'Examine chemicals in beauty products'

MANILA, Philippines - A visiting American expert yesterday sought stricter enforcement of regulatory standards on beauty products and other cosmetics to prevent contamination with toxic substances.

Ann Blake, a member of the Green Ribbon Science Panel of California’s Environment Protection Agency, said major chemicals that may be found in cosmetic products are dangerous to one’s health.

These include heavy metals like lead in lipstick, mercury and hydroquinone in skin whiteners, coal tar derivatives in dark hair dyes, hormone disruptors in fragrance products, and formaldehyde and paraben preservatives in numerous personal care items.

“Cosmetic ingredients are ubiquitous in our bodies and the environment. The impacts of long-term, multiple chronic exposures are unknown, but recent science indicates cause for concern, particularly around heavy metals, persistent and bioaccumulative ingredients, and hormone-disrupting chemicals,” she said in a statement released by EcoWaste Coalition.

Blake spoke about “Women, Cosmetics and Toxic Chemicals” in a forum held at the Food and Drug Administration in Taguig City yesterday.

She noted these “chemicals are of particular concern for women, who have both higher exposure and higher accumulation of contaminants, as well as for fetuses and children at critical windows of development.”

Blake said that even men are exposed to chemicals, particularly from products that are applied daily to the body.

“While men are exposed on average to six products a day versus 12 products for women, they are still exposed to some 80 unique chemicals from personal care products such as soap, shampoo, shaving cream, fragranced after shave, etc. Some male-specific health effects include exposure to Di-Ethyl Phthalate (DEP), a hormone disruptor, that impact on sperm quality and motility,” she added.

Long exposures to toxic substances can damage the central nervous system leading to autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, learning disabilities, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other diseases such as juvenile diabetes and obesity.