Gender-Benders: How
Safe are Chemicals in Cosmetics? -- A Guest Commentary
October 11, 2005 — By Joyce H. Newman, The Green Guide
For
the first time in a human study, scientists have discovered that some of
the most common industrial chemicals, called phthalates, actually alter
male sexual and reproductive development in the womb. They are calling
these effects by ominous sounding names like “phthalate syndrome” and
“testicular dysgenesis syndrome”. An investigation by Peter Waldman on
the front page of the Wall Street Journal October 4th, reveals
serious new questions about these chemicals.
In the latest studies reviewed by Waldman, researchers have demonstrated
a highly significant relationship between a mother's exposure during
pregnancy to phthalates and changes in the ways that baby boy's genitals
develop. The “demasculinized effects” in baby boys include low sperm
counts, undescended testes at birth, and benign testicular tumors later
on.
Phthalates (pronounced thal-ates) are found in all sorts of everyday
products from face creams and food wrap, to pills and plastic toys, In
2000 the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
reported phthalate exposure was very widespread across the population
but higher in women of childbearing age than in men. When the CDC tested
thousands of people again in 2003, they confirmed surprisingly higher
levels in women and CDC experts theorized that women might have higher
exposures due to their greater use of beauty products with skin
penetrating properties.
But no one seems to know what exposure level, if any, is safe. By law,
companies do not have to test and prove the ingredients are safe before
selling the products in the U.S. Exposure guidelines set by U.S.
government agencies are based on old studies. Meanwhile phthalates
aren’t even listed on many product labels because of loopholes in the
labeling laws. So how is a consumer supposed to know what products
contain these chemicals?
The current issue of The Green Guide and its website,
www.thegreenguide.com, will give you an update on the latest research on
phthalates and other reproductive hazards as well as simple ways to
reduce exposure to them. The site provides a “Dirty Dozen” list of
ingredients to avoid in personal care products.
To be on the safe side, last year the countries in the European Union
banned certain phthalates in cosmetics and toys. Plus they are reviewing
a huge range of additional products that may pose risks. As a result,
the European market for one of the most common phthalates DEHP (diethylhexyl
phthalate) is collapsing and the manufacturer will stop producing in
Europe. But production in the U.S. and elsewhere will continue according
to the Journal article.
A coalition of public health and environmental groups concerned about
reproductive toxins in cosmetics, has urged U.S. companies to follow
suit. According to the Environmental Working Group, which has been in
the forefront on this issue, dozens of companies have promised to
address these concerns. Their investigation is detailed on their website
at: http://www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep/. To help you make safer product
choices, the group also provides a “Searchable Product Guide” where you
can select information on brand name products by product category and
other user-friendly methods.
________________
An award-winning broadcast journalist and new media executive whose
credits include a wide range of environmental and "green consumer"
websites and programs, Joyce H. Newman is a Trustee of the Green
Guide Institute, a nonprofit, independent publisher of consumer health
and safety advice, product reviews, and shopping tips. She currently
heads Newman Productions, specializing in strategic communications for a
variety of national nonprofit organizations.
ENN welcomes a wide range of perspectives in its popular Commentary
Series. To find out more or to submit a commentary for consideration
please contact Jerry Kay, Publisher of the Environmental News Network:
ennpublisher@yahoo.com. |