Contents of Ag and other metals in food-contact plastics with nanosilver or Ag ion and their migration into food simulants

ABSTRACT

Six nanosilver-labelled products and five silver ion (Ag⁺)-labelled products were investigated to measure the migration of Ag from food-contact plastics, including nanosilver into various food simulants. The products were obtained in Japanese markets in 2012. Zinc (Zn), another major antimicrobial agent, and three harmful metals, cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As), were also examined. Ag and Zn were detected in all six nanosilver products at concentrations of 21–200 and 8.4–140 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. These metals were also detected in all five Ag⁺ products at the same level as nanosilver products. Cd, Pb and As were not detected in any sample. Migrations of Ag and Zn were highest in 4% acetic acid, but also observed in water and 20% ethanol. Big differences were not observed in the migration ratio between nanosilver products and Ag⁺ products. The ultrafiltration experiments suggested that the Ag that migrated from nanosilver products into 4% acetic acid was in its ionic form, while that into water and 20% ethanol was in its nanoparticle form.

KEYWORDS:

• Ag
• nanoparticles
• nanosilver
• food-contact plastic
• migration
• food simulant
• ICP-MS
• ultrafiltration

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported in part by a Health and Labour Sciences Research Grant from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan [H22-Food-General-015].