Nanoparticles are likely to be dangerous for three main reasons: Nanoparticles may damage the lungs. Nanoparticles can get into the body through the skin, lungs and digestive system. This may help create ‘free radicals’ which can cause cell damage and damage to the DNA.

Out of three human studies, only one showed a passage of inhaled nanoparticles into the bloodstream. Materials which by themselves are not very harmful could be toxic if they are inhaled in the form of nanoparticles. The effects of inhaled nanoparticles in the body may include lung inflammation and heart problems.

In the future, nanotechnology could also enable objects to harvest energy from their environment. New nano-materials and concepts are currently being developed that show potential for producing energy from movement, light, variations in temperature, glucose and other sources with high conversion efficiency.

A number of manufactured nanomaterials have however been associated with health hazards. Research by the scientific committee on emerging and newly identified risks (SCENIHR) has indicated that some nanomaterials can be taken up in the lungs causing inflammation and tissue damage, fibrosis and tumour generation.

: the manipulation of materials on an atomic or molecular scale especially to build microscopic devices (such as robots) Placing atoms as though they were bricks, nanotechnology will give us complete control over the structure of matter, allowing us to build any substance or structure permitted by the laws of nature. —

Nanoparticles which are not absorbed by the gut or the lungs eventually leave the body in the faeces – either directly or after they are moved up from the lungs by normal clearance of mucus and then swallowed.

Unlike conventional imaging agents and therapeutics, many nanoparticles are highly stable in vivo—exemplified by a recent study suggested that quantum dots may be retained in the body (and remain fluorescent) for more than 100 days [2].

Common food-related products that contain nanotechnology include candies (M&M’s, Skittles), baby bottles, and plastic storage containers.

Being much smaller than the wavelengths of visible light (400-700 nm), nanoparticles cannot be seen with ordinary optical microscopes, requiring the use of electron microscopes or microscopes with laser. The properties of nanoparticles often differ markedly from those of larger particles of the same substance.

Nanoparticles of metal can damage the DNA inside cells even if there is no direct contact between them, scientists have found. The discovery provides an insight into how the particles might exert their influence inside the body and points to possible new ways to deliver medical treatments.

Safety of food derived from nanotechnology At present, there is no tenable evidence that food derived from nanotechnology is any safer or more dangerous than their conventional counterparts.

Nanotechnology applications in the food industry can be utilized to detect bacteria in packaging, or produce stronger flavors and color quality, and safety by increasing the barrier properties. Nanotechnology holds great promise to provide benefits not just within food products but also around food products.

Everyday products that use nanotechnology

• Sunscreen. Nanoparticles have been added to sunscreens for years to make them more effective.
• Clothing.
• Furniture.
• Adhesives.
• Coatings for car paintwork.
• Tennis balls.
• Computers.

Applications of nanotechnology have emerged with increasing need of nanoparticle uses in various fields of food science and food microbiology, including food processing, food packaging, functional food development, food safety, detection of foodborne pathogens, and shelf-life extension of food and/or food products.

The use of nanotechnology thus enables existing weapon technologies – such as stealth, precision-guided munitions and UAVs – to evolve into their ultimate form. It will provide soldiers with the ultimate protection of invisibility during combat operations or intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance activities.