Environmental Health and Safety of Nanocomposites for Food and Water Contact Applications

Commercial products that contain nanoparticles [NP] are referred to as nanocomposites and these products are increasingly entering the marketplace [1]. NP inclusion intopolymer based food packaging materials has shown to improve product strength, durability, and oxygen barrierproperties compared to their NP-free predecessors. Increasednanocomposite use in society has increased the possibility that humans will be exposed to NPs during product use [2],especially products that contact foods and water. However, a growing concern regarding nanocomposite usage is thatcertain NP additives have demonstrated toxicity and could be released into food and water and product users could be exposed to them [3,4]. To estimate the feasibility of NPrelease, a literature review was conducted to identify release pathways and future research needs