Safety assessment of engineered metallic nanoparticles in foodstuff

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of nanotechnology and the increasing use of nanomaterials and nanoparticles in many different fields (ranging from electronics, construction, medical and pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, household appliances, textile, motor vehicles, food, etc.), has led to the production of a variety of consumer products currently available on the market. In spite of such a widespread presence, the safety of such products for human health and for the environment has not yet been fully established. This issue is of particular concern for the food sector, especially for metallic nanoparticles that are not biocompatible and tend to accumulate in the organism. These concerns seem to arise from the current lack of knowledge of the potential toxic effects of engineered nanoparticles on human and environmental health as well as from the lack of standardised methodologies to test such effects and the lack of specific regulations. This review presents an overview of the current way to assess the safety of nanoparticles and nanotechnological applications, with a special focus on metallic engineered nanoparticles and their application in the food sector. Specifically, it illustrates the methodological gaps and as well as the current regulatory and ethical issues related to this branch of technology.