Toxic Toiletries

1. Toxic Toiletries Vanity Will Be the Death of You…. ….Or Not

2. Is the cosmetic counter really a dangerous place? • Toxins abound • Carcinogens are everywhere • Serious risks • Irritation or Allergic reaction • Swelling and Lesions • Contact dermatitis • Flushing • Headaches • Dizziness • Nausea • Diarrhea • Hair loss • Vomiting

3. More serious Hyper/hypo-pigmentation Violent coughing Labored breathing Eye “problems” and damage Disruption of cell development Destruction of proteins and cellular structure Premature aging Mental depression Even Scarier Depletion of Oxygen Damage to the immune system Respiratory damage Reproductive damage Brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities Corrosion Narcosis Death Not serious enough to scare you?

4. Says Who? • Kim Erickson – author of Drop Dead Gorgeous: Protecting Yourself from the Hidden Dangers of Cosmetics • Aubrey Hampton – author of Ten Synthetic Cosmetic Ingredients to Avoid – www.organicconsumers.org • http://bestchoice.itgo.com/dangers_top10.htm10 Common, Harmful Ingredients In Personal Care Products • Ruth Winter – author of A Consumer’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients

5. Chlorine Parabens – methyl, ethyl, butyl, propyl Dibutyl Pthalate DMDM hydantoin Mono- and Di- and Tri- ethanolamine Diazolidinyl and imidiazolidinyl urea Isopropyl alcohol Mineral oil Petrolatum Phenol Propylene glycol Polyethylene glycol Quaternium-15 Talc Synthetic colors Synthetic fragrances PVP/VA Copolymer Toxins

6. Some interesting claims…. • Synthetic colors are carcinogens, and can be associate with cancers such as leukemia and respiratory disease. • The colors are derived from coal tar – a poisonous , volatile substance • There is no regulation • Natural colorants are much better

7. Do the Math • Assumptions • Product is 33% color • Color can only be 5% coal “stuff” • Average container is 1.7 oz • Lasts 4 months 1.7oz / 120 days = 0.014oz / day 0.014oz/day x (5% of 33%) = 0.000231 oz/day 0.000231oz/day x 352 day x 50 years =

8. 4.1 oz of coal tar in 50 years Espresso, anyone?

9. Preservatives • Release formaldehyde as they degrade • Can cause cancer, dizziness, mood swings, and reproductive damage • Use Vitamins A, C, and E, and grape-seed extract instead • FDA says…. No!

10. Math, Again • Similar assumptions as before • Toxicity amount is 250mg/kg/day in the first 8 days of gestation for RATS • Average woman is 70 kilosaverage eye shadow is 3 grams w/ 7% toxic 250mg/kg x 70kg x g/1000mg = 17.5g 17.5g / (7% of 3g) =

11. 83 Eyeshadows!!!

12. Pure Pseudo-Science • Cherry-picking data • Misrepresentation of Sources • Gross extrapolation

13. Funnies On the dangers of talc: “Talc can be acutely dangerous to an infant when the container tips over in a child’s face. The powder can suffocate a child, and may result in death.” (17) And on the effects on SLS and SLES: “...in tests, animals that were exposed to SLS experienced eye damage, along with depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, severe skin irritation and corrosion and death." (22)

14. Quotes from research that were conveniently left out: • Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, "Exempt colorants are inherently neither more nor less safe than certified colorants...We may consider them as less hazardous because we perceive them as "natural." ...like all color additives, they are fabricated products." (13) • Finnish researchers studying eye shadow: “The overall results indicate that eye-shadows probably have no significant systemic toxicological effects.” (7) • On talc, the FDA has ruled, “Exemption from certification. Certification of this color additive is not necessary for the protection of the public health…” (16)

15. Final Assessment Although nothing can be absolutely proven to be safe, regulations and agencies are in place to provide the safest consumer environment possible, so stop it already.

16. Bibliography • 1. Counter Intelligence: Synthetic-free cosmetics are gentle to your skin and boast earth-friendly benefits, March 2003, Delicious Living magazine. • 2. Mutation Research, 2002, vol. 514, no. 1-2. • 3. American Journal of Epidemiology, 2000, vol. 152, no. 4. • 4. Reproductive Toxicology, 2000, vol. 14, no.1. • 5. Risk Analysis, 2000, vol. 20, no.1. • 6. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2001, vol. 39, no.12. • 7. Contact Dermatitis, 2000, vol. 42, no.1. • 8. Contact Dermatitis, 2000, vol. 43, no.1. • 9. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 2002, vol. 50, no.1. • 10. International Journal of Developmental Biology, 1997, vol. 41, no.2. • 11. U. S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Cosmetics and Colors Fact Sheet, July 30, 2001. sub-source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA CONSUMER, December 1993, http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/colorfac.html • 12. Summary of Color Additives Listed for Use in the United States in Foods, Drugs, Cosmetics, and Medical Devices http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms • 13. Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology: 925, Vol. 6. John Wiley & Sons, 1993. • 14. Cosmetic Colorants, by Kristen Anderson. • http://www.healthwell.com/hnbreakthroughs/apr98/colorants.cfm?path=hw&cond=95&mcat=63 • 15. Source for example of FDA guidelines: • http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/04nov20031500/edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2001/aprqtr/21cfr74.101.htm • 16. Source for talc from FDA: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/cf731550.html • 17. Children's Health Environmental Coalition, HealtheHouse http://www.checnet.org/healthehouse/chemicals/chemicals-detail-print.asp?Main_ID=2 • 18. http://www.elcompanies.com/htm/frm_m1.htm • 19. CIR: http://www.cir-safety.org • 20. CIR: http://www.cir-safety.org/staff_files/alerts.pdf • 21. CIR: http://www.cir-safety.org/staff_files/phthalates_summary.pdf • 22. http://bestchoice.itgo.com/dangers_top10.htm  • 23. http://www.aubrey-organics.com/about/treat_10synth.cfm