Testing commissioned by Friends of the Earth Australia has found nanoparticles in foundations and concealers sold by big name brands, including Revlon, Clarins, Clinique, Max Factor, the Body Shop, L’Oréal, By Terry and Lancôme Paris. According to research by the Skin Deep Environmental Working Group (EWG) more than 2700 cosmetic and person care products contain nanoparticles including sun screens, lip sticks, concealers, foundations and more. The EWG provides a searchable database of more than 15,000 products.
The use of nanoparticles in high exposure consumer applications such as cosmetics has attracted increasing controversy as evidence of potential toxicity has grown.
In May, NSW Minister for Science and Research, Ms Jodi McKay, said the NSW Government would raise the possibility of labeling nanoparticles in cosmetics and sunscreens with the Federal Government, but as yet nano-cosmetics remain unlabeled.
“Friends of the Earth believes that Australian women shouldn’t be used as guinea pigs by the big cosmetics companies and the nanotechnology industry”, said Friends of the Earth nanotechnology spokesperson Georgia Miller.
“Early scientific studies show that when exposed to UV light, nanoparticles used in cosmetics produce free radicals that damage DNA and cells. If nanoparticles gain access to the bloodstream of pregnant women, they could even harm unborn babies.”
“Millions of Australian women wear make-up every day. Yet even in this high exposure nano-product the government does not require companies to test the safety of nano-ingredients – or to label them.”
“Of the ten products we surveyed, only one listed the use of nano-ingredients on the label. The government’s failure to require mandatory labelling of nano-ingredients denies women the capacity to make an informed choice about what they put on their skin.”
“A big concern is that in 7 of the 10 products we surveyed, Friends of the Earth found ingredients that are known to act as ‘penetration enhancers’. These ingredients alter skin structure, promoting the uptake of chemicals. This increases the possibility that nanoparticles used in the cosmetics will be absorbed into women’s skin.”
“The 3 products that did not contain skin ‘penetration enhancers’ were mineral foundations – and these products pose risks of inhalation.”
“Beauty products don’t have a fantastic track record through the centuries. But in 2009, the public quite rightly expects that regulators will keep high risk ingredients out of cosmetics.”
“We are calling for a stop to sales of cosmetics that contain nano-ingredients, until the safety science catches up, and new laws are introduced to make companies test the safety of their products and to label all nano-ingredients,” said Ms Miller. “We are also calling for public participation in decision making about nanotechnology management”.
According to the research, if nanoparticles are accidentally inhaled (eg from mineral foundation), eaten (eg from foundation or lipstick applied to lips) or absorbed through skin, they could cause skin damage, lung damage, organ toxicity or even harm unborn children. Because they are so extremely small, once they gain access to our bodies, some types of nanoparticles can readily travel throughout the body, deposit in our organs, penetrate cell membranes including the blood-brain barrier, and even lodge in nuclei – the control centre of cells.
Nanoparticles of titanium dioxide were found in 6 of the cosmetics tested. Scientific studies have shown that nanoparticles of titanium dioxide can produce free radicals, damage DNA and cause cell toxicity in test tube studies, especially when exposed to UV light. Animal studies have shown that after inhalation or injection into the blood stream of pregnant mice, titanium dioxide nanoparticles can cross the placenta and enter developing embryos. This has altered gene expression associated with brain function in the mice offspring, affected their behavior and damaged the brains and reproductive systems of baby mice. Mice studies have also found that inhalation of nanoparticles of titanium dioxide caused inflammation to the lungs of test animals.
Furthermore, inhaled titanium dioxide nanoparticles can be transported to the brain, raising concerns of potential neurotoxicity. Nanoparticles of iron and aluminum were each found in 7 of the cosmetics tested. In a test tube study, US researchers found that nanoparticles of aluminum oxide and iron oxide were almost as toxic to cells as chrysotile asbestos. Other US test tube studies found that aluminum oxide nanoparticles produced free radicals and demonstrated a potential carcinogenic effect, caused dose-dependent stem cell toxicity, caused inflammation that could lead to diseases such as atherosclerosis disrupted the blood brain barrier and were directly toxic to brain blood vessel cells.
The potential for nanoparticles to increase the risk of neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s is a big concern. Test tube study has also found that magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles can be toxic to nerve cells and interfere with the formation of their signal transmitting extensions.
For comment: Georgia Miller 0437 979 402
