Toxic Nanoparticles Might Be Entering Human Food Supply

As a followup to the ATS thread, Silver To Be Classified As A Pesticide-EPA Corruption, recent research into the use of silver nanoparticles in the food chain are raising concerns over their long-term travels in the human body after food consumption.

Aug. 22, 2013: Toxic Nanoparticles Might Be Entering Human Food Supply

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."

Now that there is scientific evidence that these particles cannot be easily washed off, and actually have been found to penetrate the skin of the fruit, ingestion is inevitable. At this point, nobody knows the long-term affects of internal exposure or organ damage due to these particles. History shows us that this could be potentially a bad idea, cases such as mercury, lead, and more recently, asbestos. Are silver nanoparticles the next on this list??

reply to post by Krakatoa

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.

I am sure we can handle some of this in our system, and have probably already ingested more than we would like to think, but it seems we may want to watch our intake us this stuff. Labels maybe? Or just assume?

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.

Sounds like there are a lot of reasons the industries use this technique, as well as over a thousand products. So will we naturally start being more exposed to it, via food? If it doesn't easily wash off, and penetrates the surface, then we could be ingesting too much of this stuff in the future. But our fruit will look prettier..

For example, farmers have used silver nanoparticles as a pesticide because of their capability to suppress the growth of harmful organisms.

What about healthy organisms, like us?

Nanoparticle pollution is a real concern, we started using these products with out sufficient health testing.

Just like plastic bottles, and asbestos.

See a good invention rush to use it with out worry about damage it may cause.

Interesting study. Toxicity of silver nano size particles in the past was based on how much it took to turn you blue (agyria.) Blueness wasn't even really considered a toxic condition - just a cosmetic problem. Because of the large surface area of silver nano, less is more. Much less of it (weight-wise) is required in order to have the same result as bulk (micro) silver.)

For some years now nano silver has been used in cloud seeding (making it rain.) That's why the study is so interesting - immersing the peach (pear?) and noting results. Not only is a peach getting immersed but so are we all when it rains. So the same thing that happens to that peach skin and pulp, happens to the human being skin and insides. Human beings are a lot more sophisticated than peaches. They have brains and nano size particles are small enough to get in there. Obviously, dna can also be corrupted. What may not show up in us, will show up in our children. Serious issues.