For decades an increasingly rapid urbanization pace, modern industrial development, and constantly intensive agricultural practices have caused controlled or uncontrolled release of hazardous contaminants that seriously threaten our environment. All natural spheres (atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and anthroposphere) seem to have been exposed to harmful practices and emerging research in nanomaterials is now trying to combat their adverse impact on physical ecosystems and organisms, as well as human health. In this context, pollution remediation at the nanoscale has come to the forefront for its potential to unlock sustainable, highly efficient, and cost-effective technologies, capable to restore in situ or ex situ land, water, and air resources. Nanotechnology to Monitor, Remedy, and Prevent Pollution covers design, fabrication, and extensive applications of engineered nanostructured materials in various shapes and morphologies (such as nanoparticles, wires, tubes, fibres) that, because of their size, surface-to-volume ratio, and high reactivity, function as catalysts and adsorbents of organic pollutants (aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons), gases, chemicals (arsenic, manganese, iron, nitrate, heavy metals), antibiotics, and biological entities (bacteria, viruses, parasites). Their integration with biotechnological processes for monitoring and prevention of pollution is also explored alongside the invisible dangers caused by noise. This is a valuable book for academics, researchers, undergraduate and postgraduate students working on environmental engineering for sustainability, environmental sciences, biotechnology, and nanotechnology.? - Comprehensively presents applications of state-of-the-art nanotechnologies and nanomaterials for control, prevention, and removal of persistent air, water, and soil pollutants. - Provides a new benchmark for pros and cons of established processes for nano remediation, revealing the importance of such research beyond national boundaries and policies. - Classifies noise as a contaminant and discusses how its real impacts on human and animal life can be limited through impedance-matching nanotechnology.

Miniaturized Analytical Devices An in-depth overview of integrating functionalized nanomaterials with mass spectrometry, spectroscopy, electrophoresis, and other important analytical techniques Miniaturized Analytical Devices: Materials and Technology is an up-to-date resource exploring the analytical applications of miniaturized technology in areas such as clinical microbiology, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and environmental analysis. The book covers the integration of functional nanomaterials in mass spectrometry, microscopy, electrophoresis, and more—providing the state-of-the-art information required for successfully implementing a range of chemical analysis techniques on microchips. Featuring contributions from a panel of international experts in the field, the book begins with an introduction to selected miniaturized devices, nanomaterials, and analytical methods. Subsequent sections describe functionalized nanomaterials (FNMs) for miniaturized devices and discuss techniques such as miniaturized mass spectrometry for bioassays and miniaturized microscopy for cell imaging. The book concludes by exploring a variety of applications of miniaturized devices in areas including metal analysis, bioimaging, DNA separation and analysis, molecular biology, and more. This timely volume: Surveys the current state of the field and provides a starting point for developing faster, more reliable, and more selective analytical devices Focuses on the practical applications of miniaturized analytical devices in materials science, clinical microbiology, the pharmaceutical industry, and environmental analysis Covers a wide range of materials and analytical techniques such as microvolume UV-VIS spectroscopy, microchip and capillary electrophoresis, and matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) analysis Discusses the role of miniaturized analytical devices in securing a green and sustainable future Miniaturized Analytical Devices: Materials and Technology is essential reading for analytical chemists, analytical laboratories, materials scientists, biologists, life scientists, and advanced students in related fields.

Nanotechnology is revolutionizing medicine and neuroscience. However, with this innovation comes the concern of the potential risks posed by nanomaterials to the human nervous system. As scientific research progresses, so does the urgency to understand and mitigate these risks. This book offers a multidisciplinary approach to tackle the complexities of nanotechnology's impact on neurological health. Amidst the excitement of scientific advancements, Nanomaterials and the Nervous System provides a critical analysis of nanoparticle-induced neurotoxicity. By dissecting the hazards associated with nanomaterials, it guides researchers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals in developing safer alternatives and regulatory frameworks. Moreover, it delves into speculative theories and conspiracy narratives, prompting crucial discussions on the ethical and societal implications of nanotechnology.

Nano-Bioremediation: Fundamentals and Applications explores how nano-bioremediation is used to remedy environmental pollutants. The book's chapters focus on the design, fabrication and application of advanced nanomaterials and their integration with biotechnological processes for the monitoring and treatment of pollutants in environmental matrices. It is an important reference source for materials scientists, engineers and environmental scientists who are looking to increase their understanding of bioremediation at the nanoscale. The mitigation of environmental pollution is the biggest challenge to researchers and the scientific community, hence this book provides answers to some important questions. As an advanced hybrid technology, nano-bioremediation refers to the integration of nanomaterials and bioremediation for the remediation of pollutants. The rapid pace of urbanization, massive development of industrial sectors, and modern agricultural practices all cause a controlled or uncontrolled release of environmentally-related hazardous contaminants that are seriously threatening every key sphere, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and anthroposphere. Explores the current and potential applications of nano-bioremediation in the remediation of hazardous pollutants Outlines the major properties and classes of nanomaterials that make them efficient bioremediation agents Assesses the major challenges of effectively implementing bioremediation techniques at the nanoscale

