Is there poison in your lipstick?A special feature on the ‘dirty chemicals’ in cosmetics

This feature is for

our loved ones who are battling with cancer,

those who struggled and won,

and those who have lost the battle;

for all of us, and for the protection of our children

Living in a world with cancerThe World Health Organization reports that in 2012, cancer is one of the leading causes of sickness and death worldwide. An estimated 14 million cases were diagnosed while 8.2 million died of various forms of cancer in the same year.

Among men, the 5 most common sites of cancer diagnosed in 2012 were lung, prostate, colorectum, stomach, and liver cancer.

Among women the 5 most common sites diagnosed were breast, colorectum, lung, cervix, and stomach cancer.

Around one third of cancer deaths are due to the 5 leading behavioural and dietary risks: high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, alcohol use. Source: WHO. “Cancer” Link: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/

Living in a world with cancerIn the Philippines, the life expectancy at birth for both Filipino men and women decreased by 1 year between 2000 and 2012; whereas average life expectancy at birth in Asia Pacific increased by 4 years during the same period.

In 2012, health expectancy among Filipinos was 9 years less than the life expectancy at birth, owing to illnesses and untimely causes of death. Source: “Philippines: WHO Statistical Profile” http://www.who.int/gho/countries/phl.pdf?ua=1

Sources: 1. “Philippines: WHO Statistical Profile” http://www.who.int/gho/countries/phl.pdf?ua=1 2. Source: “World Health Organization - Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD) Country Profiles , 2014. Link: http://www.who.int/nmh/countries/phl_en.pdf?ua=1

The probability of dying between ages 30 and 70 years from the 4 main Non-Communicable Diseases (cancer, diabetes, cardiovasculad disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is 28%)

How is cancer affecting Filipinos?

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What’s going on?

These chemicals are all around us: the soaps we bathe our kids with, the creams we lather on our skin day and night, the detergent we wash our clothes with. It’s in the food that we eat!

Many have been linked to increasing risks for chronic and life-threatening diseases.

BHA

Why we have to be concernedThese dirty chemicals: 1. Bioaccumulate. Our bodies are not designed to metabolize them, neither is the environment ready to degrade them. What that means: these chemicals only keep adding up in our system and the environment, and even get passed on from mother-to-child during pregnancy. When it reaches a toxic level, you get chronically ill (cancer, organ failure, etc.) and then you die.

Why we have to be concernedThese dirty chemicals: 2. Disrupt the normal functioning of our vital organs. A number of these chemicals are considered to be ‘endocrine disrupting’ (EDCs). Our endocrine system commands our hormones to turn on or off our vital body processes. Some of the adverse effects of EDCs are: increased risk of women to estrogen-related cancers, most especially breast and ovarian cancers; earlier onset of menarche, or first menstuation, among girls which increases their risk for cancer; and, increased occurrence of reproductive health problems.

Why we have to be concernedThese dirty chemicals: 3. Increase our risk for acquiring cancer. According to the World Health Organization: • Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, with 12.7 million new cases

and 7.6 million deaths in 2008. • Globally, 19% of all cancers are attributable to the environment, including

work setting resulting in 1.3 million deaths each year. • Air pollution caused 165 000 lung cancer deaths globally in 2004 of

which:

108 000 were caused by outdoor air pollution 36 000 were due to solid fuels used for cooking and heating 21 000 were due to second-hand smoke. • UV radiation was estimated to cause 60 000 deaths in 2002 of which:

48 000 were melanomas 12 000 were basal and squamous skin carcinomas. s Source: “Environmental and occupational cancers” WHO. 2011. Link: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs350/en/

Why we have to be concernedThese dirty chemicals: 4. Endanger our lives and decrease our quality of life. These chemicals make us sick and make us weak. When we our unhealthy, our productivity suffers. Then, our families take the brunt of the consequences — taking care of sick family members, and spending more for healthcare. With more families suffering, the communities where we live in suffer as well as economic activities slow down or, decline.

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How can we avoid these chemicals?

Frankly, it’s not easy but, we can try. There are too many toxic

chemicals, making this list not comprehensive but, it’s a

start.

The first step is to be better informed. The next step is to

eliminate products that contain these from your grocery list.

Following are some of the basic things you must know about these chemicals.

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PEGs

How can we avoid these chemicals?

1. Polyethylene Glycols. These chemicals are commonly used in creams to enhance skin penetration of cream formulas. The danger is two-fold. First, these chemicals, on their own, can be toxic. In fact, some studies have recommended that these must not be used on wounded or injured skin. Second, these can be easily contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a common manufacturing by-product that has been listed as a carcinogen.

How can we avoid these chemicals?

