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Safety fears over Nanocosmetics 11-08-08
Cosmetics
containing tiny "nano" particles are being used widely despite unresolved issues
surrounding their safety, a consumer watchdog warns.
Many skin care products, including sunscreens and wrinkle creams, contain
this technology to make them easier to apply and invisible on the skin.
But experts are concerned about their possible long-term effects on the body,
Which? reports.
Which? wants more safety checks and tighter regulation of their use.
It says, at the moment, consumers cannot tell which products use nanomaterials
as many fail to mention it.
Nanocosmetics
Nanotechnology is the science of manipulating atoms and molecules on the
nanoscale - 80,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair.
The cosmetics industry is using it to create new materials with novel
properties.
We're not saying the use of nanotechnology in cosmetics is a bad thing... but
until all the necessary safety tests are carried out, the simple fact is we just
don't know enough
Sue Davies of Which?
On the flip-side, that might mean unexpected risks.
Which? wrote to 67 cosmetics companies, including all of the main brands as well
as smaller ones, asking them about their use of nanotechnology, what benefits
they thought it brought and how they ensured product safety.
Seventeen firms responded, and of these, eight were willing to provide
information about how they used nanotechnology.
Most of the eight, which included The Body Shop, Boots, Nivea, Avon, L'Oréal,
Unilever, Korres and The Green People, used nanotechnology for the UV filters in
their sunscreens.
Which? also found evidence of other cosmetics companies offering nanocosmetics
online.
Skin penetration
These products included nano emulsions - preparations containing oil and water
droplets reduced to nano size - used to preserve active ingredients, such as
vitamins and anti-oxidants, and for their lightness and transparency.
Another example was a type of nanomaterial called "fullerenes" used in
anti-aging cream products.
Scientists have raised particular concerns about potential toxicity of
fullerenes if they were able to penetrate the skin.
There is also a concern that the nanomaterials in sunscreens might be able to
breach sunburned skin.
The industry is working with government to provide more information on the
safety of these products
A spokeswoman for the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association
The Which? report says all nanocosmetic products should have an independent
safety assessment.
The precautionary principle should be applied to products where there are
potential risks but where it is not currently possible to assess their safety so
that consumers are not put at risk, it says.
Sue Davies of Which? said: "We're not saying the use of nanotechnology in
cosmetics is a bad thing, far from it. Many of its applications could lead to
exciting and revolutionary developments in a wide range of products, but until
all the necessary safety tests are carried out, the simple fact is we just don't
know enough.
"The government must introduce a compulsory reporting scheme for manufactured
nanomaterials so we are all aware - and only those that are independently
assessed as safe should be allowed to be used in cosmetics."
Regulation
In September 2006, the government launched a voluntary reporting scheme for all
engineered nanomaterials to find out what was, or could be, on the market, to
guide the development of regulations. This has had a limited response - 12
responses in two years - and is now under review.
A spokeswoman for the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association said: "The
industry is working with government to provide more information on the safety of
these products.
"The safety assessment of cosmetic products is a legal requirement and that
assessment is robust and takes into consideration the particle size of
ingredients."
Professor Dame Ann Dowling, chairman of the Royal Society working group on
nanotechnologies, said: "The Royal Society has been calling, for the last four
years, for companies to make public the safety testing methods they have been
using on their nanoproducts. We are disappointed at continuing lack of
transparency in this area.
"More research does need to be done on the effects of manufactured nanoparticles
on human health and the environment. This is important so that regulation can be
built on a proper understanding of any risks."
A European Commission spokeswoman said: "We are working towards improving our
ability to assess the safety of all consumer products using nanomaterials
including cosmetics.
"The Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identifed Health Risks (SCENIHR)
is currently preparing an update of its 2006 opinion on the risk assessment of
products of nanotechnologies. This update will be available in January 2009."
Boots said it did not consider its current use of materials was of concern to
health.
The Body Shop said its products helped to protect human skin.
Comments:
Nothing in the human body is smaller than 80,000 times the width of human hair. By using particles that can penetrate anywhere we are risking alot more than we know. When these products contain petrochemicals and as we know anything you normally put on the skin penetrates the blood in 2 minutes, and this normally causes cancers: than we are risking new and very aggressive forms of cancer. Even if these products were "natural" it would be unnatural in the body. Anything that is unnatural in the body is unhealthy even if it is organic. Arsenic is organic!
The least amount of Natural and Organic ingredients you use on your body, the healthier you will be. This is why we created Our Line of Facial Care Bella Mira Organic Microdermabrasion and 3n1 Toner/Moisturizer/ Cleansing Spray (5 Ingredients). You can do all the things including anti-aging benefits that you would do with a full line of super-expensive products, using only 2 products. Saves your skin and the planet!
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