Potentially Toxic Chemicals PFAS Are Common in Cosmetics, Study Finds

A wide range of cosmetics available in the United States and Canada contain high levels of potentially toxic chemicals, raising questions about corporate and federal regulatory transparency and the importance of consumer education.

For the study, which was published in Environmental Science and Technology Letters in June 2021, scientists tested 231 cosmetic products – including concealer, eye make-up, foundations, lip color, and mascara – for fluorine, a marker for polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). . Overall, 52 percent of these products were high in fluorine, suggesting that the cosmetics are likely to be high in PFAS. PFAS have been linked to many health problems, including high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, infertility, and certain types of cancer.

Some types of makeup have been tested for higher PFAS levels than others. Laboratory tests found high fluorine levels in 82 percent of waterproof mascaras, 63 percent of foundations, and 62 percent of liquid lipsticks.

The study results also suggest that consumers may not have a way of knowing if they are being exposed. Overall, only 8 percent of cosmetics that were identified as containing PFAS in laboratory tests had ingredients that contain these chemicals listed as ingredients on the label.

“These results are particularly worrying when you consider the risk of consumer exposure combined with the size and scale of a multi-billion dollar industry that supplies these products to millions of consumers every day,” says lead study author Graham Peaslee, PhD , Professor of Physics at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

People who unknowingly apply PFAS to their face while wearing makeup can potentially ingest these chemicals through the skin or tear ducts, or through inhalation or ingestion, depending on how the products are applied, says Dr. Peaslee.

“PFAS is a persistent chemical – when it gets into the bloodstream it stays there and builds up,” adds Peaslee. “There is also an additional risk of environmental pollution from the manufacture and disposal of these products, which could affect many more people.”

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Potential Health Risks from PFAS Chemicals

PFAS are man-made chemicals that have been found in a wide variety of consumer products for decades, including non-stick cookware, fire retardants, and fast food packaging. In addition to consumer products, people can be exposed to airborne PFAS, indoor dust, and food and water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Like the most recent study, previous research into the potential health risks of PFAS has not been able to clearly demonstrate that the chemicals directly cause certain medical problems. However, previous studies suggest that exposure to high levels of certain PFAS can lead to a number of health problems, according to the CDC. These include:

• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy)
• Low birth weight
• Decreased vaccination response in children
• Certain types of cancer

Some research also suggests that exposure to PFAS may be linked to an increased risk of chronic health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and asthma.

For example, a study published in The Lancet Planetary Health in February 2019 linked prenatal PFAS exposure to impaired lung function in children. Another study published in Diabetes Care in July 2019 linked PFAS exposure to an increased risk of diabetes. And a study published in Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry in May 2020 linked PFAS exposure to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and certain liver diseases.

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New draft law would ban PFAS in the US

Consumers looking to avoid PFAS in their cosmetics may not be able to do so, says Peaslee. That’s because the study didn’t identify any major makeup brands that were completely PFAS-free.

In response to Peaslee’s study, the “No PFAS in Cosmetics Act” was introduced in the US House and Senate on June 15, according to a press release. This legislation would direct the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to propose a rule prohibiting the intentional addition of PFAS to cosmetics.

As things stand, labels can be deceiving, says Xindi Hu, ScD, environmental health researcher at Mathematica.

Products that claim to be chemical-free, organic, clean, or all-natural could still contain PFAS, and there is no foolproof way for consumers to realize this, says Dr. Hu. While in the USA, for example, criteria for labeling as organic food are set, there is no such regulation for cosmetics.

“I’m not sure if brands are PFAS-free, but hopefully manufacturers who are confident of their manufacturing process can report this themselves if this topic gets more attention,” says Hu. “However, the necessary regulatory oversight is still required.”

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How to limit PFAS exposure from cosmetics

Not using makeup is the only safe way to avoid exposure to PFAS in cosmetics, but consumers can try to reduce their risk by limiting the amount and frequency of makeup use, Hu says. Make-up-free days might help.

“You can also consider removing the makeup shortly after you return,” Hu suggests. “And with lipsticks, it’s a good idea to wipe them off before you drink or eat to reduce exposure from ingestion.”

The study results also suggest that consumers should try to avoid products labeled as waterproof, durable, or abrasion resistant, says Peaslee.

Consumers can also turn to EWG’s Healthy Living, an app released by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a research and advocacy group, to provide consumers with safety information about cosmetics, says Leonardo Trasande, MD, director of the Center for the Investigation of Environmental Hazards at New York University in New York City.

This free app is also available online. It uses an ingredient database built from product labeling information as well as independent toxicological and regulatory reports to produce hazard ratings (0-10), with lower ratings indicating safer products with fewer ingredients that are associated with health problems. Consumers can scan product barcodes or enter the names of brands or specific products for safety ratings.

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source https://dailyhealthynews.ca/potentially-toxic-chemicals-pfas-are-common-in-cosmetics-study-finds/