Latest news with #Australians'
NDTV
3 hours ago
- Health
- NDTV
Are Sunscreen Chemicals Safe To Use Daily Amid New Safety Review
Adelaide: Last week, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) released its safety review of seven active ingredients commonly used in sunscreens. It found five were low-risk and appropriate for use in sunscreens at their current concentrations. However, the TGA recommended tighter restrictions on two ingredients - homosalate and oxybenzone - to reduce how much can be used in a product. This is based on uncertainty about their potential effects on the endocrine system, which creates and releases hormones. This news, together with recent reports some products may have inflated their claims of SPF coverage, might make Australians worried about whether their sunscreen products are working - and safe. But it's not time to abandon sunscreens. In Australia, all sunscreens must pass a strict approval process before going on the market. The TGA tests the safety and efficacy of all ingredients, and this recent review is part of the TGA's continuing commitment to safety. The greatest threat sunscreen poses to Australians' health is not using it. Australia has the highest incidence of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer worldwide, and approximately 95% of melanoma cases in Australia are linked to ultraviolet (UV) exposure. Still, it's understandable people want to know what's in their products, and any changes that might affect them. So let's take a closer look at the safety review and what it found. What are the active ingredients in sunscreen? There are two main types of sunscreen: physical and chemical. This is based on the different active ingredients they use. An active ingredient is a chemical component in a product that has an effect on the body - basically, what makes the product "work". In sunscreens, this is the compound that absorbs UV rays from the Sun. The other ingredients - for example, those that give the sunscreen its smell or help the skin absorb it - are "inactive". Physical sunscreens typically use minerals, such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, that can absorb the Sun's rays but also reflect some of them. Chemical sunscreens use a variety of chemical ingredients to absorb or scatter UV light, both long wave (UVA) or short wave (UVB). The seven active ingredients in this review are in chemical sunscreens. Why did the TGA do the review? Our current limits for the concentrations of these chemicals in sunscreen are generally consistent with other regulatory agencies, such as the European Union and the US Food and Drug Administration. However, safety is an evolving subject. The TGA periodically reexamines the safety of all therapeutic goods. Last year, the TGA revised its method of estimating sunscreen exposure to more closely model how skin is exposed to sunscreens over time. This model considers how much sunscreen someone typically applies, how much skin they cover (whole body versus face and hands, or just face) and how it's absorbed through the skin. Given this new model - along with changes in the EU and US approaches to sunscreen regulation - the TGA selected seven common sunscreen ingredients to investigate in depth. Determining what's safe When evaluating whether chemicals are safe for human use, testing will often consider studies in animals - especially when there is no or limited data on humans. These animal tests are done by the manufacturers, not the TGA. To take into account any unforeseen sensitivity humans may have to these chemicals, a "margin of safety" is built in. This is typically a concentration 50-100 times lower than the dose at which no negative effect was seen in animals. The sunscreen review used a margin of safety 100 times lower than this dose as the safety threshold. For most of the seven investigated sunscreen chemicals, the TGA found the margin of safety was above 100. This means they're considered safe and low-risk for long-term use. However, two ingredients, homosalate and oxybenzone, were found to be below 100. This was based on the highest estimated sunscreen exposure, applied to the body at the maximum permitted concentration: 15% for homosalate, 10% for oxybenzone. At lower concentrations, other uses - such as just the hands and face - could be considered low-risk for both ingredients. What are the health concerns? Homosalate and oxybenzone have low acute oral toxicity - meaning you would need to swallow a lot of it to experience toxic effects, nearly half a kilogram of these chemicals - and don't cause irritation to eyes or skin. There is inconclusive evidence about oxybenzone potentially causing cancer in rats and mice - but only at concentrations to which humans will never be exposed via sunscreens. The key issue is whether the two ingredients affect the endocrine system. While effects have been seen at high concentrations in animal studies, it is not clear whether these translate to humans exposed to sunscreen levels. No effect has been seen in clinical studies on fertility, hormones, weight gain and, in pregnant women, fetal development. The TGA is being very cautious here, using a very wide margin of safety under worst-case scenarios. What are the recommendations? The TGA recommends the allowed concentration of homosalate and oxybenzone be reduced. But exactly how much it will be lowered is complicated, depending on whether the product is intended for adults or children, specifically for face, or the whole