Oh Canada! Canada First to Ban Chemicals in Personal Care Products

Spa Beautifully, Colleen Coplick
Published February 7, 2009

The Canadian government recently declared two chemicals used in lipstick and other personal care products to be toxic to the environment. Officials are saying that the two chemicals, siloxanes D4 and D5, aren't used in large enough quantities to be of concern to people yet, however two other chemicals used in cosmetics were found to be harmful to people's health. The two siloxanes are used as emollients to soften the skin and are found in many of the personal care products on the market in North America. They're also used in paints and coatings, antiperspirants, sealants, lubricants, plastics, silicone polymers, food additives and medical devices. Whew. And we've been able to put this onto our bodies? Ick. Two other substances used in cosmetics were found to be of concern - isoprene and epichlorohydrin - both of which are considered to be human carcinogens. Yeah, that'd be cancer. Great. These will all added to the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist to prevent their future use in cosmetics. For isoprene, Health Canada is suggesting that manufacturers use best-available technology to control releases. Although peoples' exposure to the substances of concern to human health is very low, the government is proposing regulations for all except isoprene to prevent them from being used in the future without undergoing a new series of assessments. "Today's move by Canada is not only important for the health of its citizens, it helps underscore the need for real reforms within the EPA's failed programs to regulate toxins in the U.S.," said Jane Houlihan, vice president for research with the Environmental Working Group based in Washington, DC. "Congress and President Obama need to overhaul broken toxics laws," she said, "and establish a policy that forces the chemical companies to first prove their products are safe before being used."