Cosmetic Suspect Substances

About 500 cosmetics and body-care manufacturers have promised to replace possibly harmful ingredients with safer alternatives within three years (see the full list at safecosmetics.org/companies/signers.cfm).

Some of the targeted ingredients:

• Coal tar. Though carcinogenic, it's still used in many dark permanent hair dyes.

• Dibutyl phthalate (DBP). Found in nail polish and moisturizers, this phthalate disrupts hormones and may cause reproductive damage. OPI, Orly, Sally Hansen Avon, Estee Lauder, Revlon and L'Oreal (which also makes Maybelline) have agreed to remove DBP from nail products.

• Diethanolamine (DEA). This and related ingredients that aid in foaming and emulsifying personal-care products have been linked to cancer in laboratory animals.

• Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives. DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15 and diazonlidnyl urea release formaldehyde as they degrade. Formaldehyde can cause irritation and allergic reactions and is a possible carcinogen.

• Hydroquinone. The FDA recently proposed a ban on this ingredient in skin-lightening products because it's a suspected carcinogen and may lead to a rare disorder in the skin of people of certain ethnic groups.

• Paraben. Butyl-, ethyl-, methyl- and propyl-parabens, preservatives found in many deodorants and skin-care products, mimic estrogen and may cause reproductive damage. Parabens have been detected in cancerous breast tumors.

• Talc. Loose powders, blushes, eye shadows and baby powder contain up to 50 percent talc, a mineral that has been linked to respiratory damage with long-term use.

• Triclosan. Found in liquid hand soaps and toothpastes, this anti-microbial compound can break down into toxic components in the bottle and later in groundwater.

Check safety ratings for thousands of personal-care products at ewg.org/reports/skindeep2

Get a printable, purse-size list of ingredients to avoid at breastcancerfund.org/safecosmetics

By ABIGAIL LEICHMAN. Contact: leichman@northjersey.com
Source: www.northjersey.com