Posted: October 30, 2008 |
Test reveals nanoparticles present in 80% of sunscreens, even when companies claim they are not |
(Nanowerk News) Consumers Union,
nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, today released new product tests
showing that 4 out of 5 sunscreens that claimed not to contain
nanoparticles actually do contain them. Consumers Union urged the FDA to
require a full safety assessment, stating that the nanoparticles appear
widespread in mineral-based sunscreens and are difficult to avoid in these
products.
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"The widespread use of nanoparticles of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide
in sunscreen is involving consumers in a vast experiment as to the safety
of these products," said Michael Hansen, Ph.D., a senior scientist at
Consumers Union. "These very tiny nano-size particles are known to have
different properties than the conventional versions of these chemicals that
could be harmful to health. The FDA should require safety data for all
these nanoparticles, and at the very least, they should require companies
to be truthful about whether or not they are using nano-ingredients."
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Because some consumers might want to buy sunscreens that do not contain
these untested ingredients, Consumer Reports decided to see if such
products are available. Consumer Reports commissioned tests of five brands
of sunscreen that company representatives stated did not contain nano-size
particles of titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Four of them, all labeled
natural or organic, actually did contain nanoparticles: Aubrey Organics
Natural Sun SPF 25 Green Tea Protective Sunscreen, Badger SPF 30 Sunscreen,
Kiss My Face SPF 30+ Sun Screen with oat protein complex and Mexitan SPF 30
Sunscreen. Only one product - Zinka Colored Nosecoat - turned out to be
actually free of the particles.
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Sunscreen manufacturers use nano-size particles of these ingredients
because they help make the products clear rather than opaque, something
consumers may prefer. Tests Consumer Reports commissioned to an outside
lab, released in 2007, found that 8 out of 8 sunscreens that included zinc
oxide or titanium dioxide contained nanoparticles. Only one disclosed this
fact on the label; the others said nothing about whether they contained the
particles.
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Scientific studies have raised questions about possible safety risks
with nanoparticles of sunscreen ingredients. The European Union has already
required manufacturers to submit data demonstrating the safety of
sunscreens containing nanoparticles. In a letter to FDA, Consumers Union
urged the agency to do the same, and to require products containing
nanoparticles to state that fact on the label, and to prevent untruthful
claims as to absence of these nanoparticles.
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