Agriculture Reference
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Long-term exposure can cause acute toxic response such as lesions in the kidneys
and liver, granulomas, cancers, clots, etc. Nanoparticles can also be taken up by the
broken or damaged skin or even by brain cells (Miller and Senjen 2008 ). Particles
having a size below 70 nm can enter cell nuclei and even cause impairment of DNA
replication and transcription (Chaudhry et al. 2008 ; Chaudhry and Castle 2011 ;
Momin et al. 2013 ).
The current risk assessment approach used by the FAO/WHO and Codex is
considered suitable for ENMs in food and agriculture, including the effects of ENM
on animal health (FAO/WHO 2010 ).
1.12 Regulations for Nanotechnology in Food Applications
The European Union regulations for food and food packaging have recommended
specific safety standards and testing procedures for introduction of new technology
(Halliday 2007 ). Cushen et al. ( 2012 ) has given details about vertical and horizontal
legislations for nanomaterials. In the USA, nanofoods and most of the food pack-
aging are regulated by the USFDA (Badgley et al. 2007 ), while in Australia,
nanofood additives and ingredients are regulated by Food Standards Australia
New Zealand (FSANZ), under the Food Standards Code (Bowman and Hodge
2006 ). In India and China, food safety regulations are introduced recently but are
not adequate for monitoring the safety of nanoparticles.
Existing laws are inadequate to assess risks posed by nano-based foods and packag-
ing because: (1) toxicity risks remain very poorly understood (because of their unique
properties); (2) they are not assessed as new chemicals according to many regulations;
(3) current exposure and safety methods are not suitable for nanomaterials; and (4) many
safety assessments use confidential industry studies (Chaudhry et al. 2008 ; Miller and
Senjen 2008 ; Cushen et al. 2012 ; Chaudhry and Castle 2011 ).
Most recently, the FAO/WHO ( 2013 ) published a technical paper on state of the
art on the initiatives and activities relevant to risk assessment and risk management
of nanotechnologies in the food and agriculture sectors. The report has presented
country-wise risk assessment and risk management of nanotechnologies in the food
and agriculture sector which is very useful.
1.13 Websites on Nanotechnology
National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI),
National Science Foundation
www.nano.gov/
Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies
(Woodrow Wilson Institute)
www.nanotechproject.org/
(continued)
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