News Coverage
Personal Care Products Often Far From Pure And Natural
Published April 28, 2008
Health activist Stacy Malkan is co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (www.safecosmetics.org), a national coalition dedicated to the elimination of chemicals from personal care products that have been linked to health problems. She is a former journalist, author of "Not Just a Pretty Face," and communications director of Health Care Without Harm.
Q: What prompted your involvement in this movement?
A: I first learned about the chemical problem while working as a reporter in Colorado. The community was up in arms over a plan to spray pesticides on the bike path to control weeds. I spent a lot of time interviewing state and city government officials, and it was clear that they did not have good information about the health effects of chemicals they were planning to spray in public areas where kids run and play. Later, I worked with environmental groups and got interested in chemicals in personal care products. Like many women, I've used lots of these products in my lifetime. For the book, I went back and counted up all the products I used as a teenager and did some research on the ingredients. I was stunned to learn that I had exposed myself to 200 synthetic chemicals a day before even getting on the school bus! This is the story of many teens, so we have to make sure these products are safe.
Q: What types of products are you most concerned about and why?
A: Many conventional products such as shampoo, deodorant, hair spray and lotion contain low levels of hazardous chemicals that are linked to cancer, learning disabilities or reproductive harm. For example, many fragranced products (such as shampoos and deodorants) contain phthalates, which are linked to sperm damage and birth defects. Some products contain formaldehyde, coal tar, aluminum and lead acetate. Many contain estrogenic parabens, and petrochemical surfactants such as sodium laureth sulfate and PEG which are often contaminated with carcinogenic byproducts. The good news is that companies know how to make products without these hazardous substances. However, because the beauty industry is virtually unregulated, it is up to consumers to find safer products, rather than just trusting what is on the shelves. A good resource is the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database at www.cosmeticdatabase.org.
Q: Who is least knowledgeable and most at risk in this area?
A: Most at risk are developing children, teenagers and pregnant women who expose their fetuses to chemicals in personal care products. Younger people are more susceptible to the toxic effects of chemicals because they are less able to detoxify and eliminate chemicals, and their developing bodies can be more affected by hormone disruption. It's especially important to look at products such as kids' bubble baths, which, believe it or not, are some of the worst. Many children's bubble baths carry the warning: "prolonged exposure may cause irritation to the skin or urinary tract" - that tells you something! Many cartoon character bubble baths come in PVC (#3) bottles, which are notorious for leaching toxic chemicals. Also in the "worst" category are hair dyes, hair straighteners and hair relaxers, which are marketed to girls as young as 6 and 7.
Q: Has awareness increased and have there been positive changes?
A: Yes, the good news is, as more people become aware of this issue, they search out alternatives and safer products become more readily available. The natural products market is booming, and there are many great companies out there. Many natural products are free of parabens, toxic surfactants and synthetic fragrance. We have seen some major changes in the mainstream industry. After a pressure campaign by environmental groups, most companies reformulated their nail polish to remove the "toxic trio" (dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde and toluene) that were commonly used until a couple years ago. The largest companies now advertise their products as being free of those chemicals, so they see the market advantage. This story shows that the beauty industry can and will change.
Q: Ideally, what changes would you like to see happen in the cosmetics industry?
A: The beauty industry needs to reinvent itself. For decades now, the mainstream companies have used the same old soap technologies and cheap petrochemicals. These chemicals make effective products, but unfortunately, we know that many of the chemicals are also toxic. It's time to create the next generation of safer products, and this is not only better for the health of people and the planet, but it is also the business opportunity of the 21st century! The goal is to make all products safe for babies, pregnant women, workers who make and use the products, and for the planet. All of us can be part of making this change happen.
A good rule of thumb for choosing safer products: simpler is better - choose products with fewer synthetic chemicals, fewer ingredients overall, and avoid synthetic fragrance when possible. Use the Skin Deep database to assess your favorite products at www.CosmeticDatabase.org.
LJ Anderson writes on health matters every Tuesday. She can be reached at lj.anderson@yahoo.com.