Nanomaterials and cosmetics: some news

In the last days I worked on the main topics introduced by the new european regulation on cosmetic products, the EU regulation number 1223/2009, recently adopted by the european parliament. This regulation has been finally done after more than 30 years of modification and integration of the previous european directive 76/768/CEE, regulating the production and commercialization of cosmetic products. The EU regulation n° 1223/2009 finally governs the use of nanomaterials in cosmetics. The use of nanomaterials and the growth of nanotechnology in the last years was a success and it regards different types of industries, from electronic and materials industries, to pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Nanomaterials are already in different types of cosmetics, even if there are not so many studies about the toxicological properties of these materials. Nanomaterials are defined as insoluble or biopersistant and intentionally manufactured materials with one or more external dimensions, or an internal structure, on the scale from 1 to 100 nm. It is easy to imagine how different could be the interaction of these materials and the skin and the possible absorption or migration through the skin. The high value of surface/volume ratio makes these materials good to catalyze different reactions and increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), including free radicals. It may results in oxidative stress, inflammation and consequent damage to proteins, membranes and DNA. In cosmetics there could be nanoparticles of metal oxides like titanium dioxide or zinc oxide used as sunscreens in different cosmetics or there could be nanomaterials that loose their structure upon the application on the skin, like as liposomes and nanoemulsions. Anyway, since there are not so many studies about them regarding their toxicological activity, the new regulation takes the obligations to the producers to evaluate the safety of the nanomaterials they use to formulate their cosmetics and gives to them the obligation to communicate their use and the amount of the nanomaterials used as well as all the informations about scientific studies on the safety of these materials and the exposure conditions. The regulation has been made for ensuring a high level of protection of human health!