The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a conditional registration for a nanosilver-containing antimicrobial pesticide product. The product, Nanosilva (or NSPW-L30SS), contains 1% nanosilver by weight and will be used as a non-food contact preservative to protect plastics and textiles from odor- and stain-causing bacteria, fungi, mold, and mildew. Articles that may be treated with Nanosilva include household items and hospital equipment. The plastics and textiles will contain less than 0.003% silver by weight.
After reviewing exposure data and other information on nanosilver from the applicant and data from the scientific literature, EPA found that the plastics and textiles treated with Nanosilva release exceedingly small amounts of silver and, therefore, will not cause unreasonable adverse effects on people—including children—or the environment. EPA's conditional registration maintains that the use of Nanosilva is in the public interest, although the Agency is requiring the applicant to generate additional data during the period of conditional registration to address areas of uncertainty with respect to the stability and potential leaching of nanosilver from plastics and to perform two toxicity studies to evaluate the potential effects of nanosilver exposure through the inhalation route.
EPA proposed registering Nanosilva on August 27, 2013. More information can be found at www.regulations.gov in Docket ID # EPA-HQ-OPP-2012-0594.