A model study into the migration potential of nanoparticles from plastics nanocomposites for food contact (original) (raw)
Related papers
Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment, 2017
The use of nanomaterials in food-contact applications has created enormous interest in recent years. The potential migration of engineered nano-objects (ENOs) from food-contact materials (FCMs) is one of the most important concerns regarding potential human exposure to ENOs and health risks. Current research focusing on FCMs has often reached inconsistency regarding migration of ENOs. The scope of this critical review is to give a concise overview of the most relevant aspects of the subject, and to identify and discuss the major open questions in relation to migration of ENOs from FCMs. This includes the very fundamental questions whether ENOs can migrate from FCMs at all and what the potential release mechanisms of ENOs could be. The inconsistency of findings from experimental studies is highlighted based on the example of silver nanoparticle migration from polymer-based FCMs. Challenges in the detection and characterisation of ENOs in migration studies and the suitability of the m...
Multi-faceted migration in food contact polyethylene-based nanocomposite packaging
Applied Clay Science, 2020
The flourishing market of nanocomposite food packaging has raised concerns about the safety of these materials. While several works on this issue have been published in recent years, they main focus in these studies was found to be on the possible migration of the nanoparticle its constituents. However, thorough safety evaluation of these materials would not be realistic until the nano-packaging system would be regarded as a whole with all of its components and the interactions of all these components. This matter is specifically crucial in terms of the interaction of nanoparticles with the non-nano additives which are added during the packaging processing. As the toxicity of these processing additives is no less than the nanoparticles, the possible impact of the nanoparticles on the transfer properties of these substances could play a decisive role on the risk assessments of the nanocomposite for food application. This study is an attempt through a thorough analysis of nanocomposite risks in terms of the interactions of components and the resulting effects on the release of nanocomposite substances. In this regard a model nanocomposite of LLDPE and nanoclay which is also comprised of intercalants and some selective additives were put in contact with various food simulants were considered and the
An experimental nanosilver coated low density polyethylene (LDPE) food packaging was incubated with food simulants using a conventional oven and tested for migration according to European Commission (2011) Regulation No. 10/2011. The commercial LDPE films were coated using a layer-by-layer (LbL) technique and three levels of silver (Ag) precursor concentration (0.5, 2 and 5% silver nitrate (AgNO3), respectively) were used to attach antimicrobial Ag. The experimental migration study conditions (time, temperature and food simulant) under conventional oven heating (10 days at 60°C, 2 h at 70 °C, 2 h at 60 °C or 10 days at 70 °C) were chosen to simulate worst case storage for over six months. In addition, migration was quantified under microwave heating. The total Ag migrant levels in the food simulants were quantified by inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Mean migration levels obtained by ICP-AES for oven heating were in the range 0.01-1.75 mgl-1. Migration observed for microwave heating was found to be significantly higher when compared to oven heating for similar temperatures (100 °C) and identical exposure times (2 min). In each of the packaging materials and food simulants tested, the presence of nanoparticles (NPs) was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). On inspection of the migration observed under conventional oven heating, an important finding was the significant reduction in migration resulting from the increased Ag precursor concentration used to attach Ag on the LDPE LbL coated films. This observation merits further investigation into the LbL coating process used, as it suggests potential for process modifications to reduce migration. In turn, any reduction in NP migration below regulatory limits could greatly support the antimicrobial silver nanoparticle (AgNP)-LDPE LbL coated films being used as a food packaging material.
