By Terry Johnson, IPF VP and IPF US Chair
Synthetic perfumes have caused widespread health problems for people sensitive to combinations of synthetic compounds, but the health and safety risks of nanotechnology are potentially far more serious, including the risk of death in some cases.
Thanks to one of IPF’s Natural Perfumers, IPF has been alerted that some companies in the US have developed applications for nanotechnology for skin care and are asking if they might be interested in their services.
Please be alert to these companies as this technology, when applied to natural products, may pose extreme risks to human health and safety.
National Institute of Health (NIH), the US government’s leading health organization, makes these points about the risks of nanotechnology:
“Nanoparticles' tiny size gives them unique properties, allowing them to penetrate skin, cross biological barriers (like the blood-brain barrier), and reach deep into organs, potentially causing oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and interfering with cell function, though risks vary greatly by material, shape, and exposure route. Key concerns involve inhalation leading to lung issues and systemic effects from particles entering the bloodstream.”
Other potential health risks include the following:
Increased Reactivity: Their huge surface area makes them more chemically reactive, generating harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Organ & Tissue Accumulation: Once in the bloodstream, they can lodge in the brain, liver, heart, spleen, and nervous system.
Cellular Interference: Can disrupt normal cell functions, leading to cell death (apoptosis) or interfering with cell cycles.
Respiratory Issues: Inhalation can cause inflammation and damage, with some carbon nanotubes showing asbestos-like risks for lung cancer.
Skin Penetration: Can cross intact skin, especially if damaged (e.g., eczema, sunburn).
Research shows significant potential for harm, but the overall health impact isn't fully understood, and traditional toxicity tests may not capture all risks; the body has no natural immunity to these new substances.
Of course, companies that are promoting the use of nanotechnology will ask you to ignore the risks stated in dozens of websites that we can easily access, and that they have overcome these risks; but this is very new science, and no one knows the effects this technology will have in combination with natural materials, such as with Natural Perfumes and Natural Skin Care.
Therefore to protect consumer's health, we are not allowing the use of Nanotechnology in our community. Please check our Natural Perfumery Standards and Guidelines
Thanks to one of IPF’s Natural Perfumers, IPF has been alerted that some companies in the US have developed applications for nanotechnology for skin care and are asking if they might be interested in their services.
Please be alert to these companies as this technology, when applied to natural products, may pose extreme risks to human health and safety.
National Institute of Health (NIH), the US government’s leading health organization, makes these points about the risks of nanotechnology:
“Nanoparticles' tiny size gives them unique properties, allowing them to penetrate skin, cross biological barriers (like the blood-brain barrier), and reach deep into organs, potentially causing oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, and interfering with cell function, though risks vary greatly by material, shape, and exposure route. Key concerns involve inhalation leading to lung issues and systemic effects from particles entering the bloodstream.”
Other potential health risks include the following:
Increased Reactivity: Their huge surface area makes them more chemically reactive, generating harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Organ & Tissue Accumulation: Once in the bloodstream, they can lodge in the brain, liver, heart, spleen, and nervous system.
Cellular Interference: Can disrupt normal cell functions, leading to cell death (apoptosis) or interfering with cell cycles.
Respiratory Issues: Inhalation can cause inflammation and damage, with some carbon nanotubes showing asbestos-like risks for lung cancer.
Skin Penetration: Can cross intact skin, especially if damaged (e.g., eczema, sunburn).
Research shows significant potential for harm, but the overall health impact isn't fully understood, and traditional toxicity tests may not capture all risks; the body has no natural immunity to these new substances.
Of course, companies that are promoting the use of nanotechnology will ask you to ignore the risks stated in dozens of websites that we can easily access, and that they have overcome these risks; but this is very new science, and no one knows the effects this technology will have in combination with natural materials, such as with Natural Perfumes and Natural Skin Care.
Therefore to protect consumer's health, we are not allowing the use of Nanotechnology in our community. Please check our Natural Perfumery Standards and Guidelines
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