Transcript Toxic Toiletries - Physics at SMU - Dedman College

Toxic Toiletries
Vanity Will Be the Death of You….
….Or Not
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
Not serious enough to scare
you?
More serious
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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
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.htm
10 Common, Harmful Ingredients In Personal Care
Products
 Ruth Winter – author of A Consumer’s Dictionary of
Cosmetic Ingredients
Toxins
• Chlorine
• Parabens – methyl,
ethyl, butyl, propyl
• Dibutyl Pthalate
• DMDM hydantoin
• Mono- and Di- and Triethanolamine
• Diazolidinyl and
imidiazolidinyl urea
• Isopropyl alcohol
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Mineral oil
Petrolatum
Phenol
Propylene glycol
Polyethylene glycol
Quaternium-15
Talc
Synthetic colors
Synthetic fragrances
PVP/VA Copolymer
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
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 =
4.1 oz
of coal tar in 50 years
Espresso, anyone?
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!
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) =
83
Eyeshadows!!!
Pure Pseudo-Science
Cherry-picking data
Misrepresentation of
Sources
Gross extrapolation
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)
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)
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.
Bibliography
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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-detailprint.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