Canadian Institute calls for mandatory labelling of nanomaterials in common products
The Canadian Institute for Environmental Law and Policy (CIELAP) today released a report which calls for mandatory labeling of nanomaterials in cosmetics, personal care products, and cleaning agents.
The report, entitled 'Update on a Framework for Canadian Nanotechnology Policy' examines gaps in nanotechnology policy in Canada and makes a number of recommendations for the Canadian government, including the mandatory labeling of nanomaterials in selected products."This field is so new that very little is known about the behaviour of nanoparticles in the environment," said Susan Holtz, CIELAP Senior Policy Analyst and author of the report. "Substances at the nanoscale are more biologically reactive and toxic than at the (larger) micro- or macro-scale. Tissue damage to lungs, brains, and hearts has been found in animal species exposed to carbon nanotubes and buckyballs and a 2005 study of buckyballs in the environment discovered that they are toxic to soil bacteria."
Coatings and powders containing nanoscale particles are now being used in consumer products to make fabrics stain-resistant or for ultraviolet protection in sunscreen and cosmetic creams. Nanoscale silver inhibits bacterial growth and is used to coat wound dressings.
While no one knows whether the nanomaterials in sunscreens and other personal care products are toxic or otherwise harmful, a comprehensive regulatory regime won't be in place in Canada for some time. Even cosmetic labels, for which Canada now requires full ingredient disclosure, are not required to reveal the use of nano-scale particles. Neither do other products, including food. The federal government has been making some positive progress on regulating nanotechnologies but CIELAP believes there are a number of areas where interim measures should be initiated much more quickly.
CIELAP's paper provides seven timeline benchmarks for its recommendations to government. These include:
- A Canadian inventory of nano activities and products (by May 2009);
- Worker safety and public health guidelines for research and industry (by August 2009);
- The banning of nanomaterials in food and some food packaging (by November 2009); and
- Mandatory labeling of nanomaterials in cosmetics, personal care products, and cleaning agents (by May 2010).
"Over the past decade we’ve seen an enormous expansion in research and development of nanotechnology," says Anne Mitchell, Executive Director of CIELAP. "Nanotechnology has great potential to contribute to breakthroughs in medicine, electronics, energy conservation and environmental clean-up. But caution is needed. It's a great worry that products are being developed without much obvious concern for possible problems, and that nanomaterials are already being sold in consumer products when there are so many unknowns."Source: SafeNano News