Longterm Wear Effects on Nanosilver Release from Commercially Available Food Contact Materials

Published

August 22, 2019

Author(s)

David G. Goodwin, Li Piin Sung, Treye Thomas, Gregory O. Noonan, Susana Addo Ntim

Abstract

Potential consumer exposure to nanoparticles (NPs) from nanoenabled food contact materials (FCMs) has been a driving force for migration studies of NPs from FCMs. Although NP migration from fresh unused FCMs is not detectable, conditions that result in significant changes to the surface of FCMs may influence NP migration into food. Therefore a quantitative assessment of nanoparticle release from commercially available nanosilver-enabled FCMs was performed using an abrasion protocol to simulate stressful use. Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) analysis showed a general increase in RMS roughness after FCM abrasion, and particle count was four orders of magnitude higher for the abraded FCMs. Migration was evaluated using water and 3 % acetic acid as food simulants. Low concentrations of Ag were detected in water simulants, a small portion (< 10 ng dm-2) in the form of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Median particle diameter ranged from 39 nm to 50 nm with particle number concentrations on the order of 106 particles dm-2. Total Ag migration into 3 % acetic acid was significantly higher than in water; however, 3 % acetic acid was not suitable for evaluation of NP release due to dissolution of AgNPs to Ag+ under acidic solution chemistries.

Citation

Food Additives and Contaminants

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

nanosilver, nanomaterial release, wear, food contact materials, abrasion, ICP-MS, laser scanning confocal microscopy

Citation

Goodwin, D. , Sung, L. , Thomas, T. , Noonan, G. and Addo, S. (2019), Longterm Wear Effects on Nanosilver Release from Commercially Available Food Contact Materials, Food Additives and Contaminants (Accessed October 13, 2025)