An environmental group in Australia has taken the cosmetics industry to task over its use of nanotechnology. This comes as debate continues to rage over the safety of these particles. According to reports, the group names L’Oreal, Revlon and Max Factor among others, as using nanoparticles in their cosmetics.

This was based on research done by the Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Facility. Australian industry group ACCORD has been critical of the study and its findings. Pointing to its failure to state the levels of nanoparticles found, its director of policy Craig Brock said, “It`s a bit like testing a food for cholesterol and then not saying what the percentage is.”

In Australia, testing for nanoparticles in cosmetics is not compulsory. For this reason the group has accused top cosmetics companies of testing its products on women in the country.