High Concentrations of Titanium, Aluminum, Lead & Cadmium Found In Popular Lipstick
A study released by the University of
California, Berkeley (UBC) School of Public health found many
conventional lipstick products to contain dangerously high levels of
aluminum, cadmium, lead, and other toxins. Researchers tested over 30
popular lipstick products and found this to be the case. The study was
published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Even
women using minimal amounts of product still increase their risk of
developing harmful health conditions like nerve damage and cancer by an
alarming amount.
According to the study:
Most of the tested lip products contained high concentrations of titanium and aluminum. All examined products had detectable manganese. Lead was detected in 24 products (75%), with an average concentration of 0.36 ± 0.39 ppm, including one sample with 1.32 ppm. When used at the estimated average daily rate, estimated intakes were > 20% of ADIs derived for aluminum, cadmium, chromium, and manganese. In addition, average daily use of 10 products tested would result in chromium intake exceeding our estimated ADI for chromium. For high rates of product use (above the 95th percentile), the percentages of samples with estimated metal intakes exceeding ADIs were 3% for aluminum, 68% for chromium, and 22% for manganese. Estimated intakes of lead were < 20% of ADIs for average and high use.
A daily intake of these cosmetics would
result in a large exposure to chromium, a carcinogen that has been
linked to stomach tumours. Average use of these products could result
in overexposure to aluminum, cadmium, and manganese. Exposure to high
concentrations of manganese has been linked to high toxicity levels in
the nervous system. Lead was also detected, and no level of lead
exposure is safe for anybody.
“Just finding these metals isn’t
the issue; it’s the levels that matter. Some of the toxic metals are
occurring at levels that could possibly have an effect in the long
term.”
– Katharine Hammond, professor of environmental health sciences and principal investigator in the study
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The amount of metals found definitely
needs to be brought to the attention of health regulators. But we have a
problem here, as health regulators are usually connected to the
corporations that develop these products in the first place. The real
solution is to just stop using them. We are sold on the idea that we
need these beauty products and yet they are filled with harmful
chemicals. Are we not beautiful anyway? Right now there are no standards
in the United States for metal content in cosmetics, which is deeply
disturbing. They can pretty much put whatever they please into them, and
it doesn’t take long for the bloodstream to absorb whatever we put
onto bodies.
The truth is, many of the ingredients in
personal care and beauty products aren’t so pretty. U.S. researchers
have found that one in eight of the 82,000 ingredients used in cosmetic and personal care products are hazardous industrial chemicals. This means that 10,500 industrial
chemicals are used as cosmetic ingredients, many of which are
carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, endocrine disruptors,
plasticizers (chemicals that keep concrete soft), degreasers (used to
get grime off auto parts), and surfactants (they reduce surface tension
in water, like in paint and inks). And these go on our skin and into the
environment.
Did you know that everyday chemical exposure is among the leading causes of the most common cases of chronic disease in America?
What Happens To Your Body When You Switch or Stop Using Cosmetic Products
A new study led by researchers at UC Berkeley and Clinica de Salud del Valle Salinas has demonstrated how taking even a short break from various cosmetics, shampoos, and other personal care products can lead to a substantial drop in the levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals present within the body.
The results from the study were published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
Researchers gave 100 Latina teenagers various personal care products
that were labelled to be free of common chemicals including phthalates,
parabens, triclosan, and oxybenzone. These chemicals are used regularly
in almost all conventional personal care products such as cosmetics,
soap, sunscreen, shampoo, conditioner, and other hair products, and
animal studies have shown that they directly interfere with the body’s
endocrine system.
“Because women are the primary consumers
of many personal care products, they may be disproportionately exposed
to these chemicals,” said
study lead author Kim Harley, Associate Director of the UC Berkeley
Center for Environmental Research and Children’s Health. “Teen girls may
be at particular risk since it’s a time of rapid reproductive
development, and research has suggested that they use more personal care
products per day than the average adult woman.”
Results
After just a three-day trial with the
girls using only the lower-chemical products, urine samples showed a
significant drop in the level of chemicals in the body. Methyl and
propyl parabens, commonly used as preservatives in cosmetics, dropped
44% and 45%, respectively, while metabolites of diethyl phthalate, used
often in perfumes, dropped by 27%, and both triclosan and benzophenone-3
fell 36%. The authors of the study were surprised to see an increase in
two lesser common parabens, but those levels were small and could
easily be caused by accidental contamination or a substitute not listed
on the labels.
Co-director of the study Kimberly Parra explains why having local youths participate in the study was of particular importance:
The results of the study are particularly interesting on a scientific level, but the fact that high school students led the study set a new path to engaging youth to learn about science and how it can be used to improve the health of their communities. After learning of the results, the youth took it upon themselves to educate friends and community members, and presented their cause to legislatures in Sacramento.
Included in the CHAMACOS Youth Council
were 12 local high school students who helped design and implement the
study; one of the teen researchers, Maritza Cárdenas, is now a UC
Berkely Undergraduate majoring in molecular and cell biology.
“One of the goals of our study was to
create awareness among the participants of the chemicals found in
everyday products, to help make people more conscious about what they’re
using,” said
Cárdenas. “Seeing the drop in chemical levels after just three days
shows that simple actions can be taken, such as choosing products with
fewer chemicals, and make a difference.”
What Can You Do?
Well, you can be sure to check the
labels on any products you purchase. Most personal care products contain
a list of ingredients, but unfortunately many cosmetics do not. If you
use a particular brand that you really love you can try contacting the
manufacturer directly and asking them for an ingredient list.
You can also opt for more natural and
organic products, but be sure to keep in mind that in the industry of
personal care products, the words “natural” and “organic” are often
meaningless. A safe bet would be to buy these products from a health
food store and be sure to read the ingredients or ask the sales clerk.
Generally, when products do not contain specific chemicals, the
manufacturers are happy to label them as such.
Because actually natural and organic
products can be a bit more pricey, you may want to consider making your
own. You can make a wide array of completely natural personal care
products quite easily with just a few ingredients. Not only is this
cheaper, but it allows you to be sure of every ingredient that will go
on your body and to customize your creations to suit your specific
needs. Check out “Top 5 DIY Everyday Personal Care Products” for some great homemade make-up ideas, or try a quick Google or Pinterest search!
The less demand for these
chemically-laden products there is, the less these chemicals will be
used. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: VOTE WITH YOUR DOLLAR! We have the power to create the type of world we want. Be the change.
Check out The Story Of Cosmetics below!
Sources:(1) http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1205518/
(2)http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/2013/05/02/toxic-metals-in-lipstick/
http://www.naturalnews.com/040281_lipstick_heavy_metals_cadmium.html
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