Nanoclay migration from food packaging materials
Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A, 2016
A recent trend is to use nanocomposites materials for food packaging applications. Different kinds of nanoparticles are incorporated into the polymers to improve their characteristics, and, among them, nanoclay is used to improve their barrier properties to gases. In this work, the results of migration studies with different food simulants (ethanol 10% and acetic acid 3%), temperatures and times (40ºC for 10 days and 70ºC for two hours) from two commercialized LDPE nanocomposite bags are presented. The migration solutions thus obtained were analyzed by ICP-MS to evaluate the amount of aluminum which migrated into the solutions both in dissolved form and as a part of nanoparticles. Aluminum migration was observed for both samples with a maximum migration value of 51.65 ng/cm 2 for the Aisaika bags and 24.14 ng/cm 2 for the Debbie Meyer bags. The presence of spikes working in single particle mode using ICP-MS indicated that part of this aluminum was present as nanoparticles. The size and morphology of the nanoclay, both in the original material and in the migration solutions, was studied by scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy-dispersive X ray diffraction (SEM-EDX). In this manner, nanoparticles of different morphologies and sizes were found to migrate into the food simulants.
Nanomaterials
The use of nanoadditives in food contact materials requires risk assessment to ensure consumers’ safety. The evaluation of health risk is based on the combination of two elements: hazard and exposure. For nanomaterials (NM) used as additives in nanocomposites, the exposure is directly linked to the level of migration or release of the NM into the food. In principle, appropriate methods for experimental determination and theoretical estimation of migration are available but need diligent considerations to avoid erroneous conclusions from the measured data. We propose a comprehensive test scheme based on these methods, starting with characterization of the nanomaterial itself and when incorporated in the polymer. These data form the basis for making a decision whether migration of the NM can be excluded by migration theoretical considerations or if experimental migration testing and/or abrasion testing for mechanical release should be carried out. Guidance to and considerations for ea...
European Food Research and Technology, 2008
Two methods were tested and compared for the additivation of low density polyethylene (LDPE). The aim was to obtain highly contaminated plastic films to enable the study of migration (diffusion and partition phenomena). One of the methods involved immersion of low density polyethylene (LDPE) films in a concentrated solution of the selected substances. The other method involved achieving close contact of plastic films with a polyethylene wax contaminated with the selected compounds. The PEwax method provided better results as regards the final concentration and homogeneity of the contaminants in the plastic films (deviations between replicates for each plastic film was lower than 10% for both migrants tested). This method was therefore considered suitable for preparing a homogeneous additive release system. Finally, to test the applicability of the method, concentration profiles were studied in chocolate spread placed in contact with the contaminated films, and diffusion coefficients were estimated in this foodstuff. Estimated diffusion coefficients were 4.6 · 10 -07 cm 2 /s for DPBD and 3.2 · 10 -07 cm 2 /s for triclosan in the same conditions.
Chemical Migration from Plastic Types of Food Contact Materials
2017
Foods are exposed to contact materials during all steps passed from farm to fork. Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 was set in the European Union (EU) to provide safe FCMs and to explain the general requirements of the materials. Plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food are regulated by Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011. Annex I of Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 contains the Union list of authorized monomers, additives, polymer production and other starting substances. There are 885 authorized food contact material substances in the list. These listed substances called as “Intentionally Added Substances (IAS)” can be used to manufacture plastic materials, with the restrictions and specifications established in the list. The contamination of foods due to the release of chemicals from packaging materials can be originated from the substances used in their formulation (IAS) but also from interactions between different ingredients, degradation produc...
Migration of Various Nanoparticles into Food Samples: A Review
Foods, 2021
Nanotechnology has provided new opportunities for the food industry with its applications in food packaging. The addition of nanoparticles, such as clay, silver and copper, can improve the mechanical and antimicrobial properties of food packaging. However, nanoparticles may have an adverse impact on human health. This has led to legislative and regulatory concerns. The inhibitory effects of nano packaging on different microorganisms, such as Salmonella, E. coli, and molds, have been studied. Nanoparticles, like other materials, may have a diverse set of properties that need to be determined. In this review, different features of silver, clay and copper nanoparticles, such as their anti-microbial, cell toxicity, genetic toxicity, mechanical properties, and migration, are critically evaluated in the case of food packaging. Specifically, the viewpoints of WHO, FDA, and ESFA, concerning the nano-silver application in food packaging, are discussed as well.