ABSTRACT
Metal oxides, by virtue of their superior surface activity, attribute their surface chemistry in the form of varied functionalities that are quite vital for the futuristic development of advanced materials. Although, the outstanding surface activity, compositional characteristics of metal oxides, is of immense importance. On the other hand, there is cause for grave concern regarding the safety and environmental impact of metal oxide exposure. Engineered materials, namely, metal oxides hold much promise and potential in many frontier application areas. Still, their production on a mass scale and use are causes of concerns on inadvertent exposure and the possible adverse and deleterious effects on the health of mankind and the environment at large. A thorough investigation and evaluation of the material characteristics and behavior are necessary for comprehensively ascertaining the toxicity by physicochemical characterization. Next to it is a thorough state-of-the-art understanding about most common metal oxides in their various forms with an evolution of in vitro or cell culture and in vivo or animal toxicity, understanding both in respect of human toxicity and eco-toxicity at large. To achieve these objectives, it is therefore essential to fully understand the nature of the impact metal oxide particle create, either synthetically or naturally, at the environmental level and the relevant safety issues.
This chapter presents a comprehensive view of metals and metal oxides, in particular their potential exposure to humans and the generalized overview of particle-induced toxicity, environmental impact, and methods for testing them.
