Zinc oxide is a white powder which is widely used in a variety of applications. One of these is in cosmetic products as a UV filter as well as a cosmetic colorant. It is generally considered to be safe for use, in good part because it does not get into the body. The zinc oxide particles are sometimes coated with another cosmetic ingredient in order to change how they look or how they react in a mixture. New technologies have recently allowed the use of nanosized zinc oxide particles. The question here is whether zinc oxide “nanoparticles” used in sunscreens (at a concentration of up to 25%) are different to conventional zinc oxide in terms of physical and chemical properties and toxicity.

1. ZINC OXIDE IN
NANO-FORM
Zinc oxide is a white powder 1 SUN SCREENS, IS THE USE
IN in spray products is not considered
which is widely used in a variety OF ZINC OXIDE IN THE “NANO safe. It is worth noting that, at the
of applications. One of these is in FORM” AS SAFE FOR HUMAN time of the current publication
cosmetic products as a UV filter AS THE USE OF COMMON ZINC and according to the information
as well as a cosmetic colorant. It OXIDE? from cosmetic companies, there
is generally considered to be safe are no sprayable sunscreens on
for use, in good part because it For the current assessment, a the European market that contain
does not get into the body. The number of specific coated or nano-sized zinc oxide.
zinc oxide particles are sometimes uncoated zinc oxide raw materials
coated with another cosmetic in nano-form have been evaluated.
1 IMIT OF THIS OPINION AND
L
ingredient in order to change how The conclusion is that the use of
FURTHER RESEARCH
they look or how they react in a the zinc oxide nanoparticles that
mixture. New technologies have have been tested can be considered
recently allowed the use of nano- as safe for use on the skin as This opinion applies only to
sized zinc oxide particles. The conventional materials. the zinc oxide materials tested
question here is whether zinc oxide and to materials of similar
The available information suggests
“nanoparticles” used in sunscreens that the nanoparticles of zinc
characteristics of size, purity,
(at a concentration of up to 25%) oxide do not get into the body coating and solubility. Since the
are different to conventional zinc through the skin. It also suggests methodologies for evaluating
oxide in terms of physical and that the amount of zinc ions, the properties nanomaterials in
chemical properties and toxicity. which may be released from zinc general are still in development,
oxide nanoparticles and enter the in the future, additional data may
1 HAT IS A ‘NANO PARTICLE’ OR
W body through the skin, is likely to be required for a full assessement
A ‘NANOFORM’ ? be insignificantly small. Similarly, of zinc oxide health impact in the
zinc ions could also be taken up nano-form.
A so-called ‘nano particle’ refer when zinc oxide nanoparticles are
to materials and components that accidentally swallowed, although
have at least one dimension in the it is unlikely that this happens This fact sheet is based on
size range 1 - 100 nanometer (one to a large extent with sunscreen the scientific opinion “Zinc
nanometer is one billionth of a products. Either way, no health oxide (nano form)” adopted
meter). The fact that these particles impact of the ‘nano’ nature of zinc on September 18 2012 by the
are in the same size scale as the cells oxide is expected. independent European Scientific
in the body brings up some questions Committee on Consumer Safety
Inflammation of the lungs has
as to the potential interactions
been observed when zinc oxide
between those ‘nanoparticles’ and
nanoparticles are breathed in, and
the body. The evaluation or the The detailed and nuanced view of the European
thus the use of nano-sized zinc oxide Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly
possible impact on human health Identified Health Risks on this issue is available at
of these new nanomaterials is an
on-going process. http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/
emerging/docs/scenihr_o_035.pdf
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEES