Nanomaterials in Consumer Products: Miracle or Menace?

Nanomaterials sound like science fiction. These materials can make microchips 100 times smaller while running thousands of times faster or transform sunscreen from a white paste into a sheer cream that absorbs UV rays. It sounds too good to be true. Recent research suggests that it is a new, invisible threat to health and the environment. While we know more about nanomaterials than we did a decade ago, research into the toxicological effects of nanomaterials has continued to produce concerning evidence that they are harmful in many cases. What Nanomaterials Are The word nanomaterial, often used interchangeably with nanoparticle, does not refer to a specific substance. Rather, nanomaterials are defined by their size, which is less than 100 nanometers across. One nanometer is one-millionth of a millimeter, too small to be seen without an electron microscope. Although some nanomaterials occur naturally, most discussions focus on engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). Commonly used nanomaterials include carbon structures, titanium oxides, and other metals, including silver. Their size gives them unique properties that are useful for creating more effective pharmaceuticals, stronger materials, and smaller electronics. They are even useful in environmental remediation, where they can bind with toxins to neutralize them. The market for nanomaterials has exploded. The global nanotechnology market was expected to exceed $125 billion by 2024. By 2020, databases reported 1,833 nanotechnological products worldwide, with new nanotechnology consumer products entering the market at a rate of three to four per week. Nanomaterials are many things. But they remain largely unregulated in the United States. Risky Business: Emerging Health Concerns Because nanomaterials are relatively new, governments have been slow to develop comprehensive rules for their use in consumer products or even for labeling products that contain them. However, one European study analyzed nanomaterials in an aquatic system. Similar to microplastics, nanomaterials entered the food chain and bioaccumulated, concentrating in the brains of fish. It is also known that nanoparticles can enter the human body through inhalation, ingestion, and even through the skin. Fibrous carbon nanomaterials can induce lung inflammation similar to that caused by asbestos. Growing Evidence of Health Risks Recent comprehensive reviews of nanomaterial toxicity research have shown that nanomaterials can have adverse effects on human health and the environment. Due to their small size, nanomaterials can easily cross biological membranes and enter cells, tissues, and organs. The increased use of nanoparticles has led to increased human exposure in daily life, making people more susceptible to nanoparticle toxicity. A 2023 comprehensive scoping review analyzing 117 studies concluded that while nanoparticles offer benefits in many applications, they pose significant threats to human health and the environment. Research has documented that nanomaterials can cause: Respiratory problems and lung inflammation (similar to asbestos for fibrous carbon nanomaterials) Oxidative stress and cellular damage Inflammatory responses Genotoxic effects and DNA damage Cardiovascular effects Neurological impacts Environmental Bioaccumulation Environmental research has confirmed fears about bioaccumulation. Similar to microplastics, nanomaterials enter the food chain and bioaccumulate, concentrating in the brains of fish. Studies suggest that nanoparticles can migrate from food packaging into food under high temperatures and acidic conditions. Nanomaterials released into the environment tend to accumulate over time. They can have a significant impact on ecosystems and organisms, resulting in adverse health effects. The release of nanomaterials into the environment can affect soil and water ecosystems, potentially disrupting microbial communities. Consumer Products: Widespread but Hidden Use If you find these emerging risks concerning and want to avoid nanomaterials until they are proven safe, you face significant challenges. The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies currently lists 807 products that manufacturers have voluntarily identified as using nanotechnology. Yet the FDA requires no labeling, so the actual number could be significantly higher. Companies rarely disclose their use of nanomaterials, which are already widespread in products such as sunscreens, cosmetics, sporting goods, stain-resistant clothing, tires, electronics, food packaging, and personal care products. Hundreds of consumer products incorporating nanomaterials are now on the market, including cosmetics, sunscreens, sporting goods, clothing, electronics, baby and infant products, and food and food packaging. The FDA’s Limited Approach The Food and Drug Administration continues to maintain that it does not categorically judge all products containing nanomaterials as intrinsically benign or harmful. The agency regulates nanotechnology products under existing statutes for other materials, using a product-focused, science-based regulatory policy. However, the industry remains responsible for ensuring that products meet all applicable legal requirements, including safety standards. The FDA has issued guidance documents for specific product categories, including cosmetics, drugs, and food applications, but these are not legally binding requirements. European Union Leadership The EU has taken more aggressive action. The European Union introduced Regulation (EU) 2024/858 in March 2024, significantly updating regulations on nanomaterials in cosmetics. This Omnibus Nano Regulation introduces stringent bans on specific nanomaterials, including various forms of styrene/acrylate copolymers and nanoforms of metals such as copper, silver, gold, and platinum. Products containing newly prohibited substances will not be allowed on the EU market after February 1, 2025, with sales required to cease by November 1, 2025. The EU Cosmetics Regulation defines what constitutes a nanomaterial, as well as the mechanisms for notification, labeling, and safety evaluation of cosmetic products that contain them. The European Commission also requested that the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) establish a European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials (EUON) to compile publicly available information on the safety of nanomaterials and products containing them. What You Can Do: Updated Resources and Actions While comprehensive labeling remains elusive, some resources can help. The legacy Consumer Products Inventory from the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies lists products identified by manufacturers as containing nanoparticles, though this represents only voluntary disclosure. For cosmetic products in Europe, labeling requirements now mandate the disclosure of nanomaterials; however, similar requirements don’t exist in the United States. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics maintains updated lists of ingredients that can indicate the presence of nanomaterials in personal products. However, without comprehensive regulation, there is no guarantee that nanoparticles are absent when they are not listed. Advocacy and Policy Action You can use your power as a consumer to let companies know that you are concerned about the use of nanomaterials and want to see more research about their safety. Contact your elected representatives to support: Comprehensive nanomaterial labeling requirements Mandatory pre-market safety testing for nanomaterials Increased funding for independent nanomaterial safety research Stronger FDA authority to regulate emerging technologies Let your elected representatives know you support strengthening the FDA’s ability to regulate cosmetic safety and that you support the provisions of the Safe Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Act of 2019. Applying the Precautionary Principle While nanotechnology offers potential solutions to many current challenges, it is also an area of product innovation that is developing faster than the regulatory frameworks can keep pace. Many experts advocate for applying the precautionary principle to the decision to use nanomaterials, the idea that when there’s scientific uncertainty about potential harm from a new technology or substance, we should err on the side of caution and restrict or avoid its use until it’s proven safe, rather than waiting for definitive proof of harm. As the research base expands and regulatory frameworks evolve, consumers face the challenge of making informed decisions with incomplete information. Still in its infancy, nanotoxicology must thoroughly evaluate the safety of nanomaterials due to their potential for bioaccumulation in food chains and numerous indirect effects on ecosystems and public health. Until comprehensive safety testing and regulatory frameworks catch up with the pace of innovation, vigilance, and advocacy remain essential tools for consumer protection. Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on March 12, 2021, and substantially updated in June 2025. 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