Over the last few years, the use of nanomaterials for water treatment, food packaging, pesticides, cosmetics and other industries has increased. For example, farmers have used silver nanoparticles as a pesticide because of their capability to suppress the growth of harmful organisms. However, a growing concern is that these particles could pose a potential health risk to humans and the environment. In a new study, researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a reliable method for detecting silver nanoparticles in fresh produce and other food products.
"More than 1,000 products on the market are nanotechnology-based products," said Mengshi Lin, associate professor of food science in the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. "This is a concern because we do not know the toxicity of the nanoparticles. Our goal is to detect, identify and quantify these nanoparticles in food and food products and study their toxicity as soon as possible."
Lin and his colleagues, including MU scientists Azlin Mustapha and Bongkosh Vardhanabhuti, studied the residue and penetration of silver nanoparticles on pear skin. First, the scientists immersed the pears in a silver nanoparticle solution similar to pesticide application. The pears were then washed and rinsed repeatedly. Results showed that four days after the treatment and rinsing, silver nanoparticles were still attached to the skin, and the smaller particles were able to penetrate the skin and reach the pear pulp.
"The penetration of silver nanoparticles is dangerous to consumers because they have the ability to relocate in the human body after digestion," Lin said. "Therefore, smaller nanoparticles may be more harmful to consumers than larger counterparts."
When ingested, nanoparticles pass into the blood and lymph system, circulate through the body and reach potentially sensitive sites such as the spleen, brain, liver and heart.
The growing trend to use other types of nanoparticles has revolutionized the food industry by enhancing flavors, improving supplement delivery, keeping food fresh longer and brightening the colors of food. However, researchers worry that the use of silver nanoparticles could harm the human body.
"This study provides a promising approach for detecting the contamination of silver nanoparticles in food crops or other agricultural products," Lin said.
Members of Lin's research team also included Zhong Zang, a food science graduate student. The study was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
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TheGhostofOtto1923
1 / 5 (8) Aug 22, 2013Telekinetic
2 / 5 (16) Aug 22, 2013But wasn't it you who said that genetic mutations from radiation were not only good for mankind, but essential for survival? And similarly, wouldn't adaptation to these toxins eliminate the weaker members of the species resulting in a superior human race? Mein Fuhrer, nanoparticles will help us win this time!
Mitchhastheanswers
1.5 / 5 (8) Aug 22, 2013In other news, my foot it starting to feel better and I can move around my work almost like someone who has two legs. Nice to have science in every imaginable way to help fill my day between limping around with customers smiling as best I can, cheers Phys.org community, you make me smile and inform me when my co-workers sit around whining yet again about everything. ;)
TheGhostofOtto1923
1 / 5 (5) Aug 23, 2013SolidRecovery
1 / 5 (11) Aug 23, 2013TheGhostofOtto1923
1 / 5 (4) Aug 23, 2013We have externalized our adaptation to the point that we cannot survive without our technology. And we have just begun internalizing this tech, replacing body parts with machine components which can perform better. And soon enough in cosmological terms there will be no biology left to the human form.
Can this be considered an extinction event or only evolutionary adaptation? Does a precursor species really disappear or only morph into something more suited and better adapted? I don't know. I wonder what Tesla would say.
d2xyz
2 / 5 (1) Aug 23, 2013http://www.scienc...06006710
anti-geoengineering
1 / 5 (10) Aug 25, 2013