| |
 |
|
|
Science Forum Index » Agriculture - Poultry Forum » Potential Threat To Public Health From Nanomaterials
Page 1 of 1
|
| Author |
Message |
| Old Codger |
 Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:23 am |
|
|
|
Guest
|
Potential Threat To Public Health From Nanomaterials
07 Apr 2008
Nanotechnology is now available in a store near you.
Valued for it's antibacterial and odor-fighting properties,
nanoparticle silver is becoming the star attraction in a range of
products from socks to bandages to washing machines. But as silver's
benefits propel it to the forefront of consumer nanomaterials,
scientists are recommending a closer examination of the unforeseen
environmental and health consequences of nanosilver.
"The general public needs to be aware that there are unknown risks
associated with the products they buy containing nanomaterials,"
researchers Paul Westerhoff and Troy M. Benn said in a report
scheduled for the 235th national meeting of the American Chemical
Society (ACS).
Westerhoff and Benn report that ordinary laundering can wash off
substantial amounts of the nanosilver particles from socks impregnated
with the material. The Arizona State researchers suggest that the
particles, intended to prevent foot odor, could travel through a
wastewater treatment system and enter natural waterways where they
might have unwanted effects on aquatic organisms living in the water
and possibly humans, too.
"This is the first report of anyone looking at the release of silver
from this type of manufactured clothing product," said the authors.
Behind those concerns lies a very simple experiment. Benn and
Westerhoff bought six pairs of name brand anti-odor socks impregnated
with nanosilver. They soaked them in a jar of room temperature
distilled water, shook the contents for an hour and tested the water
for two types of silver - the harmful "ionic" form and the
less-studied nanoparticle variety.
"From what we saw, different socks released silver at different rates,
suggesting that there may be a manufacturing process that will keep
the silver in the socks better," said Benn. "Some of the sock
materials released all of the silver in the first few washings, others
gradually released it. Some didn't release any silver." The
researchers will present the specific brands they studied at their ACS
presentation.
If sufficient nanosilver leeches out of these socks and escapes waste
water treatment systems into nearby lakes, rivers and streams, it
could damage aquatic ecosystems, said Benn. Ionic silver, the
dissolved form of the element, does not just attack odor-causing
bacteria. It can also hijack chemical processes essential for life in
other microbes and aquatic animals.
"If you start releasing ionic silver, it is detrimental to all aquatic
biota. Once the silver ions get into the gills of fish, it's a pretty
efficient killer," said Benn. Ionic silver is only toxic to humans at
very high levels. The toxicity of nanoparticle silver, said
Westerhoff, has yet to be determined.
Westerhoff and Benn did not intend to establish the toxicity of
silver. "The history of silver and silver regulation has been set for
decades by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency - we're not
trying to reexamine or reinvent that," said Westerhoff.
They do hope to spark a broader examination of the environmental and
health consequences of nanomaterials, as well as increasing awareness
of nanotechnology's role in everyday consumer goods.
Silver has been used historically since ancient roman times, though
its nanoparticle form has only recently appeared in consumer products.
Beyond socks, nanosilver appears in certain bandages, athletic wear
and cleaning products. Benn suggested that most consumers are unaware
of these nano-additions.
"I've spoken with a lot of people who don't necessarily know what
nanotechnology is but they are out there buying products with
nanoparticles in them. If the public doesn't know the possible
environmental disadvantages of using these nanomaterials, they cannot
make an informed decision on why or why not to buy a product
containing nanomaterials," said Benn.
To that end, the researchers suggest that improved product labeling
could help. Westerhoff proposes that clothing labels could become like
the back of a food packaging, complete with a list of "ingredients"
like nanosilver.
Westerhoff and Benn expect to expand their leeching experiments to
other consumer products imbued with nanomaterials. They hope to find
the moment in each product's lifecycle when nanomaterials could be
released into the environment, as well as developing better detection
methods to characterize nanoparticles in water and air samples.
"Our work suggests that consumer groups need to start thinking about
these things," said Benn. "Should there be other standards for these
products""
----------------------------
Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
----------------------------
The American Chemical Society - the world's largest scientific society
- is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress and a
global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research
through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific
conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus,
Ohio.
-Adam Dylewski
Source: Michael Bernstein
American Chemical Society
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/102995.php
Main News Category: Public Health
Also Appears In: Water - Air Quality / Agriculture,
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
|
Page 1 of 1
All times are GMT - 5 Hours
The time now is Sun Jul 06, 2008 5:19 am
|
|
