Are Silver Nanoparticles Used on Our Food Packaging Safe ???

Certain metals are known to inhibit microbial growth, such as Zinc, Copper and Silver Silver Nanoparticles have been approved by the FDA for use in food packaging.They are very effective in killing viral, bacterial and fungal microorganisms.

Silver ions control bacteria by means of a triple mechanism: Blocking oxygen-transporting enzymes, where oxygen is required for cell function. Inactivating sulphur-containing proteins of the bacteria. These proteins are required for DNA production. Locking the cell membrane. Studies have indicated that the use of metal salts render the cell membrane inactive, so “suffocating” the microbe.

The fact that the silver acts on the atomic level – oxygen inhibition, at the DNA level and at the cell membrane level make it very effective. It is true that silver nanoparticles do not cause food borne disease, but the question is whether the silver weaken our body over the long term making us susceptible to other diseases in the future?. A recently published study by researchers at the University of Southern Denmark showed that silver nanoparticles are able to enter human cells, producing potentially harmful free radicals and changes in certain cellular proteins. The researchers, led by Professor Frank ie Kjeldsen and Dr. Thiago Verano Brava, studied the effect of two sizes (100 nm and 20 nm) of silver nanoparticles on human intestinal cells in cultures in the laboratory. They used a variety of techniques to examine the interactions between particles and proteins in cells. The results showed that, although the two particle sizes produce a response, only smaller particles are able to enter cells and cause direct effects. These include the production of reactive oxygen species and the carbonylation of proteins as well as stimulating the production of certain proteins. "  We can confirm that the nano-silver lead to the formation of harmful substances called free radicals in cells. We can also see that there are changes in the form and amount of protein.This worries us  , " say Kjeldsen and Verano Brava. Silver nanoparticles are used as antimicrobial component in certain types of food packaging and are also sold as a dietary supplement in some markets. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration would have responded to this study cautioning against taking these supplements that are available for sale on the Internet. Another study suggests silver nanoparticles, used as a pesticide and in some food packaging, could remain on fresh produce after washing, posing potential risk. When Mengshi Lin and his colleagues doused pears in silver nanoparticles to mimic what happens on farms, some nanoparticles remained stuck on pears four days after repeated washing — and smaller slivers penetrated the pear skin to reach the pulp. That's potentially "dangerous to consumers," said Lin, whose study suggests a method that could be used to detect nanoparticles in food since the smallest slivers could migrate through the body and reach sensitive sites such as the brain or heart. Besides the possibility of causing harm to our body the silver nanoparticles have the potential to kill off the bacteria in our stomach that help our immune system and our digestion. I believe that there needs to be more research before we use silver nanoparticles on our food.

2/15/14 Health News: Obesity Starts in Early Childhood - Silver Nanoparticles May block HIV Transmission - Medical Homes Cut ER Visits,

Obesity Is Found to Gain Its Hold in Earliest Years

For many obese adults, the die was cast by the time they were 5 years old. A major new study of more than 7,000 children has found that a third of children who were overweight in kindergarten were obese by eighth grade. And almost every child who was very obese remained that way. Some obese or overweight kindergartners lost their excess weight, and some children of normal weight got fat over the years. But every year, the chances that a child would slide into or out of being overweight or obese diminished. By age 11, there were few additional changes: Those who were obese or overweight stayed that way, and those whose weight was normal did not become fat.Continue Reading

New Cream With Silver Nanoparticles Could Block HIV Transmission

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1.1 million people in the US are infected with human immunodeficiency virus. But new research has detailed the creation of a cream that has proved effective against transmission of the infection in laboratory tests. Previous research from the University of Texas, in collaboration with the University of Monterrey in Mexico, found that silver nanoparticles may be able to stop transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Now, the research team has used the findings to create a vaginal cream that can block HIV transmission.Continue Reading

Medical Homes Cut Unnecessary ER Use Dramatically

The use of medical homes with a low-income population in California dramatically reduced unnecessary hospital emergency room visits, California HealthLine reported. According to data compiled by researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles, low-income residents who enrolled and remained in medical homes were half as likely as those not in medical homes to use the ER for care that did not lead to a hospitalization. Continue Reading

Shortage of Saline Causes Hospitals, Dialysis Centers to Scramble to Manage Supply

A shortage of intravenous saline is causing hospitals and dialysis centers to scramble to manage their supplies of one of the most commonly used drugs. Healthcare providers are asking doctors and staff to use smaller IV bags and find alternatives, if possible, to cope with the shortage, officials and executives said. Officials have not yet heard of any facilities running out of the solutions, “but we know that hospitals are still reporting that they may only have a few days supply,” said Valerie Jensen Continue Reading