New report from public interest groups warns of risks from nanomaterials in sunscreens
Submitted by The Organic Beauty Expert
from release
Friends of the Earth, Consumers Union, and the International Center for Technology Assessment (ICTA) released a report today detailing why consumers should be wary of sunscreens that contain nanomaterials.
Engineered nanomaterials are widely used in sunscreens to make sun-blocking ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide rub on clear instead of white. These materials have been shown to exhibit different fundamental physical, biological, and chemical properties than their larger counterparts. The report indicates that very few nanomaterials have been adequately tested, though the limited data that is available shows that their small size makes them more able to enter the lungs, pass through cell membranes, and possibly penetrate damaged or sun-burnt skin.
“Nano-sunscreens are being promoted as safe sun protection, but the evidence of potential risk we’ve collected shows otherwise,” said Friends of the Earth’s Health and Environment Campaigner Ian Illuminato, one of the report’s authors. “Consumers must be aware that nanomaterials are being put into sunscreens with very little evidence about their safety and relative efficacy.”
In 2007 Consumer Reports (published by Consumers Union) tested sunscreens containing nanomaterials and found no correlation between their presence and sun protection. Consumer Reports testing found neither nanoscale zinc nor titanium oxides provide a clear and consistent performance advantage over other active ingredients.
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