Effect of micro/nano silica particle feeding for mice

The toxic effect of nano and micron sized silica particle was studied on mice. The size of the nano and micron sized silica were approximately 30 nm and approximately 30 microm, respectively. The mice, Balb/c (20 approximately 30 g, white) and C57BL/6J (black) for the experiment were classified to normal, nano sized silica (1%), and micron sized silica (1%) dieted groups. After feeding for 10 weeks, the blood was tested biochemically and hematologically. There was no difference between the groups in the tested items except ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase). The nano sized silica particle dieted group showed higher value of ALT than normal and micron sized silica dieted groups. H&E staining of the liver of the nano sized particle dieted group indicated some fatty liver pattern while the contents of Si in the livers of the groups were almost the same. From the results, it was suggested that the nano sized silica particle had a toxic effect on the liver even though there was no significant different on the health in total fed amount of 140 g silica/kg mouse.