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Thu Feb 25, 2010 6:57 am |
Hello Rileygirl, There is a lot of concern in the scientific community about nanoparticles in sunscreens and other cosmetics. The issue is, they are incredibly tiny at 1/10,000 mm, and can travel through various membranes in the body. This means that they can penetrate to the dermis and beyond. It is the "beyond" that is troubling. If you Google nanoparticles cosmetics, you will come up with a few hits where the concerns are well covered. For example, this one on titanium dioxide nanos in sunscreens:
Washington, Nov 17 (ANI): Researchers have found that nanoparticles found in everything from cosmetics to sunscreen to paint to vitamins can cause genetic damage, which increase the risk for cancer.
The study conducted on mice showed that Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles triggered single- and double-strand DNA breaks, causing chromosomal damage as well as inflammation.
The University of California Los Angeles study is the first to show that the nanoparticles had such an effect, said Robert Schiestl, a professor of pathology, radiation oncology and environmental health sciences, a Jonsson Cancer Centre scientist and the study’s senior author.
The TiO2 nanoparticles accumulate in different organs because the body has no way to eliminate them.
And because they are so small, they can go everywhere in the body, even through cells, and may interfere with sub-cellular mechanisms.
“The novel principle is that titanium by itself is chemically inert. However, when the particles become progressively smaller, their surface, in turn, becomes progressively bigger and in the interaction of this surface with the environment oxidative stress is induced,” he said.
“This is the first comprehensive study of titanium dioxide nanoparticle-induced genotoxicity, possibly caused by a secondary mechanism associated with inflammation and/or oxidative stress.
“Given the growing use of these nanoparticles, these findings raise concern about potential health hazards associated with exposure,” he added.
These nanoparticles can also be found in toothpaste, food colorants, nutritional supplements and hundreds of other personal care products.
More at : Nanoparticles in common cosmetics, paints may cause genetic damage http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/nanoparticles-in-common-cosmetics-paints-may-cause-genetic-damage_100275973.html#ixzz0gYWVpsFf |
_________________ Born in 1952. Blonde, very good skin. A few noticeable wrinkles. |
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