by Ethan A. Huff

staff writer
April 20, 2011

from NaturalNews Website

Though some might argue that nanotechnology offers benefits not afforded by normal molecules, the environmental and human health consequences of this "breakthrough" technology appear dire, to say the least.

New research published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials explains that nanoparticles damage beneficial soil bacteria and ultimately ruin plants' ability to uptake necessary nitrogen.

Researchers Niraj Kumar and Virginia Walker from Queen's University in Canada set out to investigate the effects of nanoparticles in the environment, comparing soil from the Arctic - which they believed would be the least contaminated with nanoparticles - to soil that was deliberately contaminated with various nanoparticles, including silver nanoparticles.

"We hadn't thought we would see much of an impact, but instead our results indicate that silver nanoparticles can be classified as highly toxic to microbial communities," the team wrote.

 

"This is particularly concerning when you consider the vulnerability of the arctic ecosystem."

According to the team's analysis, uncontaminated soil contains beneficial microbes, some of which are necessary to help plants absorb nitrogen.

But when nanoparticles enter the picture, these microbes are largely killed off. The end result is plants that lack nitrogen, and which thus lack the ability to grow properly and maintain necessary levels of vital nutrients.

The experiment, however, involved highly-concentrated applications of nanoparticles on soil samples for roughly six months. In actual environmental conditions, however, it is difficult to say whether or not all nanoparticles are harmful.

Silver nanoparticles in particular, which can be found in colloidal silver, offer helpful benefits in naturally mitigating disease.

All sorts of nanoparticles are now added to a variety of industrial and consumer products, including in food packaging, clothing, electronic devices, sunscreen, batteries, cookware, and even in some types of food.

And the real problem is that many of these nanoparticles have never been properly safety tested, and are thus a giant experiment in environmental and human health (below report).

Untested Nanoparticles

...Showing Up in Thousands of Consumer Products
by Ethan A. Huff

staff writer
March 14, 2011

from NaturalNews Website

Since 2006, the use of nanoparticles in consumer products has skyrocketed by over 600 percent.

Nanotechnologies, which involve the manipulation of elements and other matter on the atomic and molecular scale, are now used in over 1,300 commercial and consumer products. And that number is expected to jump nearly three-fold by 2020.

But are these nanoparticles safe for humans and the environment, particularly when used in food-related applications?

According to data provided by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies (PEN), a group formed in 2005 for the purpose of "creat[ing] an active public and policy dialogue" on nanotechnology, nanoparticles are now used in everything from car batteries and appliances, to aluminum foil and non-stick cookware.

The "Food and Beverage" section of PEN even includes various vitamin and mineral supplements that contain nanoparticles, as well as McDonald's hamburger boxes.

Many people believe that nanotechnology may be "the next industrial revolution," but is the technology really safe?

Just like genetically-modified organisms (GMO), nanotechnology has never been proven to be safe for humans or for the environment. Deconstructing and reassembling molecular components and injecting these altered molecules back into our clothing, furniture, cars, and food is really more of a giant experiment in human health than it is a successful technological breakthrough.

A 2004 study found that nanoparticles cause brain damage in fish and other aquatic species exposed to them. And the ETC Group, an international organization devoted to conservation and sustainable advancement, actually called for a moratorium on the production of nanoparticles back in 2002 after a European Parliament paper warned about their toxicity.

A 1997 study put out by Oxford University and Montreal University linked titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles in sunscreen to causing free radical and DNA damage in skin. And numerous other studies have found that nanoparticles are easily absorbed by cells, where they cause other untold harm within the body.

According to PEN, the majority of nanotechnology applications are in the "Health and Fitness" category, which includes the use of nanoscale silver for its antimicrobial properties. Ironically, health authorities have mocked those who use colloidal silver and other similar products for antimicrobial and other health purposes, but now that silver is being used as part of nanotechnology, it is mysteriously becoming widely accepted and showing up in all kinds of products without warning.

In 2008, the National Research Council, one of the National Academies in Washington, DC, stated that none of the nation's 18 government bodies, including the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have ever proven the safety of nanotechnology prior to its widespread use.

Despite $14 billion in government and private investment, there is not one shred of basic evidence that shows how nanoparticles are even absorbed and metabolized by the body, and yet they are used in thousands of consumer products that are ingested or applied on skin.

To see the full PEN archive of consumer products that contain nanotechnologies, visit http://www.nanotechproject.org/inventories/consumer/.