Stinky Sock Treatment May Pose Eco Hazard

The scientists raised concern about the overall level of silver, noting that the sludge and wastewater from the manufacturing plants is often sold to farms as fertilizer or dumped into waterways.

Increased silver concentrations could render bacteria used in water treatment plants less effective. Silver concentrations could also pose its own risks.

"With increased silver in waste water it could become so concentrated with silver that it could be classified as a hazardous waste," said Benn.

A hazardous level would be as much as 20 times what their results suggest.

The findings will be published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.

Nanoparticles, silver or otherwise, should be treated like any other chemical, according to Challa Kumar, a nanotechnology researcher at Louisiana State University.

"They could be dangerous, you never know," said Kumar. "But we don't want to blame the nanoparticles for being toxic when it's not the nanoparticles but the manufacturing process that is the problem.

"But if the silver is getting leeched out then it is a matter of concern."

Related Links:

Eric Bland's blog: What the Tech

How Stuff Works: Nanotechnology

The Project of Emerging Nanotechnologies