ENVIRONMENT Government Safety and Health Risk Developments.

Concerns about the safety and health risks are being raised. Here are some recent benchmarks:

Nanoparticles Absent in Unsafe Spray Product. The latest findings reported by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assesment (BfR), have disclosed that nanoparticles were not the cause of the recently reported (see Nanoparticle News, April issue) health disorders by over 100 users of Magic-Nano glass and ceramic sealers which are sold in spray cans. Based on chemical studies commissioned by BfR and information from the manufacturers, neither product contained any nanoparticles. Rather, the term nano in the product names was intended far more to draw attention to the thin film that supposedly forms on the surface of glass or ceramic after being sprayed.

The extent to which other individual components in the products caused the symptoms still remains to be fully elucidated. Apparently the same liquid, which does not contain any nanoparticles has been sold for several years on the European market but as a pump spray without any adverse health incidents ever being reported.

Contact: Irene Lukassowitz, Federal Institute for Risk Assesssment (BfR), thielallee 88-92, D-14195 Berlin, Germany; Tel: 0 30-84 12-43 00; Web: www.bfr.bund.de

Safety of Nano-Based Sunscreens Lobbied. Sunscreens made with submicroscopic particles pose a health hazard and should be recalled according eight to environmental groups led by the International Center for Technology Assessment, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace. The petition asked the Food and Drug Administration to strengthen its regulation of sunscreens that contain nanosized titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, saying particles of those minute dimensions pose health and environmental risks, including possible inflammatory and immune responses in the human body.

The FDA has scheduled an October meeting to discuss the new kinds of NT materials being developed for use in the products it regulates, including drugs, foods, cosmetics and medical devices. It will review the petition according to FDA spokeswoman Susan Cruzan. She says, ''we haven't seen any safety concerns that would cause us to regulate things differently.'' Previously, ...