Ecosafety Assessment of Phosphorous Based Nanofertilizers

Nanomaterials (NMs) are small, microscopic particles that can be naturally occurring, or man made with a size range of 1-100nm. Due to this very small size, NMs have unique properties (e.g. high surface area to volume ratio and high surface relativity) that can be adjusted to suit a range of industry applications including photocatalysis in solar panels, electrical circuitry, and in clothing as an antimicrobial. In agriculture the application of nanotechnology has increased considerably over the past decade, with a focus on the development of nanofertilisers and nanopesticides that have slow-release properties and higher bioavailability compared to conventional products. Phosphorous (P)-based NMs are one type of nanofertilisers that has been reported as a promising new fertilizer with its positive growth effects on a variety of plant species. With their future use in agriculture and addition to agriculture fields, it is important to have knowledge on the risks that these NMs may have to terrestrial and aquatic environments. This includes a strong understanding of their behavior, fate, bioavailability and toxicity risks in aquatic environments that can assist in developing strong life cycle analysis of the nanofertilisers.