Nanonutraceuticals: Are They Safe? (original) (raw)
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Nanotechnology promises to improve the quality of human life, but it has also provoked concerns about potential adverse health effects on workers, the environment and consumers. Effective risk assessment and risk management of nanotechnology requires: 1) knowing how engineered nano-scale particles (NPs) can gain entry into the human body (routes of exposure); 2) knowing whether engineered NPs can migrate from their point of entry to other locations in the body (translocation) and 3) determining what adverse biological effects may occur in response to engineered NP exposure (toxicity). This article reviews what is currently known about potential health risks to human beings, plants and animals; routes of exposure (inhalation, ingestion, dermal and parenteral); translocation and mechanisms of nanotoxicity and finally what are factors that affect Nanotoxicity.
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T he evolution of nanotechnology proceeds at an unprecedented rate due to major investments in research and development from public and private sectors. Incorporation of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) into novel or replacement technologies has impacted a diverse number of industrial, commercial, consumer, and health-care services and products. Use of ENMs in many industries has, however, raised concerns with all routes of exposure (dermal, oral, inhalation, and parenteral) in occupational, consumer, and environmental settings. Given the sheer number, diversity, and wide use of ENMs, toxicology studies are unable to keep pace. Risk-assessment frameworks specific to nanomaterials that incorporate alternative testing have been proposed. However, most of the past and current models depend heavily on mammalian animal model testing. 1,2 These time-and resource-intensive studies, although informative, are clearly unable to assess the avalanche of ENM-enabled technologies and the wide range of exposures that may result. This fact, coupled with general societal pressure to reduce animal use, has resulted in calls for tiered and integrative testing strategies using high-throughput in silico, in vitro, and other alternative models to screen and assess ENMs along their chemical life cycle. 3-6 Major goals of the OECD, 7 ENPRA, 8 Nano GO, 9 and NNI NEHI 10 working groups for nanotoxicology testing are the development and use of predictive models. Research has shown that the inherent small size, large surface area, and other unique physical and chemical properties of ENMs result in adsorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) and biological responses not observed in their larger counterpart materials. Toxicity responses following exposure can occur earlier (or on longer time frames), at lower doses, and in other organs far removed from the original site of exposure that are not observed with their larger counterparts. Interactions with biomolecules and organism environment can drastically change an ENM's physical (size, shape) and chemical (solubility) properties, resulting in differences in particle fate, ADME, and potential biological response, including novel effects on immune, cardiovascular, development (e.g., stem cell), reproductive, and neurological systems. 11-16 These difficulties represent a major challenge for 21stcentury toxicology and safe-by-design material development. Critical considerations for toxicological assessments include robust material characterization, transformations along an ENM's life cycle, understanding of potential particle transfor
2013
In accordance with EFSA's strategy for cooperation and networking with Member States, a Network for Risk Assessment of Nanotechnologies in Food and Feed was established in 2010. The overall goals of this Network are to facilitate harmonisation of assessment practices and methodologies; to enhance exchange of information and data between EFSA and MS; and to achieve synergies in risk assessment activities. The Annual reports of the Network inform the public and the EFSA Advisory Forum about its specific activities and achievements. During 2014, the Network followed-up on its priority areas and contributed to the making of inventory lists of applications of Nanomaterials already present in the food/feed chain. During its meeting in 2014, the Network dedicated most of its discussions on relevant research results for possible toxic effects following the oral route of exposure. The Network exchanged views on the technical aspects and implications of the definition for Nanomaterial. The network also shared its views on the ongoing and upcoming risk assessments of EFSA on applications comprising implicitly or explicitly nanoforms. The Network updated its list with national research and contact details of national laboratories that can analyse nanomaterials in complex matrices.