This document presents key messages and the state-of-the-art of soil pollution, its implications on food safety and human health. It aims to set the basis for further discussion during the forthcoming Global Symposium on Soil Pollution (GSOP18), to be held at FAO HQ from May 2nd to 4th 2018. The publication has been reviewed by the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soil (ITPS) and contributing authors. It addresses scientific evidences on soil pollution and highlights the need to assess the extent of soil pollution globally in order to achieve food safety and sustainable development. This is linked to FAO’s strategic objectives, especially SO1, SO2, SO4 and SO5 because of the crucial role of soils to ensure effective nutrient cycling to produce nutritious and safe food, reduce atmospheric CO2 and N2O concentrations and thus mitigate climate change, develop sustainable soil management practices that enhance agricultural resilience to extreme climate events by reducing soil degradation processes. This document will be a reference material for those interested in learning more about sources and effects of soil pollution.

The Political Ecology of Oil and Gas Activities in the Nigerian Aquatic Ecosystem reviews the current status of the ecosystems and economic implications of oil and gas development in Nigeria, a key oil-producing state. The ecological and economic impacts of oil and gas development, particularly in developing nations, are crucial topics for ecologists, natural resource professionals and pollution researchers to understand. This book takes an integrative approach to these problems through the lens of one of the key oil-producing nations, linking natural and human systems through the valuation of ecosystem services. - Provides background information on Nigerian aquatic environments, its local history of oil exploration and a review of the physical chemistry of crude oil - Reviews global and national perspectives on the oil and gas industry from a physical ecological, to a socio-political and economic ecological perspective - Demonstrates real-life situations of the interactions and impacts of Nigerian petroleum production on the environment and local populations through case studies

Given that the threat of water shortage is expanding across the globe, the evolution of advanced technologies that enable water purification and, thus, water re-use in an energy and resource efficient manner are of great importance. In this regard, nanomaterials have been playing a crucial role and offering new opportunities for the construction of permeable and selective membranes and adsorbents. Such features are of paramount importance, particularly given the limited available energy resources. In this book, several recent studies are introduced that deal with water treatment via nanomaterial-based technologies. Such state-of-the-art technologies have employed nanomaterials that are made of polymer, composite, ceramic, and carbon, etc., and are shaped in various dimensionalities and forms such as particle (0D), fiber (1D), and film (2D–3D). The nanostructured membranes and adsorbents as well as photocatalytic nanosystems capable of active photodecomposition of organic pollutants, e.g., dyes, are the main focal points of discussion.

M. C. Roco and W.S. Bainbridge In the early decades of the 21st century, concentrated efforts can unify science based on the unity of nature, thereby advancing the combination of nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology, and new technologies based in cognitive science. With proper attention to ethical issues and societal needs, converging in human abilities, societal technologies could achieve a tremendous improvement outcomes, the nation's productivity, and the quality of life. This is a broad, cross cutting, emerging and timely opportunity of interest to individuals, society and humanity in the long term. The phrase "convergent technologies" refers to the synergistic combination of four major "NBIC" (nano-bio-info-cogno) provinces of science and technology, each of which is currently progressing at a rapid rate: (a) nanoscience and nanotechnology; (b) biotechnology and biomedicine, including genetic engineering; (c) information technology, including advanced computing and communications; (d) cognitive science, including cognitive neuroscience. Timely and Broad Opportunity. Convergence of diverse technologies is based on material unity at the nanoscale and on technology integration from that scale.

This book covers the contemporary environmental issues faced by life on the planet and the role planetary microbiomes play in such issues. Providing insights on the net favorable and adverse effect of microbial processes, this volume covers both the spontaneous and anthropocentric events that impact climate change and life on the planet. The book describes the ecological significance of microbiomes associated with the kingdoms Plantae and Animalia with respect to climate change, natural and anthropogenic causes of climate change, microbial interactions in nature, planetary microbiomes and food security, climate change in relation to disease epidemiology and human health and engineering microorganisms to mitigate the consequences of climate change. The individual chapters in the intended book provide both theoretical and practical exposure to the current issues and future challenges of climate change in relation to the microbiomes. This collection should serve as ready reference to the researchers working in the area to reshape their future research in addressing the challenges of global climate change.

The United Nations World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) is hosted and led by UNESCO. WWAP brings together the work of 31 UN-Water Members as well as 37 Partners to publish the United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR) series. Under the theme Water for Sustainable Development, the WWDR 2015 has been prepared as a contribution from UN-Water to the discussions surrounding the post-2015 framework for global sustainable development. Highlighting water's unique and often complex role in achieving various sustainable development objectives, the WWDR 2015 is addressed to policy- and decision-makers inside and outside the water community, as well as to anyone with an interest in freshwater and its many life-giving benefits. The report sets an aspirational yet achievable vision for the future of water towards 2050 by describing how water supports healthy and prosperous human communities, maintains well functioning ecosystems and ecological services, and provides a cornerstone for short and long-term economic development. It provides an overview of the challenges, issues and trends in terms of water resources, their use and water-related services like water supply and sanitation. The report also offers, in a rigorous yet accessible manner, guidance about how to address these challenges and to seize the opportunities that sound water management provides in order to achieve and maintain economic, social and environmental sustainability.