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Environmental Health: Cosmetics Nanomaterials |
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Nanomaterials Nanotechnologies are being applied in many sectors in hopes of developing safer chemicals, more efficient energy sources, or improved medical devices and therapies. They are also being used in cosmetics such as sunscreens, moisturizers, lip gloss and complexion creams. Nanomaterials, by virtue of their tiny size, are much more chemically reactive than their normal-scale counterparts and are more likely to pass through biological membranes, circulate through the body, and enter cells. This combination of increased reactivity and increased bioavailability of nanoparticles poses novel health risks that have yet to be fully studied. As You Sow is primarily concerned with the incorporation of nanomaterials into common consumer products such as cosmetics, food, and food packaging. The lack of safety standards, labeling requirements, and adequate testing leaves consumers vulnerable to absorbing and ingesting nanomaterials without their knowledge, and without data on their long-term effects on human health and the environment. Dangers of Nanomaterials Potential dangers from exposure to nanomaterials are not limited to consumers using products containing these ingredients (such as sunscreens) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has launched a multi-year program to assess potential risks to workers. Given recent scientific findings, proponents believe companies that use nanomaterials in consumer products may face significant financial, legal and reputational risks. As You Sow’s activities on nanomaterials in cosmetics 1. commit to remove, reduce, or label nanomaterials in their product lines pendin the results of long-term safety testing; 2. conduct inventory surveys identifying which products contain nanomaterials; and 3. increase transparency and public reporting of safety testing procedures and results. |
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