Nanotechnology Has Become Mainstream, And Toxic Socks Have Caused Concern.

Due to its antibacterial and odorless properties, nano silver is becoming the star effect of some products, from socks to bandages to washing machines.

However, when silver's advantage is pushed to the forefront of consumer nanomaterials, scientists have introduced a test result to consumers, which is about the unprecedented results of environmental protection and health caused by nano silver.

Researchers Paul Westerhoff and Troy M. Benn have prepared a report for the 235th session of the American chemical community. The report says that the public needs to realize that the products they purchase contain nanomaterials with some unknown dangers.

The report says that ordinary washing and washing can wash away a large portion of silver nanoparticles on socks.

Arizona researchers say that the particles that prevent foot odor can diffuse through the wastewater treatment system and enter normal waterways, which may have harmful effects on aquatic organisms living in water and may also be harmful to humans.

The report said it was the first report on the release of nano silver in clothing products.

The researchers did a very simple experiment.

They bought 6 pairs of brands of anti smell socks, which contain nano silver.

They soaked their socks in a normal temperature distilled water jar, shaking for an hour, measuring two kinds of silver in water, harmful particle morphology and less studied nanoparticles.

According to the report, we see that the different proportion of silver released from socks is different, indicating that some processing programs enable silver to better attach to socks.

During a short washing time, some socks material released all the silver, and silver in some socks was gradually released.

And some socks do not release any silver.

If a large amount of nano silver is washed away on these socks, which flows into the waste water treatment system and then flows into nearby lakes, rivers and streams, it may endanger the aquatic ecosystem.

The researchers say that silver ions (dissolved elements) are not only resistant to stinky bacteria, but can also hijack the vital chemical reactions in the lives of other microbes and aquatic animals.

If you start releasing silver ions, it will harm all aquatic areas, the report said.

Once silver ions enter the fish gills, they may become effective killers.

But only when the content of silver is very high, can it do harm to human beings.

The toxicity of silver nanoparticles has not yet been determined.

The researchers hope to lead to more investigations into the environmental and health consequences of nanomaterials and to enhance the awareness of nanotechnology in consumer goods.

Since ancient Rome, silver has been used by human beings, though the form of silver nanoparticles occurs in consumer products for a long time.

Besides socks, nano silver is also used in other fields, such as bandages, sportswear and cleaning products.

Most consumers do not know the additional nanoscale cost in products.

If consumers do not know that nanoparticles exist in the products they purchase, they are not sure that the use of nanomaterials may pollute the environment. They can not make decisions on whether to produce nanomaterials based on known information.

For this purpose, the researchers suggest improving product identification.

Researchers hope to find out when they will release nanomaterials into the environment during each product's life cycle, and find better detection methods to identify nanoparticles in water and air.

The report says that our work suggests that consumers must start thinking about these issues. Do they need to set other standards?

The American Chemical Society is the largest scientific organization in the world. It is a non-profit organization.