(NHI Nanoblog) Thai researchers testing fabrics treated with nanosilver as an antibacterial agent found that the silver leached into the artificial sweat used in the lab.
Nanosilver is in wide use because of its antibacterial (read: anti-stink) properties.
I’s unclear whether the minuscule heavy metal might eventually impact your workout by causing health problems. Scientists already have shown that nanosilver particles can turn up in the water when you throw that smelly shirt in the washing machine. A recent Duke University study found that nanosilver impacts plant growth, raising questions about what happens after your washer drains into the sewer system.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is looking at how to regulate nanosilver, and has proposed giving “conditional approval” to the use of nanosilver as a pesticide; the public comment period ended Sept. 11. (Take a peek at the comments using the information at the bottom of this page).