Some environmental applications include the use of nanoscale zero-valent iron for soiland water decontamination based on redox reactions, NPs for adsorption of heavy metalsand organic compounds from wastewaters, and titanium dioxide NPs for photo-catalyticdegradation of organic pollutants. This chapter will focus on silica and titania NPs fortheir adsorption, and photo-catalysis-assisted remediation of soils and groundwater. NPscan easily adsorb pollutants from contaminated areas: then, they can be removed fromsoils and wastewaters. An easier recovery of NPs can be gained if they are made withmagnetic materials: a wide overview is dedicated to magnetic NP synthesis and characterization.Environmental remediation by NPs requires addition of nanomaterials to soil andgroundwater exposing environment to a possible source of secondary pollution. In fact,it is known that NPs can be easily ingested, inhaled or permeated through the skin of thehuman body and taken up by animal cells [4]. Nevertheless the toxicity of nanomaterialsto humans is still unknown. Some factors influencing the toxicity of NPs will be outlined.
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