Very little is known about nanotechnoloy as it effects the human body. Basically, nanoparticles are tiny particles made up of various manmade chemicals. Unfortunately this has not prevented major cosmetic companies and the like embracing this technology due to the apparent aesthetic (profit making) benefits they could offer.
For example in sunscreens, the active ingredients generally include zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. However, these ingredients show up white on the skin. Reducing the size of the particles by around 70% renders them invisible to the human eye. Recent studies have shown that a side effect of reducing the particle size also dramatically increases the skin absorption rate, especially on sun-damaged skin, which potentially could exacerbate the damage, rather than protect.
The effects of this are unknown as yet, but the very thought does make one feel rather uneasy. It seems very much a step backward to the bad-old-days: the big chemical companies would appear to be thinking "Hey we’ve discovered something that has commercial applications, it sounds hi-tech, we are not sure that it will do to people, but what the heck, let’s sell it anyway!"
Ironically so little is known about nanotechnology, and yet it is not a legal requirement for companies to list it in the ingredients list. It is as if the consumer is looked upon as a massive group of guinea pigs upon whom it is fine to experiment, and big business will ‘worry’ about (or more likely deny) the side
effects later: ‘heck it would be difficult for the mass market to prove that it is definitely our product causing the damage anyway!’ (Here we go again!)
The TGA says this about nanotechnology: “A theoretical concern has been raised that if zinc oxide or titanium dioxide in nanoparticle form are absorbed into skin cells they could possibly interact with sunlight to increase the risk of damage to these cells. However, initial studies are limited in number and have proved inconclusive.” (Feb 2006). This is the kind of attitude that protects the status quo. Why haven’t the TGA updated there website to reflect the results of more recent studies such as in a paper published “In Nano Letters, scientists at the University of Rochester found that quantum dot nanoparticles penetrated UV damaged skin more than non-compromised skin”? This study was conducted just last month, but there is plenty of earlier research conducted that supports these and other concerns about nanotechnology.
Unanswered questions bring many concerns to light: where do these nanoparticles go once absorbed into the body? What effect do they have on the skin cells? What about after 10, 20, or even 50 years?
Ask your self this: with so many new human illnesses becoming more prevalent such as chronic fatigue syndrome, ADHD, mental illness and skin dis-ease in general, all of which the medical profession has no real answer for, wouldn’t it be wise to avoid becoming just another unwitting participant in this massive experiment the big cosmetic companies see fit to conduct on an uninformed, unconsenting populace?
My conclusion: Go natural and stick with it! It’s just got to be safer and better for you.
References: http://organicskinsecrets.com/blog/category/nanotechnology/
http://www.tga.gov.au/npmeds/sunscreen-zotd.htm
