217
Fashion Jobs
SHIMANO
Brand Coordinator
Permanent · UPPSALA
L'OREAL GROUP
Pharmacy Representative - Dermatological Beauty Division - Gothenburg Region
Permanent ·
GANT
Business Controller
Permanent · STOCKHOLM
GANT
Senior Business Controller
Permanent · STOCKHOLM
H&M
Operations Manager to h&m Distribution Center Borås
Permanent · BORÅS
H&M
Web Analyst / qa Data Layer Resource
Permanent · STOCKHOLM
H&M
Data Analyst to h&m – Supply Planning
Permanent · STOCKHOLM
H&M
Engineering Manager Sap Platforms, Sap Dev & Tech
Permanent · STOCKHOLM
H&M
Wifi Solution Architect - Network
Permanent · STOCKHOLM
H&M
Cyber Security Iam Manager
Permanent · STOCKHOLM
NAKD
Head of Sales
Permanent · GOTHENBURG
NAKD
Head of Commercial Business Control
Permanent · GOTHENBURG
H&M
Pension & Benefits Administrator And Process Improver
Permanent · STOCKHOLM
H&M
Technical Engineer For Warehouse Devices Management
Permanent · STOCKHOLM
H&M
Junior Planner to h&m Assortment- Open Application
Permanent · STOCKHOLM
RALPH LAUREN
Sales Professional
Permanent · STOCKHOLM
H&M
Advanced User Team Leader
Permanent · ESKILSTUNA
ZALANDO
Principal Product Manager - Data And Platform (All Genders)
Permanent · STOCKHOLM
ESSILORLUXOTTICA GROUP
Key Account Manager Nordics
Permanent · GOTHENBURG
H&M
Production Manager – Singular Society
Permanent · STOCKHOLM
ZALANDO
Senior Product Manager - Finance & Compliance (All Genders)
Permanent · STOCKHOLM
ZALANDO
Senior Product Manager - Returns Shipping Solutions
Permanent · STOCKHOLM
Ads
By
AFP
Published
Nov 12, 2008
Reading time
2 minutes
Download
Download the article
Print
Text size

Textiles, cosmetics, food... British scientists in urgent call for nanoparticles research

By
AFP
Published
Nov 12, 2008


LONDON, Nov 12, 2008 (AFP) - British scientists called Wednesday for urgent research into the health implications of nanoparticles, which are found in a wide range of everyday products but whose effects are virtually unknown.

Nanoparticles can be one millionth the size of a grain of sand and are used in the manufacture of everything from socks to cosmetics and even food supplements.

They manipulate materials on a tiny scale, giving them new properties and potentially beneficial capabilities.

But a two-year study by the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution said too little was known about their potential effects.

"While the Commission found no evidence of harm to health or the environment from nanomaterials, it believes that the pace at which such new nanomaterials are being developed and marketed is beyond the capacity of existing testing and regulatory arrangements to control the potential environmental impacts adequately," researchers said in a statement.

The Commission's chairman, John Lawton, said: "There is an urgent need for more research and testing of nanomaterials."

"Current testing arrangements and existing regulations are inadequate."

Researchers are particularly concerned that toxic nanoparticles may be able to penetrate protective barriers in the body, possibly reaching the brain or a baby in a womb.

To underline their concerns about the possible health implications, the team used the example of asbestos, another widely-used material that was only later found to cause cancer.

Laboratory research into carbon nanofibres used in clothing suggested they shared some characteristics with asbestos fibres.

The Royal Commission however rejected banning nanotechnology because of the "huge" benefits from some materials developed using nanoparticles.

For example, titanium dioxide in sunscreen is highly effective in preventing skin cancer.

Copyright © 2024 AFP. All rights reserved. All information displayed in this section (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the contents of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presses.