Fwd: Want to choose a safe nano-free sunscreen this summer? Check out our new guide

[Guest guest]

>

> Dear Friends

>

> Many of us rely on sunscreen as part of our sun-protection over

> summer, but who wants a sunscreen that could increase sun damage to

> your skin, or even increase your risk of skin cancer?? Test tube

> studies have shown that nanoparticle ingredients in sunscreens

> produce dangerous free radicals and damage DNA, especially with

> exposure to UV light. Shockingly, Blue Scope Steel has found that

> colour bond roofs that have come into contact with nano-sunscreens

> age 100 times more rapidly than those that have not. We don't yet

> know what this means for human skin - but it does suggest we should

> treat nano-sunscreens with extreme caution until we know they're safe.

>

>

>

> As seen on The 7.30 Report last night, Friends of the Earth

> Australia today released Australia ’s first consumer guide to

> avoiding high risk ‘nanoparticle’ ingredients in sunscreens. Until

> now, Australians have had no ability to choose to avoid nano-

> sunscreens. Eighteen of 68 Australian brands surveyed by Friends of

> the Earth have told us that their sunscreens are now free of

> nanotechnology ingredients. For brief background information on

> nanoparticles in sunscreens click here.

>

> In a significant break through, iconic ‘nano-sunscreen’ brands such

> as Invisible Zinc, previously endorsed by model Gale, have

> changed their formulations to go ‘nano-free’. Among the nano-free

> brands listed in the guide are Amcal house brand, Banana Boat, the

> Cancer Council, Coles house brand, Le Tan and The Wiggles. Even

> Invisible Zinc, previously promoted by model Gale for its nano

> zinc oxide base, has told us that it has changed its formulation to

> use much larger – and less risky – particle ingredients.

>

>

>

>

> In 2006 the TGA said that 70% of sunscreens that use titanium

> dioxide and 30% of the sunscreens that use zinc oxide contained

> these ingredients in nano form. However in a blow to transparency,

> nearly three quarters of the 68 sunscreen brands surveyed refused to

> disclose whether or not they use nano-ingredients, and not a single

> brand was prepared to acknowledge using nanoparticles.

>

>

>

>

> Friends of the Earth repeats its call for all nano-sunscreens to be

> removed from sale until nano ingredients face mandatory safety

> testing, and mandatory labelling to give Australians a choice about

> whether or not to use them.

>

> If you are concerned about unlabelled, unsafe nano-sunscreens, why

> not contact the Minister for Health Nicola Roxon and ask her to make

> all sunscreens that contain nanoparticles pass new safety testing

> and face mandatory labelling to give you a choice about using them?

>

>

> Call (02) 6277 7220 Email Nicola.Roxon.MP@...

>

> If you have difficulties in accessing any of the links on this page,

> please visit http://www.nano.foe.org.au/node/286

>

> If you are interested in learning more about our work for safe

> sunscreens, or you would like to get involved, please get in touch!

>

>

>

> Best wishes

> Rye

>

>

> Nanotechnology Campaigner

> Friends of the Earth Australia

>

> E: rye.senjen@...

> W: http://nano.foe.org.au

>

>

>

>

>

> Start your day with 7 and win a Sony Bravia TV. Enter now.

> Meryl Dorey,

> President

> Australian Vaccination Network

> Enabling Australians to make informed health choices

> Editor

> Living Wisdom Magazine

> Empowering Positive Change

> PO Box 177

> BANGALOW NSW 2479

> Phone: (61 +2) 02 6687 1699

> FAX (61 +2) 02 6687 2032

> SKYPE: ivmmag

> meryl@...

> www.avn.org.au <http://www.avn.org.au/>

>