Environmental nanotechnology—the science of engaging matter at the nanoscale level, and its potential application for ‘‘green’’ chemical products and processes, risk assessment, remediation, and exposure studies—offers a variety of new products and problems. Some people have described nanotechnology as ‘‘the second industrial revolution.’’ The growing interests and importance on nanomaterials stem from their various unique potential applications, which include catalysts, sensor materials, bioimaging, environmental filters, cosmetics, components of optical and electronic devices and treatment of diseases. Some of these have already been incorporated into a range of commercial products, including pharmaceuticals, sunscreens, automobile additives, personal care, detergents, and stain-repellants. Exactly what is unique about these nanomaterials that have created so much enthusiasm about nanotechnology’s societal implications? The answer could be found in their small size, which allows them to exhibit novel and significantly different properties (i.e. chemical, electronic, optical, electrical, magnetic, mechanical and physical) with respect to the bulk material. Nanotechnology may change the way we live, but the incidental release of these materials into the environment creates associated risks that are more difficult to monitor than those previously encountered. The following article provides an excellent overview of the use of nanomaterials, their impacts, as well as the challenges of distinguishing them from incidental nanomaterials (resulting from combustion, industrial and anthropogenic activities), their bulk counterparts and naturally occurring nanomaterials (e.g. pollen fragments, viral components, or fungi that may be present in the environment). The article also provides a critical analysis of the existing monitoring techniques and the need for developing novel detection and quantification methods for specific nanomaterials in complex environmental matrices, such as sewage sludge or effluents. Brian C. Englert received his Bachelor’s degree from Western Carolina University in North Carolina and did his graduate work at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, GA,where he performed research in analytical and organic chemistry. For the past ten years, Brian has worked in the environmental sciences in both drinking and wastewater. In his postgraduate work he was involved in the development and design of space aged nano and microstructured materials for NASA. Currently, Brian develops and validates analytical methods for emerging contaminants in EPA’s office of water.