Abstract
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been extensively used in various industries; however, this is accompanied by several implications to humans and the environment. This review focuses on different aspects of AgNPs including the production and detection techniques, their fate, and dynamics in response to different environmental factors. In addition, this review illustrates the toxicity mechanism and the interaction of AgNPs with different matrices, such as aquatic environment, soil, crops, and humans. Reduction measures and future research are discussed.
Practically, AgNPs are converted to the positively charged Ag
ions by dissolution process and will react with the negatively charged oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the vital organelles like DNA, mitochondrion, and the thiol group presented in protein structures and enzymes, which in terms interrupts the normal cell reproduction, and finally, the death of cell will occur according to the toxicity limit of (Ag
) silver ions level of each organ.