REVIEW Emerging technologies and safety concerns: a condensed review of environmental life cycle risks in the nano-world S. Glisovic 1 • D. Pesic 1 • E. Stojiljkovic 1 • T. Golubovic 1 • D. Krstic 1 • M. Prascevic 1 • Z. Jankovic 1 Received: 30 September 2016 / Revised: 9 February 2017 / Accepted: 9 May 2017 Ó Islamic Azad University (IAU) 2017 Abstract The functionalities of nano-materials are accompanied by features that are in collision with the postulates of environmental friendliness and sustainability. Nano-related research, part of which is nano-safety, is gaining momentum worldwide, but there is a limited body of knowledge about mechanisms such as the degradation, surface modification and transformation of nanoparticles. This study aims to provide a brief survey on the challenges that researchers and engineers face when attempting to assess the environmental impacts of nano-based products. The applicability of the life cycle assessment method to nanotechnology is briefly explored. The advancement of nano-specific life cycle approaches capable of evaluating the sustainability of these emerging technologies depends on further research on material inventories, the energy efficiency of manufacturing processes, the transport and fate of nanoparticles in the environment, health risks and mitigation techniques. Specialized nano-based product-re- lated databases are still needed to track engineered nano- materials (ENMs) in the environment and to facilitate life cycle inventories and assessment. Permissible exposure limits for key ENMs in the workplace and standardized handling protocols for ENMs are not widely available. Properties that increase their toxicity and bioaccumulation are being increasingly investigated. The dissemination of information to the general public related to risk manage- ment is rather sporadic, and the suitability of current regulation for controlling environmental pollution by ENM is subject to continued discussion. Taking into account the environment health and safety challenges mentioned, a suitable expertise and information dissemination network is proposed to take the responsible application of nan- otechnology forward in the developing world context. Keywords Engineered nano-materials Á Environmental risk assessment Á Life cycle assessment Á Propagation and dissemination Introduction The environmental and health impacts of certain new materials are partially or completely unknown, and a sys- tematic assessment of the environmental consequences of emerging technologies is necessary. Technology has always been capable of both reward and harm, and there will inevitably be unintended consequences and new risks as technology advances. Assessing the impacts or impli- cations of a technology is rather difficult in today’s world and extremely challenging to project in the future. The environmental and/or health repercussions of novel tech- nologies usually become obvious only after they become commercialized and built into products widely available on the markets. Nanotechnologies are an emblematic case of emerging technologies of our times, since they are applied in various technological advancements, such as renewable sources of energy, remediation techniques, pollution detection and remote sensing, targeted medicine and antibacterial protection. Unlike some previous technologi- cal advancements, nanotechnology is not a typical indus- trial sector per se, but rather a spectrum of technologies that can be used to improve or generate a great variety of Editorial responsibility: Zhenyao Shen & S. Glisovic srdjan.glisovic@znrfak.ni.ac.rs 1 Faculty of Occupational Safety, University of Nis, Carnojevica 10a, Nis 18000, Serbia 123 Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. DOI 10.1007/s13762-017-1367-2