REVIEW PAPER
Nanopesticides – Light or dark side of the force?
 
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1
Instytut Medycyny Wsi / Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland (Zakład Biologii Molekularnej i Badań Translacyjnych / Department of Molecular Biology and Translational Research)
 
2
Instytut Chemii i Techniki Jądrowej / Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology, Warszawa, Poland (Centrum Radiobiologii i Dozymetrii Biologicznej / Center for Radiobiology and Biological Dosimetry)
 
3
Wyższa Szkoła Informatyki i Zarządzania z siedzibą w Rzeszowie / University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszow, Rzeszów, Poland (Wydział Medyczny, Katedra Biologii Medycznej i Badań Translacyjnych / Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology and Translational Research)
 
 
Online publication date: 2017-03-23
 
 
Corresponding author
Lucyna Kapka-Skrzypczak   

Instytut Medycyny Wsi, Zakład Biologii Molekularnej i Badań Translacyjnych, ul. Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090 Lublin
 
 
Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2017;68(3):423-32
 
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ABSTRACT
Nanotechnology has been used in many branches of industry, including agriculture, where nanomaterials are used as carriers of chemical plant protection compounds, as well as active ingredients. Meanwhile, the effects of nanopesticides exposure on the human body are unknown. Due to their occupation, farmers should be particularly monitored. This paper summarizes the use of nanoparticles in agriculture, the route of potential exposure for agricultural workers and the current state of knowledge of nanopesticides toxicity to mammalian cells. The authors also discuss techniques for detecting nanoparticles in the workplace, as well as biomarkers and effects of exposure. The results of this review indicate that the use of nanotechnology in agriculture can bring measurable benefits by reducing the amount of chemicals used for plant protection. However, there is no research available to determine whether or not the use of pesticide nanoformulations increases the harmful effects of pesticides. Moreover, the results of research on cell lines and in animal models suggest that nanoparticles used as active substance are toxic to mammalian cells. Interestingly, there is also a complete lack of epidemiological studies on this subject. In the nearest future the effects of exposure to nanopesticides may require a particular attention paid by scientists and medical doctors who, treat agricultural workers and their families. Med Pr 2017;68(3):423–432
eISSN:2353-1339
ISSN:0465-5893
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