A prolonged intake of polystyrene nanoparticles, a very common material in food additives and other commonly consumed products, may be more dangerous to health than previously thought, according to a study published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
To study these effects, the scientists used both cell cultures from the human intestine and live chickens, because in the latter the metabolism of iron, an essential mineral, is very similar to ours. The results indicated that initial exposure to the particles blocked iron absorption while prolonged ingestion caused changes in cell structures.
Nanoparticles are fractions of materials with dimensions less than 100 nanometers and are already used in products ranging from food to cosmetics. "We are certain that in general they are not harmful to health, but they could have other more subtle effects that we must study," said Michael L. Shuler, from Cornell University in New York and co-author of the work.
