Environmental Exposure and Risk from Silver Nanoparticles

Environmental Exposure and Risk from Silver Nanoparticles 

Following an exhaustive search of the peer-reviewed literature, we were able to find only one publication on environmental risk from silver NPs. Here, Blaser et al. [20] conducted an analysis of risk to freshwater ecosystems from silver released from NPs incorporated into textiles and plastics. The study only addressed silver released from textiles and plastics containing NPs rather than the particles themselves. Unfortunately, Blaser and colleagues [20] were unable to find sufficient data to characterize the risk to the environment from silver released from textiles and plastics hence, they were unable to rule out that predicted environmental concentrations would not exceed predicted no-effect concentrations. Thus, they concluded that there was no risk of adversely affecting the microbial communities in sewage treatment plants. 

At present, insufficient data exist for the adequate evaluation of the potential effects of silver NPs on the health of environmental communities or individuals. However, a considerable body of in vitro data indicates there is at least a potential for adverse effects. The genotoxicity data provided by Kim et al. [16] suggest that silver NPs may not cause genotoxicity in vivo, as they caused no micronucleus formation, despite being distributed through many parts of the body, including 

However, it is clear that additional investigahons must be conducted before the safety of silver NPs can be fully assessed. 

A Research Strategy for Addressing Risk, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Washington DC. 

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