What does the United Kingdom’s public think about the use of nanomaterials?
The British government conducted a study on public awareness regarding nanomaterial use
A study – Understanding public perceptions of specific applications of nanotechnologies –was carried out by the OPM group for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) of the United Kingdom. It aimed to :
- enable exploration of public attitudes in order to develop appropriate regulatory and governance mechanisms;
- understand public aspirations for nanotechnology;
- explore public views on nanotechnology communication; and
- ensure insightful discussions can take place between the public and government, industry and academia.
The conduct of the study
This study took place in early 2015 during three workshops involving 40 people. The participants were to estimate the benefits and potential harms linked to the use of nanomaterials in the following sectors:
- paints and coatings;
- fuel additives;
- contaminated land remediation;
- sunscreen
The study focused on the applications where nanomaterials have a bigger impact on the environment.
Nanomaterials in sunscreen
Study results
After examining the results, researchers found out that the study’s participants favored the use of nanomaterials in paints, coatings and fuel additives, rather than the use of them in contaminated land remediation and sunscreen.
Data tends to show that the participants had a hard time weighing pros and cons towards the use of nanomaterials in sunscreen. There are many reasons for this:
- the “intimate” nature of the product, which is applied on skin
- the desire of parents to protect their children the best they can
- the responsibility towards the risk associated to using a product we know little or nothing about
There were particular concerns on human body reactions against nanomaterials, effects of long-term use and eventual discharge in natural waters.
Impact of nanomaterials on the consumer’s decisions
Most discussions on nanomaterials in sunscreen dealt with the uses of the product and the end of the product’s life. Participants did not comment much on the presence of nanomaterials in the product’s manufacture. They were mostly in favor of using a sunscreen containing nanomaterials, if the brand was known to the consumer or if he was familiar with it.
Following this study, the participants said they would be more inclined to check the labels for nano-sized cosmetics presence, although this information would not necessarily affect their purchase decision. They wouldn’t be against using sunscreens containing nanomaterials, but they would be more careful using such products on themselves or their children.
The lack of available information
According to the report, the participants of the study judged, after discussion, that it was the responsibility of the manufacturer to ensure the safety of solar products placed on the market through rigorous tests. They declared ignoring the presence on the market of sunscreen containing nano-sized cosmetics.
Some participants also said they had partially lost confidence in the security of the products placed on the market, others even suggested that marketing and labelling were used by industrials to conceal the risks linked to products.
A rising pressure on the industry
Conclusions of the experiment tend to show the current predominance of the approach introduced by the REACH regulation in 2007: today the public thinks it is the responsibility of the industrials to prove the safety of their product. Although REACH, in the registering process, doesn’t distinguish the “bulk” form and the “nano” form, the information is spreading and some labelling requirements force brands to indicate the presence of nanomaterials in their products (we are referring to cosmetics and food contact materials).
It is of utmost importance, as a company using nano-sized substances, that you adopt a proactive approach, and gather a maximum of information and toxicological research data in order to properly anticipate the regulatory evolutions to come.
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