The latest news from academia, regulators research labs and
other things of interest Posted: June 10, 2008 Nanoparticles
have negative impact on mussels (Nanowerk News) Nanoparticles
are now a part of many common household products. Aside form
their use in electronics and bio-imagery, nanoparticles can be
found in sunscreen, DVD players, cleaning products, textiles,
fuel, paints, tires, ink cartridges and even certain foods. “And
the market keeps growing,” says Sébastien Sauvé, a professor at
the Université de Montréal’s Department of Chemistry. “However,
we know little about their potential toxicity on human beings
and their impact on the environment. Nanoparticles are made of
toxic metals such as cadmium, which is almost as toxic as
mercury. “Many studies have shown the negative effects of
cadmium on the immune system of different animal species,” he
says. With the help of his colleagues from Environment Canada
and the Armand-Frappier Institute, Sauvé chose to study
nanoparticles in mussels. “This mollusk i