Sunscreen lotions can harm brain cells
beware the next time you use a cosmetic product to protect the skin from the sun. According to a us study, nano-particles of titania (titanium dioxide) used in some sun creams can damage brain cells. Led by Bellina Veronesi of the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory of the Environmental Protection Agency, the study was published online on June 7 in Environmental Science & Technology.
The researchers studied the effect of titania nano-particles on culture of mouse microglia. Microglia are specialised cells that protect the brain from invading microbes or foreign particles by engulfing them. The cells then release