Uncertainties of Size Measurements in Electron Microscopy Characterization of Nanomaterials in Foods

This paper describes the development and validation of electron microscopy procedures for the detection and quantification of nanomaterials in foods. The study addressed a number of key issues relating to the measurement of nanomaterials with broad and narrow particle size distributions in solid and liquid food matrices. A method for predicting uncertainty in particle size measurement related to small sample intake in electron microscope is provided. Other validation parameters, including the limit of detection, recovery, and precision of particle size measurement are determined. The contribution of the subsequent stages in data acquisition process to the measurement of uncertainty is also investigated. The analysis showed that sampling was the main factor contributing to uncertainty in nanomaterial size measurements in food products. This emphasizes the importance of replication over extensive particle counts per replicate in experimental designs for the use of electron microscopy for sizing of nanoparticles in complex matrices such as food. The study is expected to contribute to the future work involving the use of electron microscopy for measurement of nanomaterials in food and other complex matrices.

DUDKIEWICZS Agnieszka;  BOXALL Alistair;  CHAUDHRY Quasim;  MOLHAVE Kristian;  TIEDE Karen;  HOFMANN Peter;  LINSINGER Thomas; 

2015-04-22

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

JRC84682

0308-8146,   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC84682,   

10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.12.071,