ASK THE WCCP ABOUT COSMETIC PRODUCTS
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The Wellesley Cancer Prevention Project is
pleased to address some
specific questions about cosmetic products which have been sent to our website
recently.
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Q: Last month, I read an
article in the Boston Globe about phthalates and their use in cosmetic
products. What are they?
A: Phthalates are a
chemical used in cosmetics and other products as softeners and
plasticizers. They are the
chemicals which give nail polish their slickness, and hair conditioners and
moisturizers their softening abilities. They are also found in many soft
plastics.
Q:
What are the risks of such chemicals?
A: Phthalates
can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled as fumes, ingested when they
contaminate food or when children bite or suck on toys, and are inadvertently
but directly administered to patients from some PVC (polyvinyl chloride or
vinyl) medical devices. In various animal
studies, these chemicals disrupt the hormone system and are linked to certain
birth defects, infertility, and other illnesses. They can
adversely impact reproduction and development. They have been found to affect
levels of the male hormone androgen and sperm production in male rodents as well
as estrogen levels and fertility in female rats.
Q: Have phthalates been removed from any
products yet?
Phthalates were removed
from children’s plastic toys after the chemical’s water-soluble properties were
determined to cause chemical exposure to children who put the toys in their
mouths. More recently,
hospitals have stopped using phthalate-containing plastics for vulnerable
populations such as male infants. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control
has determined that phthalate exposure is both higher and more common than
previously suspected. A study
conducted by the CDC in 2000 found that every person in the study had a high
exposure to the chemical, particularly women of childbearing years who
participated in the study. This led
them to suspect the presence of phthalates in cosmetic products and to conduct
studies on cosmetics.
Q: Given that they have been removed from children’s toys and certain hospital products, why haven’t they been removed from cosmetics too?
A: Major loopholes in United States federal laws regarding cosmetics have made it possible for cosmetic manufacturers to continue using phthalates. For example, manufacturers can claim that the chemical components that made up a cosmetic product are part of their trade secrets. However, it is worth noting that, at the beginning of November, the European Union agreed to remove phthalates from cosmetic products manufactured in Europe. However, in the United States, the Cosmetics Ingredients Review (CIR) Panel determined that phthalates are "safe as currently used," a ruling vigorously contested by health groups, women’s rights advocates and environmentalists. Since the government neither conducts nor requires safety testing of chemicals that go into health and beauty products, and since the CIR Panel is funded and advised by the cosmetic industry, “the panel's assessment was heavily influenced by cosmetic industry science advisors and would not stand up to modern standards for public health protection," said Jane Houlihan, Vice President for Research at the Environmental Working Group.
Q: What cosmetic products
are phthalates specifically found in?
A: Phthalates can be
found in hairspray, shampoo, conditioner, hair gel and mousse, deodorant,
perfume, moisturizer, and nail polish. Because of the lax FDA labeling rules, it
is difficult to determine which products contain phthalates. While it is prudent to only buy products
on which you can find a full list of ingredients, be forewarned that not all
products containing phthalates actually indicate so. Additionally, the lists
of ingredients on a nail polish bottle, for example, can arguably only be read
with a magnifying glass.
Q: How can I determine if
the products I use are phthalate-free?
A: Phthalate-free
products are available for most types of cosmetics. Products which are
phthalate-free are listed in on the following website: www.nottoopretty.org There are also products which have
been found to contain phthalates listed on that website. As a result of the European Union’s
ruling, the Body Shop (which is an international company) announced that the
company will phase out phthalates from all of its products. This statement was
issued after product tests in Europe found phthalates in the company’s
deodorant. They have taken action to avoid the use of phthalates in all of their
new perfumes used in products, and aim to phase out the phthalates that remain
in existing perfumes as soon as practicably possible.
Q: Are phthalates known
by any other names?
A: Yes, although they all end with the word
“phthalate.” They can also
be listed as: diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, butybenzyl phthalate,
diethylhexyl phthalate, and dimethyl phthalate.
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The WCPP would also like to respond new questions that arise about concerns you may have. Please forward your questions to info@wcpponline.org. We will make every attempt to respond via this column or via email to every inquiry received.