From Not Too
Pretty.Org
Christian Dior's Poison, Arrid
Extra Extra Dry deodorant and Aqua Net Hair Spray are among many of the
beauty and personal care products that contain one or more of the
dangerous chemicals known as phthalates, according to Not Too Pretty,
a report released by the Environmental Working Group, Coming Clean and
Health Care without Harm.
The groups contracted with a major national laboratory to test 72
name-brand, off-the-shelf beauty products for the presence of
phthalates, a large family of industrial chemicals linked to birth
defects in the male reproductive system. The lab found phthalates in 52
of the 72 products tested - or 72%. Only one of the products listed
phthalates on the label.
"Chemicals that can damage the development and future fertility of
babies don't belong in products marketed to women," said Bryony Schwan,
coordinator of the Coming Clean campaign. "Phthalate-free products that
perform as well are on the market for virtually every single
phthalate-containing product."
The Centers for Disease Control has found surprisingly high levels of
these chemicals in urine taken from women of childbearing age. This
report focuses on one source of exposure: the cosmetics and beauty
products women are using every day.
The products were chosen after reviewing a Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) database of
cosmetics that listed the phthalate DBP (dibutyl phthalate) as an
ingredient. The products were tested for the presence of six other
common phthalates as well. The products listed below contained one of
the phthalates, while those noted with an asterisk contained more than
one phthalate. The lab found more than one phthalate in 11 products.
"The testing done for Not Too Pretty covers less than one percent of the
beauty products sold in drug and discount stores across the United
States, but it appears to be the most comprehensive testing ever made
available to American consumers," said Charlotte Brody RN, executive
director, Health Care Without Harm. "Because of lax FDA labeling rules,
we cannot know how many more beauty products contain unlabeled
quantities of phthalates."
A new report by Health Care Without Harm, "Aggregate Exposures to
Phthalates in Humans," describes the failure of US and EU regulators to
address the health impacts of multiple exposures to phthalates from a
variety of products.
"We can't protect ourselves unless we get manufacturers and the
government to change," Brody said. "The FDA and the cosmetic industry
need to stop pretending that we are being exposed to one chemical from
one source at a time. We need public policies that recognize how, in the
real world, exposures from many products may be adding up to harm."
 Hundreds
of animal studies have demonstrated that phthalates can damage the
liver, kidneys, lungs and reproductive system, especially the developing
testes. Phthalates are used as a plastic softener and solvent in many
different consumer products. They 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 directly administered to
patients from PVC (polyvinyl chloride or vinyl) medical devices.
According to one CDC study, five percent of women of reproductive age
(an estimated two million women) may be getting up to 20 times more of
the phthalate DBP than the average person in the population. The highest
exposures for women of childbearing age were above the federal safety
standard, creating a risk of reproductive birth defects, according to
animal studies considered relevant to humans. The limited testing done
for Not Too Pretty revealed that the same big companies that produce
phthalate-laden beauty products also make products free of phthalates.
For example:
Unilever makes hair sprays with
(Aqua Net and Salon Selectives) and without phthalates (Thermasilk and
Suave).
L'Oreal markets Jet Set nail
polish without DBP but puts the phthalate in its Maybelline brand.
Procter and Gamble sells Secret
Sheer Dry deodorant with phthalates and Secret Platinum Protection
Ambition Scent without phthalates.
Louis Vuitton has taken
phthalates out of its Urban Decay nail polish but still has these
dangerous chemicals in Christian Dior nail polish and the fragrance
Poison.
NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS HEALTH RISKS
OF PHTHALATES IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS
-- Product Tests Find Unlabelled Toxin in Many Best Selling Cosmetics --
New test results showing harmful phthalates in hair sprays, perfumes,
and other brand-name cosmetics will be released by Coming Clean, the
Environmental Working Group and Health Care Without Harm. The Centers
for Disease Control has found surprisingly high levels of these
chemicals in urine taken from women of childbearing age. This report
will show one source of exposure: the products women are using on their
bodies.
Tests from an independent laboratory found phthalates in a variety of
top-selling cosmetics. An advertising campaign informing consumers of
these test results will begin when the report is released. Copies of the
ads, which list name-brand cosmetics containing phthalates, will be
available at the press event.
Hundreds of animal studies have demonstrated that phthalates can damage
the liver, the kidneys, the lungs and the reproductive system,
especially the developing testes. From the time we pull back the vinyl
shower curtain in the morning to the products we use to get ready for a
night out, we are exposed to phthalates, which are needlessly added to
dozens of consumer products, such as car seats, hair spray, IV bags,
deodorant, nail polish, wallpaper and siding.
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel, an industry-funded panel of
physicians and scientists responsible for assessing the safety of
ingredients used in cosmetics, met recently and decided to launch a new
scientific review of the safety of phthalates in cosmetics. But
immediate steps are necessary to protect consumers from phthalates.
Despite warnings from the National Institutes of Health and Health
Canada about the harmful effects of phthalates, the FDA has failed to
require companies to remove this needless toxin, and has failed to
notify consumers about the presence of phthalates in our food, drugs,
cosmetics and medical devices through labeling requirements.
Written by: Not Too Pretty.org
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