body, and so on. However, some sunscreens would need to be reformulated or warning labels placed on particular formulations. The exact changes will be decided after public consultation. Submissions close on August 12. What about benzophenone? There is also some evidence benzophenone - a chemical produced when sunscreen that contains octocrylene degrades - may cause cancer at high concentrations. This is based on studies in which mice and rats were fed benzophenone well above the concentration in sunscreens. Octocrylene degrades slowly over time to benzophenone. Heat makes it degrade faster, especially at temperatures above 40°C. The TGA has recommended restricting benzophenone to 0.0383% in sunscreens to ensure it remains safe during the product's shelf life. The Cancer Council advises storing sunscreens below 30°C. The bottom line The proposed restrictions are very conservative, based on worst-case scenarios. But even in worst-case scenarios, the margin of safety for these ingredients is still below the level at which any negative effect was seen in animals. The threat of cancer from sun exposure is far more serious than any potential negative effect from sunscreens. If you do wish to avoid these chemicals before new limits are imposed, several sunscreens are available that provide high levels of protection with little or no homosalate and oxybenzone. For more information, consult product labels. (Author: Ian Musgrave, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology, University of Adelaide) (Disclaimer Statement: Ian Musgrave has received funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council to study adverse reactions to herbal medicines and has previously been funded by the Australian Research Council to study potential natural product treatments for Alzheimer's disease. He is currently a member of one of the Therapeutic Goods Administration's statutory councils. )
Sky News AU
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
'Fresh take': NSW Police investigation into Married At First Sight quietly dropped after five months as Nine insiders hint at major changes to format
A police investigation that cast a shadow over the last season of Channel Nine's Married At First Sight has been quietly dropped after five months. NSW Police launched the investigation into the reality TV juggernaut in February after groom Paul Antoine punched a wall, sparking fan outrage. A NSW Police spokesperson on Wednesday told that "following an investigation conducted by officers attached to South Sydney Police Area Command, no further police action is expected." The matter has now been resolved privately and out of the spotlight, and MAFS producers are promising a 'fresh take' on the dating show's format, which has dominated Australian reality TV for more than a decade. Nine launched a full-scale reset for the show's highly anticipated 2026 season, reportedly issuing a very clear directive: 'Go hard on challenging the participants, but keep the drama out of the courtroom.' can reveal that the network has implemented stricter background checks, more in-depth psychological screening, and tough new guidelines aimed at avoiding another police scandal. 'Safe Work was also heavily involved in reviewing the show's future, and Channel Nine has taken their recommendations very seriously,' a network insider said. 'They want compelling TV but not at the expense of cast wellbeing or legal risk.' Casting for the 2026 season is now complete, and filming is officially set to begin later this month in Sydney. The staple drama-filled events, including the infamous hens and bucks parties, will be first to kick off at a private Sydney residence. The full lineup of brides and grooms have meanwhile commenced preparation for an intense 12-week production schedule. Insiders say next year's couples reflect a shift away from 'influencer types' and toward 'everyday Australians' genuinely seeking love. 'There's a lot less slicked-back hair and neck tattoos and a lot more relatability,' one casting source told 'This cast feels real, and that's a big part of what we're aiming for in 2026.' While Channel Nine has yet to confirm an official air date for the next season, MAFS season 13 is expected to premiere in January 2026. Returning relationship experts John Aiken, Alessandra Rampolla, and Mel Schilling are committed and will fly in from across the globe to participate. 'John's back from Thailand, Alessandra's flying in from the US, and Mel's just wrapped commitments in the UK," a production source said. "They're all excited to be reuniting." It comes as the final weeks of pre-production weren't without stress. 'We struggled a bit locking in the last few grooms,' the source said. 'We had some really strong women and didn't want to lose them, so it was a bit of a puzzle to get the right matches.' As for the weddings, locations have been secured, but the dates for the for the nuptials still remain under wraps, even from the cast themselves. 'They've all (the cast) flown in for promotional shoots but still haven't been told who they're marrying or when,' one insider said. 'There's a lot of nervous energy. Everyone's hoping for love and not the bad edit.' Despite fan scepticism over past promises of format changes, insiders believe this season could really deliver something genuinely different. 'Every year we hear it'll have a new vibe,' one long-time production staffer quipped. 'But this time, the cast, the experts, even the tone. It actually feels different.'
