Union concerns over nanoparticles



The ETUI European trade union institute has highlighted two recent research papers reporting health and safety concerns over nanotechnology. 



Researchers from the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) have shown that nanoparticles of titanium dioxide contained in the additive E171 can cross the intestinal barrier in animals. Immune system disorders linked to the absorption of the nanoscale fraction of E171 particles were observed.



E171 is commonly used in foodstuffs, especially confectionery, to whiten or give opacity to products. Composed of micro- and nanoparticles, E171 is nevertheless not labelled a “nanomaterial”, since it does not contain more than 50% of nanoparticles.



Nanomaterials, containing very tiny components, are now found in toothpastes and shampoo, food components, clothes, cement, paints, car tyres, oil, and electronic products. 



www.etui.org/News/An-expert-compares-nanotechnology-to-radioactivity