Traralgon Li'l Bearz Early Learning Centre and Kindergarten director Sandra Ludekens said their centre had received the list of safe sunscreens, and was pleased to find out the sunscreen they used at the centre was free of nanoparticles.

``It is better to be safe than sorry, so we will encourage parents to use these sunscreens if they are to bring their own in for their children,'' Mr Ludekens said.

``A lot of kids have sensitive skin and are allergic to things, if there is uncertainty around a product it is better to take precaution.''

Friends of the Earth nano technology spokesperson Elena McMaster said according to scientists children have thinner skin than adults so are at a higher risk of exposure to nanoparticles.

She said nanoparticles were extremely small particles which were 1000 times smaller than a width of human hair and the technology was relatively new.

``Sunscreen ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are being used in nanoparticles form to make use of their increased properties but unfortunately these properties also include toxicity risks,'' Ms McMaster said.

``Despite calls for labelling earlier this year the Therapeutic Goods Administration does not enforce labelling of nano-ingredients in sunscreens or make companies conduct safety tests on them,'' she said.

The 2010-11 Friends of the Earth Safe Sunscreen Guide is based on a survey of 140 sunscreen companies, it lists 47 brands whose manufactures state are nano-free.

To download a copy visit www.nano.foe.org.au/safesunscreen s