DEPA: Assessment of nano-enabled technologies in cosmetics

Nanotechnologies in cosmetics

The Danish government and the Red-Green Alliance (a.k.a. Enhedslisten) signed an agreement called “Bedre styr på nanomaterialer” (“Better control of nanomaterials”) for four years (2012-2015) that focuses on the use of nanomaterials in products on the Danish market and their consequences on consumers and the environment. Following this, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated a series of projects with the aim of further clarifying possible risks to consumers and the environment.

As part of this, DHI in collaboration with the IOM undertook a project to assess nano-enabled technologies in cosmetics. The overall aim of the project, which took place between October - December 2015, was to provide state-of-knowledge reporting regarding soluble ‘nano-transporters’ and included the following three elements/phases:

• Phase I: Extensive literature search on soluble nano transporters and the extent of their use in cosmetics;
• Phase II: Assessment of the properties of the soluble nano transporters used in cosmetics, including their influence on toxicokinetics and toxicity;
• Phase III: Conclusions on the use and effects of soluble nano transporters in cosmetics and recommendations on how the definition of nanomaterials within the Cosmetics Regulation, may be adapted to take effects from "nano-enabled" technologies in cosmetics into account.

The final project report constitutes the culmination of a comprehensive review of the available literature on nano-enabled technologies for cosmetic products, specifically addressing soluble nano-transporters.