Product Safety

Systematic management Degussa’s Chemicals Management System (CMS) is a key tool for foresighted product stewardship. It provides an overview of the safety of products during their life cycle - from development and production through application to disposal at the end of their useful life. Systematic evaluation of products identifies scope for improvement.

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Safety for employees and customers

Degussa supports its customers in safe and environmentally compatible handling of its products. Safety data sheets and special information bulletins contain chemical, physical, toxicological and health-related data. Degussa also provides advice and training for customers on the safe handling, use and processing of its products.

A special pilot plant and product safety experts are available to assist customers in the safe handling of nanostructured materials. Moreover, many of Degussa’s products are available as low-dusting granular formulations or dust-free composites and dispersions where the particles are firmly anchored in a matrix or dispersed in a liquid.

Normally Consumers do not come into direct contact with nanoparticles: Typically, the particles are permanently incorporated into products like paints, plastics and elastomers because they are firmly embedded in the product matrix.

Fine particles and nanostructured materials are also used in cosmetics and food. For example, some sunscreens use fine titanium dioxide particles as a highly effective UV filter. Since they are applied directly to the skin, the UV filters used in such products have to meet extremely stringent safety standards in order to qualify for marketing approval. Titanium dioxide meets all the requirements set for cosmetic applications. A large number of in-house tests and independent studies have shown that these products do not pose any risk to consumers or production workers. Both the EU’s Nanoderm project and Degussa’s own investigations have shown that titanium dioxide cannot penetrate healthy skin.

Amorphous Silica (silicon dioxide) has been marketed to the food industry for many years as a free flow agent for powders. Typical applications include powdered spices, tomato powder and powdered egg. Additions are in the lower single-digit percentage range. Silica was tested and approved for use in foodstuffs as food additive E 551 in the 1960s and there has been no change of the structure or particle size of the additives used in food since then. Extensive toxicological studies have not shown any signs that it is detrimental to health, nor has there been any indication of negative effects resulting from the long-term use of fumed silica in pharmaceuticals.