Nanotechnology gets up close and personal

Consumers are using cosmetics and toiletries that contain unregulated and untested nanomaterials, says a new report.

The report released this week by Friends of the Earth (FOE), documents 116 products it says contain nanoparticles, a large number of which are available to Australians either in stores or online.

"We believe this represents a small fraction of the number of products that are actually on the market," says Georgia Miller of the FOE nanotechnology project.

Products listed in the report include well-known brands such as L'Oréal, Revlon, Clinique, Chanel and Estée Lauder, says Miller.

The Nanomaterials, sunscreens and cosmetics: small ingredients, big risks report is based on publicly available information from manufacturers of the products or ingredients, or retailers, says Miller.

Nanoparticles are generally those under 100 nanometres across and manufacturers are not required to label products containing them.

And there is some concern among scientists that such tiny particles may have toxic characteristics, yet there is limited scientific information available on their safety.

Among their concerns are whether creams and lotions containing nanoparticles can penetrate deep into the skin.


Nanotechnology gets up close and personal