Toxic Chemicals Found in Face Pain
October 27, 2009
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
PRNewswire-USNewswire
Ghosts and goblins aren't the only spooky things lurking around this Halloween.
A new report by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reveals that popular children's
face paints contain lead, a potent neurotoxin, as well as nickel, cobalt and chromium,
which can cause lifelong skin sensitization and contact dermatitis.
Creepier yet, these metals were not listed on any of the product labels, so
parents have no way of knowing what children are really putting on their
faces.
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a national coalition of nonprofit health
groups, sent 10 children's face paints to an independent lab to test for heavy
metals, and also reviewed ingredient labels of Halloween products sold at a
seasonal holiday store. The findings, compiled in the report Pretty Scary,
include:
-- Ten out of 10 children's face paints contained lead ranging from 0.05 to
0.65 parts per million (ppm). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention recommends that parents avoid using cosmetics on their
children that could be contaminated with lead.
-- Six out of 10 children's face paints contained nickel, cobalt and/or
chromium, which are top allergens in children. The metals were found at
levels ranging from 1.6 to 120 ppm - many of them far exceeding industry
safety recommendations of 1 ppm.
-- Snazaroo Face Paint, labeled as "non-toxic" and "hypoallergenic,"
contained some of the highest levels of lead, nickel and cobalt found in
the study.
"Parents should not have to worry that face paint contains lead and other
hazardous substances, and they have a right to know what's in these products.
Clearly, companies are not making the safest products possible for children,
even though kids are particularly vulnerable to toxic exposures," said Lisa
Archer, national coordinator of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at the Breast
Cancer Fund.
"Lead and other hazardous chemicals have no place in face paints kids use for
dress-up and play on Halloween or any other day of the year," said Rep. Jan
Schakowsky (D-Ill.). "Strengthening our cosmetics laws and providing ample
resources are essential to ensure the FDA has the authority and tools it needs
to protect the health of our children from chemicals in cosmetics."
Click here for full report
Hand Sanitizers Have Immune Suppressing and Carcinogenic Compounds
October 21, 2009
Prevent Diseases
Rinse-free hand sanitizers are, by definition, intended for degerming skin without the aid of rinsing with soap and water. This type of product has steadily gained popularity in schools and public facilities to prevent the flu. However, the risks of using such hand sanitizers far exceed the benefits as most have carcinogenic and immune suppressing compounds.
Health agencies across the world have announced a need for immediate and persistent protection from harmful microbes and viruses, especially those considered by world health officials as imminent threats such as the H1N1 flu. Yet, the solutions proposed for antiseptic preparations are often deadlier than diseases themselves and at a detriment to long-term health.
This is especially a concern when it comes to their promotion in schools and public facilities which cater to millions of children. “Our plan is to give students safe topical protection that is easily accessible and prevents germs from spreading,” stated Charolette Dubois, a public health nurse in Montreal. Dubois said she considers most hand sanitizers safe, although she admits never actually looking at the ingredients.
Many brands of sanitizers contain more than 60 percent alcohol, the same type found in alcoholic drinks, but others are made with isopropyl alcohol, which can be fatal, even in small doses if children ingest it.
“As kids return to classrooms it is more important than ever that we take steps to slow the spread of influenza-like viruses, including the novel H1N1 virus,” said Dr. Mark Horton, who is the director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
An alcohol-free hand sanitizer, like Soapopular recently launched in the UK, can be the first line of defense against the spread of swine flu, claims its Canadian manufacturers. Soapopular has been popping up all over the U.K., Canada and U.S. child care venues, schools and health care facilities. It carries FDA approval in the U.S., Health Canada approval in Canada and MHRA approval to market in the UK.
The soapopular product differs from most hand sanitizers in that it does not use alcohol as its main active ingredient. They claim it makes it a safer option for children since it contains an ammonium compound called Benzalkonium Chloride (BAC), which clinical research has shown to destroy most viruses in seconds including avian flu, SARS, influenza and H1N1 virus.
Deet Bug Repellent ‘Toxic Worry’
August 5, 2009
BBC News
Scientists have expressed safety concerns about insect repellents that contain Deet after observing the chemical’s toxic effects in mammals.
Deet has been in use for decades and is found in most of the commonly used repellents to ward off mosquitoes.
Others dismissed the concerns saying deet posed no risk when used correctly.
The study in the open access journal BioMed Central Biology shows deet works in the same way as paralysing nerve gases used in warfare.
However, experts cautioned that the findings in animals could not be translated to humans.
Deet (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) was developed by the US Army in 1946 following its experience of jungle warfare during the second world war, then registered for use by the general public in 1957.
About 200 million people use deet-based repellents every year and over 8 billion doses have been applied over the past 50 years.
Products containing deet are available in a variety of liquids, lotions and sprays that are applied to the skin to repel insects rather than kill them.
As a precaution, experts advise people to only use enough repellent to cover exposed skin or clothing and caution that repellent should not be applied to cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
