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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Human Health Effects Sign in to save

Graphene-based Nanomaterials: Uses, Environmental Fate, and Human Health Hazards

Nano Biomedicine and Engineering 2024 23 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 65 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Heidi N. du Preez, Heidi N. du Preez, Matthew Halma Matthew Halma

Summary

This review examines graphene-based nanomaterials, which are used in medicine, agriculture, and industry, and finds that increasing human and environmental exposure raises safety concerns. The primary way these materials damage cells is through oxidative stress, similar to the mechanism seen with nanoplastics. While focused on graphene, the toxicity pathways described overlap with those triggered by micro- and nanoplastics, offering insight into how tiny engineered particles broadly affect human health.

Study Type In vivo

Graphene-based materials (GBMs) possess remarkable physiochemical properties, making them promising for diverse applications in biomedicine, agriculture, food, and industrial applications. Human and environmental exposure to GBMs is increasing at an unprecedented rate, yet there is still a knowledge gap regarding the safety of GBMs. This review summarizes the physiochemical properties of GBMs and critically examines the possible effects of GBMs, both at the level of molecular mechanism and at the level of the organism. While oxidative stress-mediated cell damage has been proposed as a primary cytotoxicity mechanism for GBMs, various <i>in vivo</i> biodistribution and cytotoxicity mechanisms are also highlighted. This review of the literature provides an overview of the cytotoxicity of GBMs, raising concerns about their widespread application with potential hazardous consequences on the environment and in human health.

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