Comments Illuminato has made

  • clarification

    Just want to clarify a few things from my post above, in which I should have identified myself as a member of the Friends of the Earth staff.  FOE and EWG are allied groups with common interests, though we occasionally have a different take on some issues. Based on my work experience and knowledge of the science surrounding nanotech, I think the recommendations in the EWG report are too heavily weighted toward blocking UV rays and don't place a high enough priority on avoiding the use of nanoparticles. That said, I think my tone was more adversarial than necessary, and I hope it doesn't overshadow the goals that our groups have in common - in this case ensuring that sunscreens are safe and effective.On EWG takes a look at how sunscreens stack up posted 2 years, 5 months ago 8 Responses

  • One tiny problem

    It's great to see EWG identifying the many inadequate and unhealthy sunscreens out there, but don't rely on this guide for choosing the right sun protection.

    All of the sunscreens recommended and promoted by EWG's new report contain nanoparticles! Studies have shown that nanoparticles used in sunscreens, such as Titanium Dioxide, can be potentially very toxic to nerve cells, brain cells, colon cells and other parts of our body. Nanoparticles are tiny (one billionth of a meter) and few studies exist on the health risks of this new and unregulated technology.

    While EWG claims most scientific literature confirms nanoparticles cannot penetrate our skin and enter the body, I would be weary of relying on those few studies, which limit their findings by looking only at nano penetration of healthy skin. Nanoparticles HAVE been shown to penetrate through broken skin, acne, eczema or shaving wounds: all too common skin ailments for most people.

    The EWG guide claims nano sunscreens work better, this is not confirmed and is in complete contradiction to the recent Consumer Reports evaluation of efficacy that was released last week with regard to nano sunscreens. Consumer Reports claims: "Of the eight products tested for nanoparticles, all contained them, but our tests found no correlation between their presence and sun protection." (www.consumerreports.org)

    A recent UNEP report also highlights studies suggesting that nanoparticles can compromise environmental health when washed off in the shower or while swimming, studies have shown nanoparticles to be potentially dangerous for algae and water fleas.

    I'm keeping my ear to the ground for a report that does more than just identify a number of risky sunscreens to then lead me to another group of equally risky products!

    For more information on nanotechnology and nano in sunscreens visit: http://nano.foe.org.au/ and www.foe.orgOn EWG takes a look at how sunscreens stack up posted 2 years, 5 months ago 8 Responses