6/11/2023 0 Comments Silica poisoning![]() However, it is hard to differentiate between nano and non-nano silica, and many manufacturers are not clearly stating that there are nanoparticles in their products. While most people think standard silicon dioxide is generally safe, the EFSA have expressed concerns about using silica nanoparticles in food, as there are no long-term safety studies. The researchers concluded that there is a low risk of using silica nanoparticles as a food additive, but they still called for more long-term research. The study indicated that the silica nanoparticles had a low potential to cross the gastrointestinal tract when a person eats them. Research appearing in the Journal of Applied Toxicology investigated the effect of silica nanoparticles as food additives. The concern is that these tiny particles could reach different areas of the body and even get into the cells themselves. These include nanoparticles, which are silica particles that are much smaller than most of the particles that occur in nature. Some researchers have called for further investigation into the types of silica that find their way into food products. ![]() Side effects and risks of silicon dioxide The FDA regulations allow manufacturers to include silicon dioxide as a food additive if they only use the smallest amount they need, and the amount does not exceed 2% of the weight of the food. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States also regulate how companies use silica in food. The silica found as a food additive is not the same grade of silica that producers use to make cement, for instance. People should also note that there are different grades of silica. ![]() In animal models, researchers noted no accumulation of silicon after the animals repeatedly ate silica. Many studies suggest that there is no cause for concern when people are consuming silicon dioxide in normal doses, such as the small amounts that manufacturers put in food products to prevent caking.Ī review by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) goes over the results of studies on silica as a food additive. While the name may seem unfamiliar, silicon dioxide is a natural compound. In conclusion, many forms of silica exist in nature and compelling data support myriad beneficial effects of silica in water.Many food additives tend to raise concerns from people who want to be aware of what they are eating, and silicon dioxide is no different. However, a few rodent studies have been conducted, which indicate a No Observed Adverse Effects Level (NOAEL) of 50,000 ppm (mg/L) for dietary silica. Very little toxicity data exist regarding aqueous silica consumption due, in part, to the lack of anecdotal reports of toxicity and general presumption of safety. However, deficiency induces deformities in skull and peripheral bones, poorly formed joints, reduced contents of cartilage, collagen, and disruption of mineral balance in the femur and vertebrae. Compelling data suggest that silica is essential for health although no RDI has been established. Orthosilicic acid is the form predominantly absorbed by humans and is found in numerous tissues including bone, tendons, aorta, liver and kidney. There are several water soluble forms of silica referred collectively to as silicic acid (ortho, meta, di, and tri-silicates), which are present in surface and well water in the range of 1-100 mg/L. When associated with metals or minerals the family of silicates is formed. Chemically, silica is an oxide of silicon, viz., silicon dioxide, and is generally colorless to white and insoluble in water. Silica has widespread industrial applications including use as a food additive, i.e., anti-caking agent, as a means to clarify beverages, control viscosity, as an anti-foaming agent, dough modifier, and as an excipient in drugs and vitamins. However, multiple forms of silica exist in nature and silicon, a component, is the second most prevalent element after oxygen. There is considerable interest in the effects of silica on human health in contrast to prior research which focused solely on the toxic effects of inhaled crystalline silica.
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