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Common chemicals in cosmetics worry some


Published May 24, 2004

Chemicals called phthalates are in everything from toys and vinyl flooring to food packaging and pharmaceutical products. They make plastics more flexible, nail polish more spreadable and creams and lotions smoother.

They've been used for years and have attracted little attention until recently. But a growing number of health and environmental activists are pushing to have cosmetics containing the chemicals banned or, at the very least, carry a label to warn consumers of their presence. The safety of phthalates in toys and plastic flood packaging is also coming under scrutiny.

For more on this story, please visit www.latimes.com