Popular Entry

05/02/11

Dealing with nanotechnology - usually harmless, but some features have to be considered

Dübendorf, St. Gallen, Thun, 03/02/2011 - With the rapid development of nanotechnology are growing fears about the health risks of nano-objects. Are they right? And we need a new discipline, "nanotoxicology"to assess the risks? Answers Empa researcher Harald F. Peter Krug and Wick in the latest issue of the journal applied chemistry "Security research in nanotechnology combines biology, chemistry and physics with health, materials science and engineering in a truly interdisciplinary research field, " explained Harald F. Empa scientist Krug and Peter Wick, saying: "The interaction of nano-objects with the agencies" to consider some details. "The term" nano toxicology to have their justification. "So I can reach the nano scale particles in transport pathways in cells and other larger particles are open, " is fundamental, and very large compared to the volume surface.

With the same amount of material on the body in nano particles with a much larger number of molecules in contact in a larger particle. The dose-response relationships can not be assumed for itself. You can also add chemical and physical effects that occur in larger particles. "Whether it is toxic in some cases, larger or smaller particles can not be predicted, "say the authors. 'Is, of course, not be taken into account, what type of chemical involved and in what conformation is present in a particular case. "carbon as diamond nano particles was harmless, while in the form of nano tubes, depending on the length and aggregation state, can cause health problems. We come so can not stop looking at each of the nano materials for themselves.

A risk assessment must also be taken into account, which was absorbed dose that is considered realistic, and that any observed biological effect is not automatically synonymous with a health risk.

Krug and Wick notes that while much data on the biological effects of nano materials are present, but for the moment not all studies are reliable. They often do not understand what was actually tested in a material under what experimental conditions. "Our reference to methodological weaknesses and our specific recommendations on how to avoid the problem, we want to contribute to the sustainable improvement of the data, " according to Krug and Wick.

Nanotoxicology - an interdisciplinary challenge, Harald F. Krug, Angewandte Chemie, 2011, Vol 123, pp 2-23, first published online: January 11, 2011, DOI: 10.1002/ange.201001037, http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ange .201001037

0 Comment:

Posting Komentar