Engineered Nanomaterials in Sports and Their Environmental and Health Implications
5 affiliations
- 1School of Physical Education, Jiangxi Tourism & Commerce Vocational College, Nanchang 330100, China
- 2Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Disaster Prediction and Prevention, and Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou 515063, China
- 3College of Medicine, Xi’an International University, Xi’an 710077, China
- 4Key Laboratory of Zhenjiang, Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, School of Environment and Safety Engineering, School of Emergency Management, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
- 5ZJP Key Laboratory of Pollution Exposure and Health Intervention, Interdisciplinary Research Academy, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou 310015, China
Abstract
Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are used or investigated in sports for mechanical reinforcement, friction regulation, thermal management, biosensing, energy harvesting, and tissue repair. This critical review examines their applications, environmental release, transformation, exposure pathways, biological interactions, and end-of-life management, distinguishing field measurements, laboratory tests, models, and proposed pathways. ENMs are deliberately engineered for nanoscale functionality; microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are classified by polymer composition and size. Micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) are not inherently nanomaterials; nanoscale polymer particles may be engineered or incidental. MNPs from synthetic turf, polymeric infill, running tracks, footwear, and apparel are assessed as degradation products, potential carriers of embedded ENMs, and co-occurring contaminants. Field evidence is stronger for turf-derived MP release than for sports-related free ENM or NP release. Abrasion, oxidation, and weathering modify particle size, surface chemistry, and sorption capacity, while hydrological runoff, wind transport, and human activities redistribute particles. Athlete exposure through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact is plausible, but limited longitudinal biomonitoring warrants cautious interpretation of health risks. Laboratory ecotoxicological studies identify material- and preparation-dependent hazards to terrestrial and aquatic biota, but do not establish effects at measured sports-field drainage concentrations. Sustainability requires low-emission material design, effective physical containment, advanced drainage treatment, environmentally realistic exposure testing, transparent material disclosure, and robust end-of-life recovery systems. Circularity metrics must incorporate diffuse particulate and chemical emissions into life-cycle exposure and ecosystem risk assessments. Comparative synthesis links material properties, release identity, analytical limits, and pathway confidence; a minimum reporting framework identifies the measurements needed for quantitative exposure and risk assessment.
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BibTeX
@article{zhang2026engineered,
title = {{Engineered Nanomaterials in Sports and Their Environmental and Health Implications}},
author = {Huanbin Zhang and Feng Ye and Fu Jie and Saiqa Menhas and Sikandar Hayat and Xunfeng Chen and Weiping Liu and Kashif Hayat},
journal = {Nanomaterials},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/nano16211354},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/16/21/1354},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Engineered Nanomaterials in Sports and Their Environmental and Health Implications
AU - Huanbin Zhang
AU - Feng Ye
AU - Fu Jie
AU - Saiqa Menhas
AU - Sikandar Hayat
AU - Xunfeng Chen
AU - Weiping Liu
AU - Kashif Hayat
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/24
JO - Nanomaterials
DO - 10.3390/nano16211354
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/16/21/1354
AB - Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are used or investigated in sports for mechanical reinforcement, friction regulation, thermal management, biosensing, energy harvesting, and tissue repair. This critical review examines their applications, environmental release, transformation, exposure pathways, biological interactions, and end-of-life management, distinguishing field measurements, laboratory tests, models, and proposed pathways. ENMs are deliberately engineered for nanoscale functionality; microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are classified by polymer composition and size. Micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) are not inherently nanomaterials; nanoscale polymer particles may be engineered or incidental. MNPs from synthetic turf, polymeric infill, running tracks, footwear, and apparel are assessed as degradation products, potential carriers of embedded ENMs, and co-occurring contaminants. Field evidence is stronger for turf-derived MP release than for sports-related free ENM or NP release. Abrasion, oxidation, and weathering modify particle size, surface chemistry, and sorption capacity, while hydrological runoff, wind transport, and human activities redistribute particles. Athlete exposure through inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact is plausible, but limited longitudinal biomonitoring warrants cautious interpretation of health risks. Laboratory ecotoxicological studies identify material- and preparation-dependent hazards to terrestrial and aquatic biota, but do not establish effects at measured sports-field drainage concentrations. Sustainability requires low-emission material design, effective physical containment, advanced drainage treatment, environmentally realistic exposure testing, transparent material disclosure, and robust end-of-life recovery systems. Circularity metrics must incorporate diffuse particulate and chemical emissions into life-cycle exposure and ecosystem risk assessments. Comparative synthesis links material properties, release identity, analytical limits, and pathway confidence; a minimum reporting framework identifies the measurements needed for quantitative exposure and risk assessment.
SN - 2079-4991
ER -