What are the benefits and risks of using silver nanoparticles in consumer products, including colloidal silver? Risk Bites' Andrew Maynard looks at seven things you should know about this nanomaterial. Silver nano has been hitting the headlines for a few years now, both as a smart new technology for preventing bacterial infection, and as a potential new health and environmental threat. But what's the science behind how it behaves, and how it might be beneficial, or harmful? We take a look at seven things worth knowing about silver nanoparticles -- some of which may surprise you! For more information on silver nanoparticles, check out the links below. The Risk Bites Team: Andrew Maynard David Faulkner Alyssa Berry Backing track: Based on Blue and Green by Rimsky. http://www.premiumbeat.com/royalty_free_music/songs/blue-and-green FURTHER INFORMATION AND READING Nanoparticles and their size may not be big issues. University of Oregon. http://uonews.uoregon.edu/archive/news-release/2011/10/nanoparticles-and-their-size-may-not-be-big-issues Colloidal silver: Is it safe or effective? Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.org/colloidal-silver/expert-answers/faq-20058061 Nanosilver: Weighing the Risks and Benefits. Environmental Health Perspectives. http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/121-a220/ Nanosilver and consumer products. EPA http://www.epa.gov/heasd/research/nanosilver.html Some antibacterials come with worrisome silver lining. Chicago Tribune, Feb 15 2014. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-nanosilver-met-20140216,0,204673.story Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies Consumer Products Inventory: Nano Silver http://www.nanotechproject.org/cpi/search-products/?nanomaterials%5B%5D=1148 X-static http://www.x-staticperformance.com/ Crypton Fabric http://www.cryptonfabric.com/Crypton-Fabric/ Risk Bites is your guide to making sense of risk. We cover everything from understanding and balancing the risks and benefits of everyday products, to health science more broadly, to the potential impacts of emerging technologies, to making sense of risk perception. If you enjoy our videos, please subscribe, and spread the word!