Testing Nanotoxicity: An Update of New and Traditional Methods

The exploitation of engineered nanomaterials (NMs) in many technological fields is partly rapidly evolving and partly well consolidated. Nanotoxicity, the dark side of the nanotechnology revolution, became a matter of concern since 1990. More than a decade later, three nonconnected and acute occurrences of toxic reactions in humans, possibly related to exposure to NMs, were reported. In all these cases, however, the cause–effect relationship was suggested, but not proved. While sporadic, these adverse effects were severe enough to enhance the alert about the safety of NMs. Currently, nanotoxicology had already evolved into an independent discipline and included aspects of preventive and occupational medicine.