Reduce your risk
Use fewer cosmetics and personal care
products, and less often;
Avoid fragranced products, which may
include numerous ingredients;
Avoid skin creams and other products which
contain UV filters, unless for use as
sunscreens;
Avoid using aerosols (e.g. deodorants, hair
sprays) that can be inhaled or leave
deposits on domestic surfaces;
Use toiletries low in additives and avoid
chlorinated items; and,
Check the list of ingredients and try to avoid
products which contain any of the chemicals
listed in this leaflet.
What are we calling for?
Breast Cancer UK is calling for the tougher
regulation of chemicals to help protect public
health; the revision of the EU cosmetics
regulation to restrict EDCs from use in products;
and, the use of UV filters be restricted to
sunscreens and not permitted for use as a
preservative in everyday cosmetics products,
such as skin lotion.
s. We recommend to anyone who will listen
to us.
Guide to cosmetics and personal care products
© Breast Cancer UK (2015)
BM Box 7767
London
WC1N 3XX
Breast Cancer UK is a registered charity in England and
Wales (1138866) Registered company number (7348408)
Registered address: BCUK Ltd, Solva, Southwick Road,
Denmead, Waterlooville, Hants PO7 6LA
Breast Cancer UK works to save lives and reduce breast cancer rates by tackling the environmental and chemicals causes of the disease.
For more information on how to reduce your
risk or how harmful chemicals are linked to
breast cancer please visit our website
www.breastcanceruk.org.uk
Selected references
Konduracka, E. et al. (2014). Relationship between everyday use cosmetics and female breast cancer. Polish Archives of Internal Medicine 124 (5): 264-269.
UNEP/WHO (2013). State of the science of endocrine disrupting chemicals 2012: full report.
Myers, S. L. et al. (2015). Estrogenic and anti-estrogenic activity of off-the-shelf hair and skin care products. Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology 25(3): 271-277.
Scranton, A. (2014). Beauty and its Beast. Unmasking the Impacts of toxic chemicals on salon workers. Women’s voices for Earth, November, 2014.
Darbre, P. D. and Charles, A. K. (2010). Environmental Oestrogens and Breast Cancer: Evidence for Combined Involvement of Dietary, Household and Cosmetic Xenoestrogens. Anticancer Research 30: 815-828.
A complete list of references and a more detailed
Information Sheet on Cosmetics and Personal
Hygiene Products can be found on our website at
www.breastcanceruk.org.uk
Disclaimer: This work in no way claims to be a comprehensive treatment of the subject of all chemicals associated with breast cancers. Breast Cancer UK has used all reasonable endeavours to ensure that the content of this leaflet is correct at the time of publishing, but no warranty is given to that effect nor any liability accepted for any loss or damage arising from the use of this leaflet.
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Cosmetic ingredients with links to other health problems
UV filters
UV filters such as benzophenones, ethylhexyl
methoxycinnamate and homosalate are added
to sunscreen products to protect skin against the
damaging effects of UV light. They are also added
to other products to protect from UV damage during
storage. They are oestrogenic and build up in fat tissue
(bioaccumulate). They can increase skin penetration of
certain chemicals including those that are toxic.
Siloxanes
Siloxanes are inactive ingredients used in sun
lotions and creams. One of the most commonly
used, octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, is a weak
oestrogen mimic, linked with reproductive
disorders in animal studies. It also bioaccumulates
and is toxic.
Ethanolamines
These include triethanolamine (TEA) and
monoethanolamine (MEA) and are used to raise
pH (control acidity) and as emulsifiers. TEA is used
in makeup, fragrances, hair care, skin care and
shaving products and sunscreens. MEA is used in
hair dyes. TEA is mildly toxic. The EU prohibits
diethanolamine (DEA) in cosmetics and restricts the
use of MEA and TEA due to potential cancer risk.
What to look out for?
Parabens
Used as preservatives (e.g in shampoo, face
creams and body lotions) to lengthen shelf life but
have no specific cosmetic purpose. Look for:
butylparaben, methylparaben, ethylparaben and
propylparaben on ingredients lists. Parabens
are known EDCs and may be linked to breast cancer.
Phthalates
Used as solvents for fragrance, to hold colour and
to make the alcohol in perfumes undrinkable. Only
Diethyl phthalate (DEP) is used in the EU.
Found in perfume, nail polish and hair spray, DEP
is an EDC and may be linked to breast cancer.
Triclosan
Used in antibacterial soaps, deodorants and
toothpastes as a preservative and to reduce
bacterial growth. It’s an oestrogen mimic which
may be linked to breast cancer.
Synthetic musks
Used as fragrances in perfumes, cosmetics and
aftershave. Polycyclic musks, galaxolide (HHBC)
and tonalide (AHTN) are EDCs and nitro musk,
musk ketone is oestrogenic and may be linked
to breast cancer.
Aluminium
Used in antiperspirants and deodorants, lipstick
and some toothpastes. Aluminium chloride and
aluminium chlorohydrate are oestrogen mimics
and limited scientific evidence suggests they may
be associated with increased breast cancer risk.
Formaldehyde
Used at restricted concentrations as a nail
hardener, in soaps and make-up in the form of
formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (e.g.
DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea,
imidazolidinyl urea and Quaternium-15).
Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and has
been linked to increased breast cancer risk.
Cosmetic regulations in the EU
The EU has some of the best chemicals
regulations in the world. Despite this, many
cosmetics and personal care products can still
contain chemicals, including endocrine disrupting
chemicals (EDCs), which can cause adverse
health effects, and some are potentially linked to
breast cancer.
What are EDCs?
EDCs can affect the body’s hormones. They may
be harmful even at very low concentrations, or
may interact with other chemicals to cause harm.
Most chemicals on the market have not been
tested for their endocrine disrupting properties.
Some ingredients used in cosmetics are known or
suspected EDCs that mimic oestrogens.
Oestrogens stimulate breast cell growth and
proliferation. They also contribute to the
proliferation of damaged cells and potentially
increase the likelihood of mutations which may
lead to breast cancer. Certain chemicals found in
cosmetics interfere with oestrogen levels in the
body and may lead to changes in breast tissue,
which have been associated with an increased
risk of breast cancer.
Look carefully at ingredients lists on cosmetics
Some personal care products can contain chemicals
which can have adverse health effects.
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