Poison in a Pretty Bottle

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at some of the chemicals contained in cosmetics and the dangers they pose to our health. The author explains that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is extremely lax in their requirements with respect to cosmetic products and does not even have the authority to take a harmful product off the market unless the manufacturer voluntarily recalls that product. The author describes the use and effects of some of the most harmful ingredients, such as phthalates, lead and 1,4-Dioxane. The paper concludes that until the FDA approaches the EU's elevated health standards, American consumers are better off doing their own research before buying such products, and making an extra effort to make their concerns known to the government and demand changes.

From the Paper:

"In comparison with the European Union's Cosmetic Directive, the FDA is failing miserably in keeping up with personal care safety standards. Currently, the FDA has only prohibited 9 toxic ingredients from being included in cosmetics, while the EU has banned over 1,000. To aggravate the issue, the Cosmetics Ingredients Review, an organization that works with the FDA, "reviewed just 11 percent of the 10,500 cosmetic ingredients cataloged by the FDA, [while the] 89 percent of ingredients that remain unassessed are used in more than 99 percent of all products on the market" (Inspired Living)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Environmental Working Group. "Cosmetic Industry Approves Controversial Chemicals." 20 Nov. 2002. http://www.ewg.org/node/15066
• Find Law. "L'Oreal Lipstick Laden With Lead, Suit Says." 30 Jan. 2008. http://news.findlaw.com/andrews/en/tox/20080130/20080130_frye.html
• Ginsberg, Dr. Gary, and Brian Toal, M.S.P.H. What's Toxic, What's Not. New York: Penguin Book, 2006.
• Inspired Living. "Cosmetic Industry On Notice: FDA Issues Warning on Untested Products." 7 Mar. 2005. http://www.inspiredliving.com/organic/FDAwarning.htm
• The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. "A Poison Kiss: The Problem of Lead in Lipstick." Oct. 2007. http://www.safecosmetics.org/docUploads/A%20Poison%20Kiss.pdf

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