano-TiO2, and nano-ZnO exhibit varied responses in different plant groups.
• A significant knowledge gap exists regarding ENM influence on plant color, texture, shape, and nutritional value.

Conclusions:

• The impact of ENMs on plants is complex and multifactorial, not uniformly hazardous or beneficial.
• Understanding ENM-plant interactions requires considering ENM characteristics, plant genetics, and environmental variables.
• Future research should address the effects of ENMs on plant morphology and nutritional quality to provide a holistic view.