The label on your bottle of sunscreen will give you advice on how to apply it, a warning not to get it in your eyes, and a list of ingredients, but it won\u2019t tell you if it contains nanoparticles.\u00a0 Consumer and environmental advocates who keep tabs on the nanotechnology field think that\u2019s a problem.\u00a0 While some experts think such sunscreens are a safe improvement over others that use questionable chemicals, others believe there are reasons to be wary.\u00a0 Carolyn Nunley Cairns, a program leader in product safety in the technical division of Consumers Union, said, \u201cI think the only thing consumers can do\u2014and this is asking a lot\u2014is call companies.\u201d Her organization would like the United States government to do more to regulate the burgeoning nanotechnology industry.\u00a0 But while European regulators move toward stiffer labeling requirements, the U.S. is staying mostly on the sidelines.\u00a0 The lack of data on how much of the nano-titanium dioxide or nano-zinc gets through the skin, or what happens when the particles wash off, makes it hard to make sense of the human and environmental impact. \u00a0\u00a0Friends of the Earth, an environmental activist group, is pressing the U.S. to do more, and publish guidelines for consumers.\u00a0 Ian Illuminato, the health and environment campaigner at FoE, says, \u201cOur position is still that nano-sunscreens are not safe, and potentially could be not healthy for children and especially for the environment and the workers.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think it\u2019s for certain one way or the other yet. But I do know there\u2019s enough information that they shouldn\u2019t be on the market\u2014and, at a bare minimum, should be labeled.\u201d\u00a0 The lack of labeling is indicative of the broader problem of regulating nanotechnology, according to Gwyneth K. Shaw, the author of this article: \u201chow small is too small? How can we tell the difference between naturally-occurring nanoparticles, and engineered ones? What kind of testing is best for ferreting out the real-world effects of these substances?\u201d\u00a0 Illuminato says that ultimately, the smart consumer will rely less on sunscreen and more on old-fashioned advice, such as less time in the sun, and covering up when you do.\u00a0 \u201cUnfortunately, the whole issue with sunscreens is very difficult, because of the other things on the market that could be toxic,\u201d he said. \u201cI think we really need to redevelop what we put on our skin in terms of sunscreen.\u201d<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.newhavenindependent.org\/index.php\/archives\/entry\/sunscreens_what_the_label_wont_tell_you\/id_36868<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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