Review

Nanoparticles – known and unknown health risks

Peter HM Hoet¹ , Irene Brüske-Hohlfeld² and Oleg V Salata³

¹  Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Pneumologie, Longtoxicologie, Campus GHB, Herestraat 49, Leuven B-3000, Belgium

²  GSF-Forschungszentrum für Umwelt und Gesundheit, GmbH Ingolstädter Landstraß1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany

³  Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK

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Journal of Nanobiotechnology 2004, 2:12doi:10.1186/1477-3155-2-12

Published:	8 December 2004

Abstract

Manmade nanoparticles range from the well-established multi-ton production of carbon black and fumed silica for applications in plastic fillers and car tyres to microgram quantities of fluorescent quantum dots used as markers in biological imaging. As nano-sciences are experiencing massive investment worldwide, there will be a further rise in consumer products relying on nanotechnology. While benefits of nanotechnology are widely publicised, the discussion of the potential effects of their widespread use in the consumer and industrial products are just beginning to emerge. This review provides comprehensive analysis of data available on health effects of nanomaterials.