NANOPARTICLES

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:19): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Consumer Affairs a question about nanoparticles.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are common sunscreen ingredients that reflect UV light. Most larger particles of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are white and opaque, meaning that the products they are used in can leave a white film on the skin (although some companies have developed a method to make these larger particles transparent). Particles can also be ground down to an extremely small nano size, where they become clear or transparent. In 2006, the Therapeutic Goods Administration stated that 70 per cent of titanium dioxide sunscreens and 30 per cent of zinc sunscreens sold in Australia contained manufactured nanoparticles.

If nanoparticles are accidentally inhaled, eaten or absorbed through the skin they could pose health problems. Scientific studies have shown that nanoparticles can produce free radicals and damage DNA, especially when exposed to UV light. These studies suggest that, rather than offering us sun protection, if nano sunscreens are absorbed into our skin they could result in serious damage, particularly so for children where the potential for toxicity has led the Australian Education Union in Victoria moving to use only sunscreens which are nanoparticle free in the SunSmart program in their state. My questions to the minister are:

1. Is the minister aware that size does matter? That is to say, that nanoparticles (particles less than 1,000^th the width of a human hair) are increasingly being included in a range of cosmetics and sunscreens and they may, far from benefitting human health, actually be having a negative impact?

2. Is the minister aware of research which indicates that sunscreens, cosmetics, moisturisers and mineral foundations could be harmful if accidentally inhaled or ingested?

3. Is the minister aware that EU laws will soon require cosmetics and sunscreens to be specifically tested for safety and that the EU will also introduce mandatory labelling for products containing nanoparticles?

4. Will the minister commit to raising this issue with her interstate and federal counterparts, given that the federal government does not currently require cosmetics companies or sunscreen companies to test the safety of these nano ingredients, nor to label them?

5. Will the minister pressure the federal government to make the Therapeutic Goods Administration publicly release the information about those sunscreen brands that indeed do contain manufactured nano products?

6. Will the minister investigate introducing a moratorium on the use of nanoparticle containing products in sunscreens in our schools through the SunSmart program, as the AEU has done in Victoria?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (15:22): I thank the honourable member for her questions. They are really covered by the Therapeutic Goods Act, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Health. In terms of many of the questions that she asks, yes, I am aware of many of those issues but, given that these are matters that, as I said, are matters under the Therapeutic Goods Act, I will pass on the comments made by the honourable member in this place to the Minister for Health in another place.