Consumer Education On Nanotechnology Would Benefit Industry, Survey Says

A study on public awareness of nanotechnology reveals the need for industry and government to educate women about nanotechnology's "tremendous" potential and risks, according to Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc.

In a telephone survey of 1,014 U.S. adults, Hart Research found that more than half (52%) of women are not sure about the benefit/risks trade-off of nanotechnology products, compared with 34% of men. Further, 58% of women ages 50 and older were unclear about the benefits and risks.

Commissioned by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the survey was conducted in August and was presented during a Sept. 19 meeting at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington D.C.

"With the increasing use of nanotechnology to create new cosmetic and skin care products, these findings indicate the need to provide more information to the groups most likely to use these products - women, especially women over 50," Hart Research said.

Nanomaterials are used in about 125 consumer personal care products, including sunscreens, cosmetics and others.

The safety of the materials in sunscreens and other products has been the subject of fierce debate between consumer advocacy groups and industry.

In May, a coalition of public interest groups filed a citizen petition asking FDA to remove from the market nanoparticle-containing sunscreens and designate the formulas as "new drugs."

The Cosmetic, Toiletry & Fragrance Association filed comments with FDA Sept. 19 refuting many of the points that the petition addressed and stressing the importance of the products to consumer welfare (see ¹ (Also see "CTFA Comments Challenge Public Interest Coalition On Sunscreen Ingredients" - Pink Sheet, 25 Sep, 2006.) ).

The survey results revealed knowledge of nanotechnology among the general adult population is limited. One in 10 consumers have heard "a lot" about nanotechnology, while 20% have heard "some," nearly double the number of consumers aware of the technology in 2004, according to Hart. The survey also found 42% of consumers have no awareness of the technology.

"The current lack of awareness of nanotechnology presents an opportunity for the government and industry to establish confidence in nanotechnology-enabled products," Hart Research said.

"Now is the time to focus on increasing public awareness and understanding of nanotechnology and establish a level of trust that nanotechnology's benefits will be realized and its risks will be minimized," the group added.

The survey also found that the more knowledge consumers initially have of the technology the more likely they are to think its benefits outweigh risks.

"Of those who have heard a lot about nanotechnology, 46% feel that benefits will outweigh risks and 37% feel risks will outweigh benefits." Meanwhile, of those who have heard "some" about the technology, "32% feel that benefits will outweigh risks and 42% believe risks will outweigh benefits."

Among those who have heard "a little," 13% feel the benefits outweigh the risks and 52% feel the risks outweigh the benefits.

After participants were provided information about nanotechnology's potential risks and benefits, nearly half (49%) of subjects felt risks outweigh benefits (a 14-point increase); 26% indicated benefits will outweigh risks (an 11-point increase); and 18% think risks and benefits are about equal (11-point increase).

Consumer awareness of nanotechnology will increase despite education efforts, as the market of products containing the technology skyrockets in coming years, according to George Kimbrell, Esq., a staff attorney for the Center for Technology Assessment, who spoke during the Health & Beauty America expo in New York City Sept. 13.

Quoting data from Lux Research, a nanotechnology information company, he noted that $32 bil. worth of nanotechnology products were sold in 2005, representing about twice the amount sold in 2004. Further, an estimated $9 bil. is being spent globally this year on nanotechnology R&D, and it is expected that by 2015 that figure will jump to $1 tril., he said, quoting Lux Research.

[Editor's note: This story was contributed by "² The Rose Sheet," your source for cosmetics news. For more information call 1-800-332-2181.]