2. Parabens. These are derived from petrochemicals and typically added to cosmetics as preservatives. Several studies have associated parabens to reproductive cancers in both women (breast cancer most especially) and men.

Parabens

How can we avoid these chemicals?

3. Phthalates. These chemicals act as plasticizers. Phthalates are commonly found in perfumes and nail polish. These are also found in children’s toys and pacifiers, and kitchen plastic wares. Phthalates have been linked to infertility and low sperm count among men, and early onset of menstruation in young girls.

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How can we avoid these chemicals?

4. Sodium Laureate Sulfate. This is the chemical that create the foam in your shampoos and detergents. It is added as cleansing agents. The risk for contamination with 1,4-dioxane, a carcinogen, is high for this chemical.

Sodium laureth sulfate

How can we avoid these chemicals?

5. UV filters. Chemical sunscreens are laden with chemical actives such as benzophenones, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, homosalate, oxybenzone and octinoxate. Cosmetics that contain SPF protection often also include these chemicals in their formulation. These are hormone disrupters which mimic estrogen. As a result, reproductive processes fail to function as they should.

BHA

UV filters

How can we avoid these chemicals?

5. Triclosan. These are added to toothpastes, soaps and other personal care and household goods as an antimicrobial component. Triclosan has been observed to cause abnormal thyroid and reproductive organ functioning. The US Food and Drug Administration has already released a statement banning its use in soaps and body wash.

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How can we avoid these chemicals?

6. Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). These chemicals can be found in moisturizers and makeup products. BHA is a suspected carcinogen, while BHT is a suspected EDC. BHA has been banned for use in fragrances by the European Union.

BHA

BHT

How can we avoid these chemicals?

7. Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing substances. Formaldehyde, the same chemical used to preserve cadavers, is also used as preservatives in cosmetics and as a nail hardener in nail polish. It is also found in toilet cleaners and building construction materials. Formaldehyde is classified as carcinogenic and increases risk for breast cancer. Some of the well-identified formaldehyde-releasing substances are methenamine, diazolidinyl urea, and Quaternium-15.

Formaldehyde

How can we avoid these chemicals?

8. p-phenylenediamine and colors. These are used in hair dyes and give color to lipsticks, eyeshadows and other color cosmetics. Majority are derived from coal tar, a carcinogen, and are at high risk of becoming contaminated with metals. Several hair dye components are suspected carcinogens as well, cause gene mutations, and are well known skin allergens. When accidentally ingested, these can be fatal. Other associated chemicals which are just as toxic are ammonia and lead acitate.

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How can we avoid these chemicals?9. Petrolatum. It’s the age old petroleum jelly that you trust with your baby’s delicate skin, the same one your mother and your grandmother trusted decades ago. Unlike other chemicals in this list, this one can be tricky. The danger lies in the high likelihood of petrolatum contamination with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) which are classified as carcinogens. When petrolatum is contaminated, it can be highly irritating.

Here’s the surprise. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit watchdog of consumer products safety, evaluated Vaseline Petroleum Jelly and gave it a grade of “1” or “low hazard”. Petroleum jelly can do wonderful things to your skin. It increases the skin’s moisture content and helps revive the skin’s natural healing functions. Just make sure you got the right product to take care of your skin and that of your children.

Petrolatum

How can we avoid these chemicals?10. Diethanolamine (DEA). This chemical is widely use in shampoos, soaps and cleansers. It adds foam to products. These are highly reactive chemicals that can easily change chemical composition to produce carcinogenic nitrosamines.

DEA

How can we avoid these chemicals?11. Aluminum. Used as anti-perspirants, color stabilizers, and thickeners, aluminum is most commonly found in underarm deodorants, lipstick and other color cosmetics. Aluminum is a metal that has been observed to be endocrine disrupting and is feared to increase the risk of women for acquiring breast cancer.

Aluminium

How can we avoid these chemicals?12. Siloxanes. These are silicones added to make products glide more easily on skin. These are the chemicals that give a silky feel when you apply your lotion and moisturizer. Chemicals with -siloxanes and -cone endings have been observed to be endocrine-disrupting. Some have been associated with cancers; some have been found to affect immune response; while others are feared to be neurotoxic.

Siloxanes

How can we avoid these chemicals?13. Ethanolamines. Considered to be potentially carcinogenic, these chemicals are used as pH adjusters and emulsifiers in a wide range of personal care products, including makeup, sunscreen and perfumes.

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How can we avoid these chemicals?14. Fragrance. There are literally thousands of chemicals that are considered fragrance or masking ingredients. Many have been observed to cause cancer and neurotoxicity. Fragrance ingredients are among the most irritating substances to cause skin problems and asthma.Fr

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Is there poison in your lipstick?Time to find out.