Here in Australia, we are just starting up our summer. Give that almost all of our population lives on the coastal fringe, this inevitability means trip to the beach. Our cancer council pushes us to slip slop slap (slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat) to protect from the sun.
Well now modern sunscreens use nanoparticles of titanium or zinc oxide as an active part of the protection, and there may be some uncertainty as to the safety of these particles. Does this sound familiar? New technology, benefits in one particular area, but uncertainties about future health issues, need for more research? Sounds like time to call up precautionary –principle-man to the rescue
Well this is where it gets messy. The Friends of the Earth (FoE) organisation has taken up cudgels against nanotechnology. FoE, which claims to be the largest federation of environmental organisations in the world, can be reasonably classified on the dark green side of the environmental debate. They see serious questions about health, environmental, social and political impacts associated with nanotechnology.
FoE are calling for the application of the precautionary principle to nanotechnology. They quote various governmental bodies and the avoidance of anything like a precautionary approach in the handling of nanotechnology. FoE give three reasons why the PP is out:
1. Money. The gold rush mentality associated with nanotechnology means delaying applications while further investigations and tests are carried out means those countries will fall behind in the competitive stakes to commercialise nanotechnology.
2. Ideology: All the conservative governments in the developed world are pushing back on social and environmental issues.
3. Fear: Nanotechnology pundits have seen the mess GM foods have made over social acceptance. So why start a fight when you don’t need to? Let’s get nanotechnology out there before anyone has a chance to protest and stir it up.
The possible health effects from nanoparticles follow from their extremely small size and ability to enter the bloodstream and develop cancer causing (linked?) free radicals.
Here is the FoE link, and it includes a link to nice safe sunscreens, so your day in the sun will only be spoilt by the possible sun cancer you develop from the sun’s burning UV radiation.
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