Interaction of nanoparticles with edible plants and their possible implications in the food chain

Authors

Cyren M. Rico, The University of Texas at El Paso
Sanghamitra Majumdar, The University of Texas at El Paso
Maria Duarte-Gardea, The University of Texas at El Paso
Jose R. Peralta-Videa, The University of Texas at El Paso
Jorge L. Gardea-Torresdey, The University of Texas at El Paso

Publication Date

4-27-2011

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The uptake, bioaccumulation, biotransformation, and risks of nanomaterials (NMs) for food crops are still not well understood. Very few NMs and plant species have been studied, mainly at the very early growth stages of the plants. Most of the studies, except one with multiwalled carbon nanotubes performed on the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and another with ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) on ryegrass, reported the effect of NMs on seed germination or 15-day-old seedlings. Very few references describe the biotransformation of NMs in food crops, and the possible transmission of the NMs to the next generation of plants exposed to NMs is unknown. The possible biomagnification of NPs in the food chain is also unknown. © 2011 American Chemical Society.

Publication Title

Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

Volume

59

Issue

8

First Page

3485

Last Page

3498

DOI

10.1021/jf104517j