Safety assessment of the substance silver nanoparticles for use in food contact materials

Abstract

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids ( CEP ) assessed the safety of the additive silver nanoparticles intended to be used in plastics. All the silver particles are in the size range of 1–100 nm, with about 15 nm mean diameter and 99% by number of particles below 20 nm. The additive is intended to be used as a surface biocide at up to 0.025% w/w in non‐polar plastics for contact with a wide variety of foods, times, temperatures and food contact surface/mass of food ratios. The particulate form is maintained when the additive is incorporated into plastics, albeit with some aggregation/agglomeration observed. The data and information on theoretical considerations, on specific migration and abrasion tests show that, under the intended and tested conditions of uses, the silver nanoparticles stay embedded in the polymer, do not migrate and resist release by abrasion, thus, do not give rise to exposure via food and to toxicological concern. There is migration of silver in soluble ionic form up to 6 μg/kg food from the surface of the additive particles. This is below the group restriction of 50 μg silver/kg food proposed by the AFC Panel in 2004 and would lead to a maximum exposure from FCM that would be below the acceptable daily intake ( ADI ) of 0.9 μg silver ions/kg body weight (bw) per day established by ECHA . Therefore, the Panel concluded that the substance does not raise safety concern for the consumer if used as an additive at up to 0.025% w/w in polymers, such as polyolefins, polyesters and styrenics, that do not swell in contact with aqueous foods and food simulants. The Panel noted, however, that exposure to silver from other sources of dietary exposure may exceed the ADI set by ECHA .

Revisión sistemática: el tóxico silencioso de la vida moderna bisfenol A

“…Claude Lambré, director del panel de materiales en contacto con la comida de la EFSA, señala de forma textual "En los estudios hemos observado un incremento del porcentaje de un tipo de glóbulo blanco, el linfocito T cooperador, en el bazo", estas células "tienen un papel fundamental en nuestros mecanismos celulares inmunitarios, y un aumento de este tipo podría llevar al desarrollo de inflamación alérgica del pulmón y enfermedades auto inmunitarias", explicó. Además de estos efectos, también se identificaron otros como alteraciones metabólicas, en el desarrollo y en la reproducción; por otro lado, la EFSA considera improbable o muy improbable que el Bisfenol A presente un riesgo genotóxico (alteración del ADN) a través de un mecanismo directo (28).…”

A Review on Reinforcements and Additives in Starch-Based Composites for Food Packaging

“…OML is set at 60 mg (of substance) per kg (of food or food stimulant) to guarantee that packaging materials do not transmit excessive amounts of compounds which, even if they are not hazardous, might cause an undesirable change in the composition of the food [91]. As an example of a safety assessment, the study on silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) for use in food contact materials [92] determined that Ag In the EU, nanomaterials are covered by the same regulatory framework that ensures the safe use of all chemicals and mixtures, i.e., the REACH and CLP regulations. The EU has added regulatory measures for nanomaterials in the food and feed chain, together with risk assessment guidance.…”

“…OML is set at 60 mg (of substance) per kg (of food or food stimulant) to guarantee that packaging materials do not transmit excessive amounts of compounds which, even if they are not hazardous, might cause an undesirable change in the composition of the food [91]. As an example of a safety assessment, the study on silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) for use in food contact materials [92] determined that Ag NPs remained embedded in the polymeric matrix and did not pose a toxicological threat. In ionic form, silver did present low levels of migration which did not exceed the proposed acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0.9 µg/kg per day.…”

Silver-Silica nanoparticles induced dose-dependent modulation of histopathological, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, proinflammatory, and immune status of broiler chickens

“…The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) does not raise safety concern for the consumer if used silver nanoparticles as an additive at up to 0.025% w/w in polymers [ 15 ]. This is because of the migration of silver occurs up to 6 μg silver/kg food in soluble ionic form from the surface of the additive particles, which is below the group restriction of 50 μg silver/kg food proposed by the Scientific Panel on Food Additives, Flavorings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food in 2004 [ 15 ]…”

“…Recently, AgNPs have also played a role in animal and specifically poultry nutrition as anti-inflammatory and immunostimulatory agents [ 15 ], improving the growth performance of broiler chickens [ 16 ]. A few studies on the use of AgNPs in rearing chickens have been performed [ 17 – 19 ]; however, the obtained findings are conflicting and do not explicitly indicate whether AgNPs might be safely supplied to poultry.…”