Using sunscreen is important to help reduce the risk of developing skin cancer. So no-one wants to use sunscreens that may make sun damage worse. This summer’s Safe Sunscreen Guide gives the Australian public brand information to choose nano-free. This year we also include secondary sunscreens (moisturisers, anti-ageing creams and mineral foundations).
Beyond safety – some bigger questions about new technologies
This is reprinted from "A guest blog in the Alternative Perspectives on Technology Innovation series", hosted by Andrew Maynard’s 2020 Science blog
The promise that a given new technology will deliver environmentally benign electricity too cheap to meter, end hunger and poverty, or cure disease is very seductive. That is why the claims are made with many emerging technologies – nuclear power, biotechnology and nanotechnology, to name a few.
Avoid high-risk techno-fixes at Copenhagen – NGO call
FoEA has joined 170 NGOs from over 36 countries world-wide in calling on governments to amend the technology transfer text at Copenhagen to include an explicit commitment to precaution, and to prevent promotion of high risk, unproven climate ‘techno-fixes’ such as geo-engineering (climate manipulation) without environmental and social assessment.
Nanoparticles found in 10 top brand cosmetics
Testing commissioned by Friends of the Earth Australia has found nanoparticles in foundations and concealers sold by 10 top name brands including Clinique, Clarins, L’Oréal, Revlon, The Body Shop, Max Factor, Lancôme Paris, By Terry, Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior.
Calls grow for genuine public engagement on nanotechnology
The Australian Consumers Association, the Biological Farmers of Australia, the GeneEthics Network, the Public Health Association of Australia and the SEARCH Foundation have joined Friends of the Earth in calling for genuine public engagement on nanotechnology. Click here to read the groups’ joint submission to the Nanotechnology Taskforce and their criticism of the Taskforce’s discussion paper.
The groups emphasised the serious nature of nanotechnology’s threats to health and environment, and the extent to which nanotechnology may result in wide-scale social disruption.