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Are Chemicals Hiding in Your Makeup?
Study Finds Most Personal Care Products Untested, Ranks Brand Names for
Safety
(LOS ANGELES) 6/7/04 -- Most cosmetics and other personal care products sold in
the
U.S. contain chemicals that have never been assessed for safety, according
to a computer-assisted investigation by the Environmental Working Group
(EWG).
Today EWG released the results of a study of 7,500 brand-name products on a
free website (www.ewg.org) that for the first time lets consumers learn what
chemicals are in their soap, shampoo, toothpaste and other products. The
website provides product rankings of known and probable health hazards
associated with ingredients in each of the 7,500 products assessed,
including information on ingredients linked to cancer and reproductive
harms.
The overwhelming majority of ingredients in personal care products have not
been assessed for safety. But of those that have been studied, some are
listed by government agencies as known or probable carcinogens or
reproductive toxins. Today EWG is petitioning the Food and Drug
Administration to assess the safety of scores of products that may be
adulterated, and to declare as misbranded hundreds of products containing
ingredients the industry's own self-policing safety panel has found lack
sufficient data to be considered safe.
"This news is cause for concern, but not alarm," said Jane Houlihan, EWG's
vice president for research. "Studies to understand the potential health
impacts from low-dose lifelong exposures to chemical mixtures like those in
personal care products have yet to be done. In the meantime, consumers can
use our online, interactive product guide to choose personal care products
that pose fewer potential risks."
A survey of more than 2,300 people conducted by EWG and five other public
health and environmental organizations found that the average adult who
responded uses nine personal care products daily, exposing herself to 126
chemicals every day.
Of the 10,500 chemical ingredients used in personal care products, just 11
percent have been safety assessed -- and the assessments were not conducted
by government officials, but by a panel funded by manufacturers. The
cosmetic industry polices the safety of its own products: the Food and Drug
Administration cannot require safety testing of ingredients or products
before they are put on store shelves and into our bodies.
Olivia James, a former runway fashion model, questions whether her son's
health problems could be linked to her use of cosmetics. James, who modeled
for 16 years, said her son was born with hypospadias, a birth defect that
has been linked in laboratory studies to chemicals found in nail polish and
moisturizing cream.
"Why do our chemical regulations let the cosmetics industry decide what's
safe for us and our children?" asked James.
EWG's "Skin Deep" investigation is released in conjunction with the launch
of Because We're Worth it! The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, organized to
protect the health of consumers and workers by requiring the health and
beauty industry to phase out the use of chemicals that are known or
suspected to cause cancer, genetic mutation or reproductive harm.
Founding members of the Because We're Worth It! Campaign include: The
Breast Cancer Fund, Friends of the Earth, Women's Voices for the Earth,
Environmental Working Group, National Environmental Trust, National Black
Environmental Justice Network, Health Care Without Harm and Commonweal.
For more information, see www.safecosmetics.org.
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