Nanoparticles could pose threat to humans: scientists
September 16, 2009They can make fabric resistant to stains, improve the taste of food and help drug research, but nanoparticles could also pose a danger to human health, experts warned Wednesday.
Susanne Stark, of the Consumer Information Association, told a seminar in the Austrian city of Salzburg that companies should be forced to indicate on labels whether a product contains the tiny particles.
"There are more questions than answers on the effects of nanoparticles" on human health, the chemist said.
Cosmetic and food products should indicate whether their products contain nanoparticles by 2012, she said.
Nanoparticles, measuring no more than 100 nanometres, have helped to revolutionise how everyday products are made.
The particles are used to make stain-resistant paint or creamy cosmetic and food products. They can also change colour to indicate whether a product has expired.
But their risk to humans remains largely unknown.
Nanoparticles can enter the body through the mouth and nose, the digestive system or the skin, and spread inside the body through blood vessels, said Hans Peter Hutter, a doctor specialised in environmental hygiene in Vienna.
"These tiny particles could without a doubt go all the way to the placenta," he said. But he warned that little was known about their behaviour inside human tissue.
(c) 2009 AFP
Apr 04, 2006 |
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It is a scare tactic used to justify someones job at the Consumer Information Association. The article doesn't even speculate on anything. All it says is that we don't know a lot of stuff and it could be dangerous.
HOW CAN IT BE DANGEROUS?? You don't even have any science to even speculate? Why did you bother writing the article if you have nothing to say?
The sensible thing to do would be to wait for the science. After all, it's what you DON'T know that can hurt you. An ounce of prevention, and all that.
I can remember reading in Discover Magazine back in the late 80s or early 90s that nanoparticles of certain carbon construction could be harmful to human health. But apparently absolutely nothing has been done to find out except to proceed full-speed-ahead with their development.
Lead plumbing and thalidomide for all! Don't ask any questions and they won't have to tell you any lies.
Not to say that nanotubes don`t have a lot of potential in medicine, but they really have got to be regulated.
People have been exposed to nano particles since we first walked upright or got thrown out of the Garden (which ever floats your boat) and we will be NATURALLY exposed to nano sized particles as long as we are on this planet.
If you think government is going to regulate all of this, you may want to check with your bank.
As a scientist, I have to live here, too!
But we can't just ignore a problem away. There are problem with the nano particles no matter their size. See this: http://www.physor...822.html
Oh and yes there are many, many , many application in biology. One for example uses them to deliver small doses of chemo therapy drugs only to cancer cells. Uses less drugs and becomes a simple out patient procedure.
They are already used in cosmetics because they block UV effectively. But there are no rules. Think back a century or so and remember cocaine in cure-all drinks etc. Those must have been the "good" ol'days.
And perhaps even a bit of Microphobia - Fear of small things.
I did not say I had a problem with caution when devoloping nanotechnology. Caution good, fearmongering bad!
But this isn't journalism! "here is a black box, be afraid!" doesn't tell us anything.
Once again you must employ reason here. The "claimant" is the person that says nanoparticles are potentially dangerous enough to warrant putting labels on everything and warning everybody (creating panic and spreading fear of technology). Yet, there is no proof or even theory that says what "could" happen.
You can cower under your beds at an idle notion if you would like. But I won't become one bit more fearful just because someone throws doubt my way without a "REASON".
Some of you remind me of the fear and panic (spread by the media) when average people started learning the word "carcinogen".
"OMG, this is carcinogenic and that is carcinogenic" most of what we eat and breath is... but at what level of exposure?
Newsflash people! Everything can kill you!
And would you like to stop research for lifesaving medicine based on the Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt of yet another unknown that "might" harm you?
so your saying we should ban all open flames? because you get nano rods and bucky balls from candles, fireplaces, barbques...
and DDT harm was false... the population peopel diding like that it would save so many lives.
no... not at all...but they do want to stop it for social justice
Fear technology, it can kill;)
If you care about your health you should avoid all products containing nanoparticles as in almost all cases potential risks far outweigh benefits.
A study led by Alexandra Porter from the University of Cambridge shows that CNTs can enter human cells and accumulate in the cytoplasm, causing cell death.[27]
Results of rodent studies collectively show that regardless of the process by which CNTs were synthesized and the types and amounts of metals they contained, CNTs were capable of producing inflammation, epithelioid granulomas (microscopic nodules), fibrosis, and biochemical/toxicological changes in the lungs.[28] Comparative toxicity studies in which mice were given equal weights of test materials showed that SWCNTs were more toxic than quartz, which is considered a serious occupational health hazard when chronically inhaled. As a control, ultrafine carbon black was shown to produce minimal lung responses.[29]
More information and references are here:
http://en.wikiped...Toxicity
Absolutely hilarious!!!
Nothing would be better, far better!
Looks like they got the hint... I don't mind caution and knowing/mitgating risks. But this article provides nothing useful, while the following is MUCH, MUCH better. Thank you Physorg!
http://www.physor...530.html
oh... and thanks 'superhuman'