Fabric Industry has been applying
nanoparticles for years, and this transformation of fabric industry has become
very controversial to environmentalists which some chemicals of nanoparticles
from fabric bring harms to the environment.
Silver
nanoparticles, one of the well-known chemical nanoparticles that being used by
common clothing factories is found out that it brings potential harm to the
environment.
Silver
nanoparticles are harmful to every living organism especially aquatic livings
which silver nanoparticles will bring an evolution of antibiotic-resistant
bacteria even mutation of the living creatures. Silver nanoparticles from
clothing would increase the concentration of silver ions in waste water and
damage the nature of ecosystems permanently in long term. Nanosilver will cause
mutation and death of fishes and their embryos which leads fish to have
defected swim ballders, tails and eyes as well as congestive heart failure.
Image Source: http://www.mosiab.com/nano-silver.php
Image Source: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nanotechnology-silver-nanoparticles-fish-malformation/
Hence,
this indicates that nanosilver able to affect the food chain in nature,
eventually it might bring harms to human as well. So, even nanosilver is unable
to go through human skins but it able to go through our body by consuming foods
which are contaminated with nanosilver.
Written By: Team 3 (Eiu Teng & Liew Ke Zin)
References:
NanoWerk,
2011. Nanotechnology solutions for self-cleaning, dirt and water-repellent
coatings. [Online] Available at: http://www.nanowerk.com/spotlight/spotid=19644.php [Accessed 31 May 2015].
Soutter,
W., 2015. Nanotechnology in Clothing. [Online] Available at: http://www.azonano.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=3129 [Accessed 31 May 2015].
Thiry,
M.C., 2010.Always Touching Fabric. Association of Textile, Apparel &
Materials Professionals. [Online] Available at: https://www.aatcc.org/media/Read/documents/Nanotech0910.pdf [Accessed 31 May 2015].
Stimers,
P., 2008. The Implications of Recent Nanomaterials Toxicity Studies for the
Nanotech Community. [Online] Nanotechnology Law and Business. Vol. 5. No. 3. Available at: http://www.klgates.com/files/Publication/2b1f4c2a-298b-4948-9ce7-69f1396b61ac/Presentation/PublicationAttachment/bbdf8cdc-be42-4fa6-b942-7263b449d0b3/Article_Stimers_Nanotech.pdf [Accessed 31 May 2015].
Shetler,
G., 2009. Fish Kill: Nanosilver Mutates Fish Embryos. Scientific American. [Online] Available at: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/nanotechnology-silver-nanoparticles-fish-malformation/ [Accessed 31 May 2015].
