Toxicity of Personal Care Products

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

Christine GirtainToms River HS South

NJESTA Board Memberhttp://www.njesta.org/

cgirtain@trschools.com

Myth – FDA promptly recalls any product that injures people

Fact – FDA has no authority to require recalls of harmful cosmetics◦Manufacturers are not required to report cosmetics-related injuries to FDA

◦FDA relies on companies to report injuries voluntarily (FDA 2005)

More than 500 products sold in the U.S. contain ingredients banned in cosmetics in Japan, Canada or the European Union (EWG 2007b)

Nearly 100 products contain ingredients considered unsafe by the International Fragrance Association (EWG 2007c)

Oxybenzone◦In 60% of sunscreens ◦Potential hormone disruptor ◦Readily penetrates the skin and contaminates the bodies of 97% of Americans (EWG 2010, Calafat et al. 2008)

Lead ◦61% of tested lipstick brands contain residues

◦ (CSC 2007)

ObjectivesUse data base of personal care

products to research an individual’s exposure ◦17 different categories See Table 1

Graph personal multiple exposures to identify and individual’s greatest risk category

ObjectivesEncourage students to be more

conscience of their product decisions

Discuss possible effects of student product choices

Product Toxicity Rating Scale

Banana Boat Sport Performance

Use tick marks to tally the # of ingredients in your products that are linked to:Issues: Tally MarksCancerDevelopmental/reproductive toxicityNeurotoxicityEndocrine DisruptionAllergies/ImmunotoxicityIrritaitonOrgan system ToxicityPersistence & Bioaccumulation

Issues: Tally MarksCancerDevelopmental/reproductive toxicityNeurotoxicityEndocrine DisruptionAllergies/ImmunotoxicityIrritaitonOrgan system ToxicityPersistence & Bioaccumulation

1

11

11

Cancer

Develop/re

pro toxic

ity

Neurotoxicity

Endocrine Disr

uption

Allergies/I

mmun

Irrita

iton

Organ syste

m Toxicity

Persist

& Bioaccum 0

10203040506070

Total Hazard Exposures from Personal Care Product Use

# of

Exp

osur

es