More than 50 % of cosmetics contain toxic chemicals, study says: here's how to prevent them
22 June, 2021
Toxic chemicals remain widely used in the cosmetics industry, according to a fresh study published online by Environmental Science & Technology.
The peer-reviewed study, which tested a huge selection of products, found PFAS, otherwise known as “forever chemicals”, in cosmetics made by major brands in Canada and the US.
The study’s authors found “high” degrees of organic and natural fluorine, an indicator of PFAs, in more than half of the 231 make-up and personal care samples it tested. These included lipstick, eyeliner, mascara, foundation, concealer, lip balm, blush, nail polish and other commonly used cosmetics.
Waterproof mascara, foundations and liquid lipsticks were found to many frequently contain high levels of fluorine.
What are PFAs?
PFAs, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, refer to about 9,000 compounds also used to make food packaging, clothing and carpeting.
“PFAs are a band of man-made chemicals which includes PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and many other chemicals,” in line with the USA Environmental Protection Agency.
“PFOA and PFOS have already been the most extensively produced and studied of these chemicals. Both chemicals are incredibly persistent in the environment and in our body - meaning they don’t break down plus they can accumulate as time passes. There is evidence that contact with PFAS can result in adverse human health effects.”
Some of these effects include reproductive, developmental, liver and kidney damage. The chemicals are recognized to cause tumours in animals, as the most regular findings correlate PFAs to increased cholesterol levels.
“[PFAS] are put into change the properties of surfaces, to create them nonstick or resistant in which to stay water or oils,” says study co-author Dr Tom Bruton, senior scientist at the Green Science Policy Institute in Berkeley, California.
“The concerning thing about cosmetics is these are products that you’re deciding on your skin and face every day, so there’s your skin absorption route that’s of concern, but also incidental ingestion of cosmetics can be a concern aswell.”
Which brands were tested?
For the study, Bruton and colleagues purchased cosmetic products in the US and Canada from brands such as for example L’Oreal, Ulta, Mac, Cover Girl, Clinique, Maybelline, Smashbox, Nars and Estee Lauder.
They discovered that 55 per cent of lip products and 58 % of eye products had a higher percentage of fluorine. The study didn't specify which brands were found to be using toxic chemicals, since it did not attempt to name and shame.
"High fluorine levels were found in products commonly advertised as 'wear-resistant' to water and oils or ‘long-lasting,’ including foundations, liquid lipsticks, and waterproof mascaras," Bruton and colleagues wrote.
Most worrying may be the fact that PFAs were not listed on labels of these products, making it very difficult for consumers in order to avoid them.
How do I avoid toxic chemicals in beauty products?
- Choose products with shorter ingredients lists.
- Spend money on brands that use all-natural ingredients.
- Make your own natural body products at home, using famous brands coconut oil, sugar and avocados.
- Keep in mind that terms such as for example “pure”, “organic” or “natural” aren't legally backed, so can be essentially meaningless
Stay away from:
Talc: According to Medical News Today, talc poses a health risk because of potential contamination with asbestos - both are natural minerals that often form close together in the earth. Asbestos is a known cancer-forming chemical and can contaminate untested talc.
Phthalates: These are within some nail polishes and hair sprays, and many scented cosmetic and household items. Phthalates can donate to hormonal imbalance, which can result in breast cancer.
Parabens: Found in make-up, moisturisers, hair products and shaving creams, parabens are hazardous because they enter the body through the skin and mimic oestrogen, a disruption which has the potential to trigger the growth of breast cancer cells.
Formaldehyde: Within cosmetics, lotions, shampoos, shower gels, nail polishes and hair straightening products, formaldehydes could cause allergies and irritate the eyes and the respiratory system, according to Medical News Today. Some studies in laboratory animals have also linked the chemical to cancer.
Carbon black: Used to give colouring to mascaras, eyeliners and lipsticks, carbon black has been linked to cancer by ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY Working Group.
Source: www.thenationalnews.com
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