Positive effect of nano-silver might be overshadowed by environmental concerns
Researchers from the University of Missouri have raised concern about a potential increase of anti-microbial silver particles in waste water, caused by the growing incorporation of silver particles into consumer products: ‘Because of the increasing use of silver nanoparticles in consumer products, the risk that this material will be released into sewage lines, wastewater treatment facilities, and, eventually, to rivers, streams and lakes is of concern,’ note the researchers; they continue by warning that the positive effects of that technology may be overshadowed by the potential negative environmental impact could have on the benign species of bacteria that are used for wastewater treatment.
The anti-microbial mechanism of silver is not a nanoparticle-specific property; it is understood to be based on the generation of highly reactive oxygen species, which form on the surface of silver. The researchers, however, claim that silver nanoparticles generate more of these highly reactive oxygen species than do larger forms of silver.
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