The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been challenged on the way it regulates skin products with nanoparticle ingredients.

Friends of the Earth and the International Center for Technology Assessment filed a petition with the FDA and called for better monitoring and regulation of products like sunscreen and cosmetics, The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The groups have released a report of products they claim contain ingredients small enough to seep into the body and effect brain chemistry.

During a telephone news conference from Washington, George Kimbrell, an attorney for the groups, said they will sue if the FDA doesn't make changes within 180 days to how they study and regulate nanoparticle products.

FDA spokeswoman Susan Cruzan said the agency will look into the "development and use" of nanoparticles but said there isn't any data showing it is hazardous.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International