The EU expert committee on emerging risks has warned of a lack of knowledge about the environmental and health effects of using nano-sized particles in cosmetics and other consumer products and packaging. The committee has called for urgent research, especially regarding the potential environmental risk posed by nanotechnologies - being developed for many cosmetics uses, such as improving the effectiveness of sunscreen.
The committee suggests topics “urgently requiring additional data and scientific knowledge”, notably “the prediction of environmental concentrations” and “new ecotoxicity tests.” It explained: “The commonly used mathematical models of dispersal of vapour and large particulate matter will need adaptation for the assessment of the environmental distribution and dispersal of nanoparticles.”
Also requested by the committee are studies into nanoparticles moving around the body and crossing body membranes: “within the cardiovascular system or… the blood-brain barrier”. The committee also fears existing tests may not accurately assess “human health hazards for all types of nanoparticles”.