Study questions grains used in drugs

Tests involving chickens have raised questions about the impact on health from engineered nano- particles, the ultra-fine grains commonly used in drugs and processed foods.

Chickens exposed to high oral doses of polystyrene particles 50 nanometres (50 billionths of a metre) across absorbed less iron in their diet, according to a study.

At the same time, birds chronically exposed to these doses had a “remodelling” of their intestinal villi, the microscopic finger-like projections that play an important role in absorbing nutrients.