Environmental Impact
Little is known about the environmental impact of nanoparticles, for few studies have been conducted on the topic. Dr. Linda Birnbaum, the director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, made the following statement about nanomaterials:
"We currently know very little about nanoscale materials' effect on human health and the environment. The same properties that make nanomaterials so potentially beneficial in drug delivery and product development are some of the same reasons we need to be cautious about their presence in the environment"
The process of manufacturing nanomaterials has a high environmental cost, for it consumes large amounts of energy and water. It also generates substantial amounts of toxic waste