Nanomaterials
Nanomaterials are substances that are smaller than one-billionth of a meter.  Materials reduced to the nanoscale show very different properties than they exhibit on a macroscale. 

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 food, food packaging, and cosmetics.  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
The scientific community has raised serious questions about the safety of nanomaterials.  In particular, the ability of nanoparticles to be absorbed through the skin and to access the bloodstream remains poorly understood. Laboratory studies report that many types of nanoparticles interfere with normal cellular function and cause oxidative damage and cell death in animal lab tests.  At least five labs have independently reported that carbon nanotubes (molecules of pure carbon that are arranged in a long thin cylindrical structure) cause progressive, irreversible lung damage in test rodents. 

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
As You Sow and other concerned shareholders are asking companies such as Avon, Procter & Gamble and Wal-Mart to:

1. commit to remove, reduce, or label nanomaterials in their product lines pending 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.