The French Agency for Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (Afsset) yesterday issued a worrying report on nanomaterials. Present in certain consumer products such as antibacterial socks, certain suntan lotions or even powdered sugar, nanomaterials represent a dangerous threat to the environment.
Indeed, after washing socks, or when we shower after putting suntan lotion on our skin, microscopic nanoparticles pass through the barriers of wastewater treatment plants and are released into the environment. Several studies have shown that these particles are harmful to several species of fish. The consequences on human health are still unknown.
Afsset has therefore recommended banning the sale of these socks, the benefit of which for humans is very low compared to the dangers for the environment.