Week 8 NanoTech+ Art

Before this week’s lecture, I had no idea that nano technology is so dispersed into our daily life. Dr. Gimzewski in the lecture says that there are thousands of nano tech products on the market right now, and many of us just did not know about it yet.

http://www.businesskorea.co.kr/sites/default/files/field/image/Nanotech.jpg

Actually nano particles already naturally exist in our daily life such as the proteins in milk and ash in the air, but building nano particles in food can have immense results in food such as changing the food’s nutritional value, life span and even its appearance. For example, the use of the nano particle, Titanium dioxide is widely applied into a lot of the products that we use, from paint to sunscreen, cosmetics and even food coloring.

http://www.webelements.com/_media/compounds/Ti/O2Ti1-13463677.jpg

Many scientists have studied the effects of titanium dioxide cosmetic products on human bodies, but many of them concluded that thus far there have not been any concrete results that can detect an association between the occupational exposure to titanium dioxide particles and an increased risk for cancer (Point). They did find that the titanium dioxide particles cannot penetrate the intact skin into the human body, but such particles may be able to penetrate the blood–brain, blood-testis and blood-placenta barriers (Shi, et al.). In all, scientists argue that more comprehensive studies are needed to determine the exact health effects of using the titanium dioxide particles and consumers should reconsider before using Titanium Dioxide cosmetic products.

http://s.hswstatic.com/gif/titanium-dioxide-in-cleansers-1.jpg

So what about food? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released final guidance to companies that use nanotechnologies in food products last year, but FDA only requires companies to consult with the agency before taking products to market and warns that nanotechnology products may require additional safety review on a case-by-case basis (FDA). Moreover, the FDA allows food products to contain up to 1% food-grade titanium dioxide without including this ingredient on the label. Many have criticized that the agency did not take an active approach to mandate the companies to do rigorous testing before putting the food on the market and into our bodies (The Center for Food Safety). And two months ago, Dunkin' Donuts announced that they will stop using titanium dioxide in there powdered sugar donuts due to the pressure from an advocate group (Maynard).

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Indeed some of the nano technology products are benefiting our lives immensely, but the concern is that we know only know so little about the effects of what these nano particles can do to our bodies. Researchers especially have concerns about these particles because they are so small and can penetrate and accumulate our system easily, so it might have some long time effects that we don’t know yet.  

http://images.gizmag.com/gallery_lrg/nanoparticledangersign.jpg

Works Cited

"Center for Food Safety | FDA Releases Final Guidance on Nanotechnology in Food." Center for Food Safety. 27 June 2014. Web. 24 May 2015.

"FDA Issues Guidance on Use of Nanotechnology by Food and Cosmetics Industries." U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 26 June 2014. Web. 24 May 2015.

Gimzewski , Jim . "Nanotech Jim pt6." , . 21 May 2012. Lecture.

Maynard, Andrew. "Dunkin' Donuts Ditches Titanium Dioxide – but Is It Actually Harmful?" The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2015. Web. 24 May 2015.

Point, Nanoparticle-Size Entry. "Titanium Dioxide: Toxic or Safe?."

Shi, Hongbo, et al. "Titanium dioxide nanoparticles: a review of current toxicological data." Part Fibre Toxicol 10.1 (2013): 15.