Toxicologia Ambiental e Analítica

Biogeochemical Aspect of Atmospheric Methane and Impact of Nanoparticles on Methanotrophs

Abstract

Parul Rajput, Rupali Saxena, Gourav Mishra, SR Mohanty and Archana Tiwari

Increasing concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gas and its implications to the global climate change is a major concern. Methane (CH4) emitted from terrestrial ecosystem by human activities and or by natural processes gets oxidized by certain group of soil microbes. Any imbalance or negative impact on these microbial groups may lead to ecosystem collapse. Due to rapid industrialization there is increasing threat of various environmental pollutants on the soil microbes. One of the recently identified pollutants is nanoparticles. This paper reviews the impact of nanoparticles on the global climate regulating methanotrophs and potential negative or positive impact of nanoparticles on the soil microbes. Here we assessed the effects of metal nanoparticles on the microorganisms and also the physiology and phylogeny of methanotrophs. Altogether, the study suggests that metal nanoparticle could significantly produce ecotoxicity and killing of phytostimulatory soil bacteria. Thus, the engineered nanoparticle (ENPs) should be further tested as a possible ecofriendly agent.