Sydney Morning Herald
20 hours ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
If Albanese can't pass this test, ‘we should stop dreaming': former Treasury boss
Anthony Albanese's plan to build 1.2 million homes, improve the nation's transport system and lift Australians' living standards will fail if the government cannot fix broken nature laws and arrest the decline of the environment, former Treasury boss Ken Henry warns. In a speech to the National Press Club on Wednesday, Henry will argue that despite pressure on fast-track important developments, the country also needs a resilient and rich natural environment. Without that, Australia will be just 'building a faster highway to hell'. Henry, who served as Treasury secretary under John Howard and Kevin Rudd, will argue there is 'no chance' the government will reach its many key policy goals without fixing the broken project approval system in the federal Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act and also state environmental laws. 'If we can't achieve environmental law reform, then we should stop dreaming about more challenging options,' he will tell the press club. 'Boosting productivity and resilience relies upon environmental law reform.' The 2020 Samuel Review found the EPBC Act, established by the Howard government in 2000, was failing. The regime overlays state nature laws to protect matters of national environmental significance, like threatened species or rare habitats. Loading Since colonisation, about 100 of Australia's unique flora and fauna species have become extinct. The rate of loss, which is as bad as anywhere else on Earth, shows no sign of slowing, with more than 2000 species listed as threatened with extinction and ongoing habitat degradation. The Albanese government promised in 2022 to bolster the EPBC Act with the creation of an Environment Protection Agency (EPA). A federal watchdog, the agency would police compliance of big projects that affect the environment, such as mines and tourism resorts, handing out fines for breaches.
The Age
20 hours ago
- Business
- The Age
If Albanese can't pass this test, ‘we should stop dreaming': former Treasury boss
Anthony Albanese's plan to build 1.2 million homes, improve the nation's transport system and lift Australians' living standards will fail if the government cannot fix broken nature laws and arrest the decline of the environment, former Treasury boss Ken Henry warns. In a speech to the National Press Club on Wednesday, Henry will argue that despite pressure on fast-track important developments, the country also needs a resilient and rich natural environment. Without that, Australia will be just 'building a faster highway to hell'. Henry, who served as Treasury secretary under John Howard and Kevin Rudd, will argue there is 'no chance' the government will reach its many key policy goals without fixing the broken project approval system in the federal Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act and also state environmental laws. 'If we can't achieve environmental law reform, then we should stop dreaming about more challenging options,' he will tell the press club. 'Boosting productivity and resilience relies upon environmental law reform.' The 2020 Samuel Review found the EPBC Act, established by the Howard government in 2000, was failing. The regime overlays state nature laws to protect matters of national environmental significance, like threatened species or rare habitats. Loading Since colonisation, about 100 of Australia's unique flora and fauna species have become extinct. The rate of loss, which is as bad as anywhere else on Earth, shows no sign of slowing, with more than 2000 species listed as threatened with extinction and ongoing habitat degradation. The Albanese government promised in 2022 to bolster the EPBC Act with the creation of an Environment Protection Agency (EPA). A federal watchdog, the agency would police compliance of big projects that affect the environment, such as mines and tourism resorts, handing out fines for breaches.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Think tanks need to do a better job to present India in the international context: leading Australian think tank research head
Australia's public policy makers are catching up with the rapid changes in India-Australia relationship and in that context, it is necessary to invest in building on think tank resources between the two sides, said Herve Lemahieu, Director of Research of Sydney-based Lowy Institute. The remarks from Mr Lemahieu came in the wake of Australia announcing 'Maitri Grants' that will, among other activities, fund the recruitment of a distinguished scholar for the India Chair at the Lowy Institute that is known for high quality research in the field of international studies from the Australian point of view. 'Australia's public and policy debates are playing catch-up on the rapid evolution of the bilateral partnership. But think tanks also need to do a better job of situating India within a broader regional and international context. The country will be a central player through the chop and change we are experiencing in global politics,' said Mr Lemahieu. The India Chair will be a new initiative to further promote understanding about India in Australia with the aim to furthering bilateral partnership. Herve Lemahieu described India as 'an anchor for strategic balance for Australia and the broader Indo-Pacific region', adding that 'Understanding India, its trajectory, power and diffuse interests, has never been more important to us.' 'This world-class program of research at the Lowy Institute will do just that. It will elevate India in terms of our research agenda. It's an opportunity to bring in new talent, fresh perspectives, and deepen the bench on a vital piece of the puzzle in terms of how Australia looks and engages the region,' said Mr Lemahieu. Australia and India are partners in the Quad grouping that also includes Japan and the United States and that apart, the two countries have a history of cooperation that dates back to the immediate post-independence years of India. The two sides are closely working on issues in the Indo-Pacific region as well as the ASEAN grouping where the Myanmar crisis has prompted concern from New Delhi and Canberra. Other projects under the Maitri Grants will include an exhibition of paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, an annual leadership dialogue, and innovative research infields like clean energy solutions and biomanufacturing, said a press note from the Centre for Australia India Relations. High Commissioner of Australia Philip Green praised the initiative at the Lowy Institute and said, 'An India Chair at the Lowy Institute will contribute to Australians' understanding of India at a deep level. We are very different societies, and research, scholarship and analysis will allow us to maximize the opportunity of our shared interests.'
