Sunscreen worries rising
February 10, 2012
SEVENTEEN percent of
Australians believe that not
wearing sunscreen is less risky than
using one which contains
nanoparticles, according to a new
study undertaken by the
Department of Industry,
Innovation, Science, Research and
Tertiary Education.
The study looked at responses
from 1,000 Australians and found
that just under a third of Aussies
have heard stories about the
possible risks of using sunscreens
with nanoparticles in them, whilst
only nine percent of the population
said that they completely
understand the risk issues.
The study also found that 54% of
Australians have concerns about
using sunscreens with
nanoparticles in them, with 18%
saying they would go out of their
way to avoid them and 23% saying
that the stories of nanoparticle
risks make them less likely to use
sunscreens in general.
MEANWHILE speaking in the
wake of the results, the Australian
Self Medication Industry has called
for concerns about nanoparticles to
be addressed “to avoid many
people risking life-threatening skin
cancer”.
“This research shows that many
Australians are concerned about
the impact of nanoparticles in
sunscreen, despite the weight of
scientific evidence indicating that
they do not pose a health risk,”
ASMI said in a statement.
“The Therapeutic Goods
Administration undertook a review
of the scientific literature in 2006
and again in 2009 and concluded
that the nanoparticles in zinc oxide
and titanium oxide sunscreen
remain on the surface of the skin
and in the outer dead layer of the
skin,” ASMI added.
To remedy concern ASMI
suggested that the government run
public health campaigns to
accurately explain the benefits of
sunscreens, including those that
use nano-particles.
“The TGA has not identified a
requirement for specific safety
warnings regarding nanoparticles
of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide
in sunscreens,” ASMI said.
“All active ingredients, such as
zinc oxide and titanium dioxide,
must be declared on sunscreen
labels, to help consumers make
informed choices,” ASMI added.
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