Invisible threats: Nanomaterials as agricultural exposures

Abstract

The increasing use of nanomaterials in modern agriculture has sparked significant interest due to their potential to enhance crop productivity, improve nutrient delivery, and provide innovative solutions for pest and disease management. However, alongside these promising applications, there is growing concern over their unintended ecological and health consequences. Nanomaterials, owing to their unique physicochemical properties such as small size, high surface reactivity, and mobility, can interact with plants, soil microbiota, and water systems in unpredictable ways. Their accumulation in the rhizosphere may disrupt microbial community structure, alter nutrient cycling, and potentially impair soil fertility. Moreover, nanomaterial uptake by plants can lead to bioaccumulation across trophic levels, raising questions about food safety and long-term human health risks. Emerging evidence suggests that chronic exposure may induce oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and metabolic disturbances in both plants and non-target organisms. Despite these risks, regulatory frameworks and standardized risk assessment protocols remain limited, creating uncertainties in safe application. This chapter critically examines the dual role of nanomaterials as both agricultural enhancers and emerging environmental exposures. It explores their pathways of entry into agroecosystems, mechanisms of plant-nanomaterial interactions, and potential ecological and health implications. Furthermore, it emphasizes the need for sustainable strategies, green nanotechnology, and robust monitoring systems to balance the benefits of nanotechnology in agriculture with its possible invisible threats. By addressing current knowledge gaps, this chapter aims to guide future research and policymaking for responsible and safe nanomaterial use in agriculture.