The research team,
lead by Dr. Katharine Hammond at the University of California, Berkeley tested
32 different lip glosses and lipsticks commonly sold at drug and department
stores. Researchers estimated risk based
on the concentration of the metals detected and users' potential daily
intake. They compared that information
with existing public health guidelines about acceptable intake levels of lead
and other heavy metals.
Some metals were
detected at levels that could raise potential health concerns. Lead was found in 24 of the 32 products, but
at a concentration usually lower than the acceptable daily intake levels for
adults. However, the researchers
cautioned lead levels in these products might be unsafe for children wearing or
playing with them. Lead exposure can
cause developmental and neurological problems.
It has also been linked to elevated levels of diabetes. When used at an average daily rate, the
estimated intake of chromium from 10 products exceeded acceptable daily intake.
Chromium has been linked to stomach tumors. The researchers also found that high
lip product use, multiple daily applications, could result in overexposure to
aluminum, cadmium and manganese. High manganese levels have been linked to
nervous system problems. In the study,
certain colors were not more likely than others to have the toxic metals nor
did glosses and lipsticks systematically differ in their content of heavy metals.
The FDA regulates
cosmetics safety under the authority of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic
Act. The FDA does not set limits for lead or other metals in cosmetics but has
set specifications for the lead content specifically in the color additives
that are used in cosmetics.
What to do: Consider using lip
cosmetics less frequently. Pregnant
women and children should be especially cautious about their exposure to lead and
heavy metals. Look for products that
specify they contain no heavy metals such as those often found at natural food
type stores. Many manufacturers have
additional information about the contents of their products listed on their
website and the FDA also does list on its website the lead content (though not
that of other metals) of many lipsticks.
In general, it is important to remember that while not food, we do
ingest some portion of products we use on our lips and in oral hygiene. For those with food allergies, especially gluten
or soy allergies, it is also wise to check online either at the manufacturers’
sites or allergen information sites to make sure products do not contain the
problem ingredients.
Adapted from articles available at:
Source:
Liu S, Hammond SK, Rojas-Cheatham A. Concentrations
and Potential Health Risks of Metals in Lip Products. Environmental
Health Perspectives, 2013 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1205518. Available at:
http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1205518/
No comments:
Post a Comment