Socks have never had a good reputation -- considering their abilities to both retain odor and vanish from the dryer.
While problem-solving the latter remains challenging, sock makers are tackling issue No. 1 with anti-fungal fabrics that contain the now-familiar silver nanoparticles.
"The nanosilvers help to eliminate bacterial growth and [foot] odor," said Kim Amylon, a spokeswoman for Eurosocks, one company using anti-fungal technology.
However, researchers in Arizona found the nanoparticles don't necessarily last long enough to disappear from the dryer.
"The idea was to purchase socks that contain silver, [and find out] how much of it comes off through washing," said Troy Benn, a doctoral candidate in the department of civil and environmental engineering at Arizona State University
Benn found that some of the socks -- he did not test Eurosocks -- released the silver after multiple washings. The findings are published in Environmental Science and Technology, the American Chemical Society's journal.
Still, Amylon stands by the durability of fungus-fighting socks: "A sock is a consumable product. Italian craftsmanship reinforces the durability of our sock, but any item will age and wear over time."
Benn also expressed some concern that the shed nanosilver particles might accumulate in wastewater systems.
"Nanosilver might be able to persist longer in surface waters," Benn said. "There could be an accumulation in the wastewater treatment biosolids, which could render them unusable as an agricultural fertilizer. Or the nanosilver could travel through a wastewater treatment plant back out into our surface waters."
There is ongoing debate about the possible environmental impacts of silver nanoparticles.
In addition to concerns about biodegradability, others question whether microbes may adapt to the silver's lethality.
"One issue is: Is it doing any good? Is it doing any harm? Could you get a silver-resistant organism?" Weber said.
Do you have more information about this topic? If so, please click here to contact the editors of ABC News.
