Published in Chemistry World, 12 Feb 2012
Nanoparticles used in food and pharmaceuticals could have unintended physiological effects. This is the suggestion of US researchers who have showed that polystyrene nanoparticles can affect the uptake of iron – an essential nutrient – in a model intestine.
Manmade fine particles, including nanoparticles, are now regularly used in food and pharmaceuticals – so regularly that a person in a developed country consumes as much as 100 trillion of them every day; mostly titanium dioxide, silicates and aluminosilicates found in food additives. As a result, scientists have been eager to investigate possible adverse health effects. A high reactivity thanks to their huge surface area, and an ability to pass through cell membranes, are just two areas of concern. […]
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