Cosmetics, Cancer, and Reproductive Toxicity
Black women have the highest mortality rate from breast cancer and have high rates of cervical cancer. For Black women to have control over our reproductive health, it is important to focus on preventative measures such as regulating our environmental and personal exposure to chemicals known to be linked to cancer and birth defects. Many cosmetic ingredients and personal care products contain phthlates, a compound named a "reproductive toxin" by the National Toxicology Program (NTP). The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment determined that some of these compounds are reproductive toxins and carcinogenic. An astonishing one-third of all cosmetic products contain one or more ingredients with a potential link to cancer. At least four ingredients such as dibutyl phthalate, lead acetate, and toluene have been linked to birth defects and reproductive harm and are used in personal care products. The NTP has described "clear evidence of adverse impacts" listing severe birth defects and low birth weight as potential outcomes for the children of exposed females.
There is no Federal Drug Administration oversight for the companies that make the cosmetics and personal care products. Instead, a self-regulatory body called the Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel is used. Testing of the product ingredients is voluntary and controlled by manufacturers. Therefore, an astounding, eighty-nine percent of the ingredients in cosmetic products have not been evaluated for safety by any publicly accountable body. Fifty-four products violate their own Review panels' safety recommendations, including products for babies and damaged skin. Although the European Union banned two of the toxic compounds in products in the EU in 2004, and cosmetic companies have found viable alternatives to using these chemicals, manufacturers have yet to extend the same safer products to the U.S. consumers.
Women who work in, or receive services in, nail and beauty salons are frequently being exposed to large quantities of these reproductive toxins. Advocates contend that women who are exposed may suffer short and long term illness due to prolonged exposure to these chemicals. Pregnant women are at extremely high risk when exposed in these settings.
In order to address these risks to women's reproductive health, The Breast Cancer Fund, Breast Cancer Action, the Environmental Trust, and Senator Carole Migden are sponsoring a Bill, SB 484, that would:
- require cosmetics manufacturers to disclose ingredients linked to cancer and reproductive harm;
- give the Department of Health Services (DHS) added authority to review the health and safety of such ingredients;
- allow DHS to promulgate health and safety standards based on their investigations;
- immediately require a review of ingredients and ingredient combinations that the industry's own Cosmetics Ingredient Review panel have declared unsafe.
On July 6th, the bill was read for a second time, amended, and re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations. If passed, proponents hope that this Bill will lead the way to safer products and work places for many women. In order to safeguard Black women's health from cancer and reproductive harm, it is important to have safe products from which to choose.
Sources
The National Environmental Trust, Breast Cancer Action, the Breast Cancer Fund, National Toxicology Program (NTP), Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Reproduction, and the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Reproductive and Cancer Hazard Assessment.