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Chemicals in Beauty Products
Organisations | Links | Books | Papers
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Organisations
Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association (CTPA)
Josaron House
5/7 John Princes Street
London W1G 0JN
Tel: 020 7491 8891
E-mail: info@ctpa.org.uk
Website: www.ctpa.org.uk
Association of manufacturers of cosmetic, toiletry and perfumery products. Centres on scientific, regulatory and legislative issues but essentially exists to promote the interests of its members.
REACH
UK REACH
2.3 Redgrave Court
Bootle
Merseyside L20 7HS
Tel: 0845 408 9575
Website: www.hse.gov.uk/reach
New European Community regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals. It came into force on 1st June 2007 and replaces a patchwork of European Directives and Regulations with a single system.
Links
Are You Worth It?
www.wen.org.uk/cosmetics/facts.htm
Women's Environmental Network offers an information sheet on cosmetics, chemicals, packaging, sensitivities and advertising.
Breakthrough Breast Cancer – Deodorants and Shaving
www.breakthrough.org.uk
Type 'deodorant' into the search box to find a list of articles on the subject of cosmetic links to breast cancer. There is also a special fact sheet summarising their view that no evidence links deodorants, antiperspirants or shaving to breast cancer.
Chemical Safe Skincare Campaign
www.chemicalsafeskincare.co.uk/
A UK online campaign aimed at raising awareness of chemicals in beauty products.
Cosmetic Companies and Breast Cancer – Breast Cancer Action
www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org/Pages/
CosmeticCompanies.html
Many cosmetics contain chemicals – parabens and phthalates, lutein (progesterone), formaldehyde and coal tar. Breast Cancer Action takes a look at the possible side effects and how some manufacturers have decided to remove these agents from their products.
Cosmetic Products Safety Regulations
www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2004/20042152.htm
Internet version of the statutory safety regulations for Cosmetics, published in 2004.
Deodorants, Antiperspirants and Breast Cancer
www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=3943
Cancer Research UK has produced a statement about parabens, the chemicals found in deodorants and antiperspirants that have been linked to breast cancer. They believe at present there is insufficient evidence to link them.
Hell's Smells – Article in 'The Age' – Australia (2004)
www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/
08/1089000294168.html?oneclick=true
There is a new kind of global battle – demands for a fragrance-free environment. Perfumed formulations changed in the 1980s with the development of more powerful synthetics used at higher levels. Over 80 per cent of fragrances are synthetic compounds acting as a key trigger in health problems such as migraines, asthma and allergies. Other studies have linked them to other conditions, from sinusitis through to dizziness, depression, irritability, reproductive problems, hypertension and irregular heartbeat.
Skin Deep – Cosmetics Safety Database
www.cosmeticsdatabase.com
Online safety guide to cosmetics and personal care products, by researchers at the Environmental Working Group. EWG is not associated with the manufacturer or distributor of products listed and does not profit from the listing of this information. This is a truly comprehensive database of the chemicals content of cosmetics.
Think Before You Pink: Corporate Cover-Up
www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org/Pages/
CorporateCoverUp.html
Interesting look at how the American beauty industry is unregulated, without health or safety screening for cosmetics. The Food and Drug Administration – the government entity responsible for regulating cosmetics – has no control over what cosmetic products are sold in the marketplace.
UK a "Testing Ground" for Cosmetics – BBC News August 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6925537.stm
Poor UK regulation of cosmetic treatments is turning the public into "guinea pigs", warn campaigners.
Books
Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients: Complete information about the harmful and desirable ingredients in cosmetics by Ruth Winter (Three Rivers Press, 2005)
Virtually every chemical found in toiletries, cosmetics, and cosmeceuticals-from body and face creams to toothpaste, hand lotion, shaving cream, shampoo, soap, perfume, and makeup-is evaluated in this book, including those ingredients marketed as being 'all-natural' or 'for children'.
Get this book.
The Consumer's Good Chemicals Guide: A jargon free guide to the chemicals of everyday life by John Emsley (Oxford University Press, 1998)
Non-technical reference guide. Provides information for all those concerned about the impact of chemicals, both natural and synthetic, in their foodstuffs, their lives and their environment.
Get this book.
The Toxic Consumer: How to reduce your exposure to everyday toxic chemicals by Karen Ashton and Elizabeth Salter Green (Impact Publishing, February 2007)
Toxic chemicals found in everyday life are implicated in impaired neurological development in children, birth defects, lower sperm counts, rising rates of testicular and other cancers and increased incidences of diabetes, allergies and attention deficit disorders. This is a clear, precise and accessible guide to the most common toxic chemicals and where they are found in everyday products.
Get this book.
What's Really in Your Basket? An easy to use guide to food additives and cosmetic ingredients by Bill Statham (Summersdale Publishers, July 2007)
Did you know that colouring in children's sweets, jelly and soft drinks can potentially cause asthma, skin rash and hyperactivity? That common ingredients in personal care products like shampoo and toothpaste have been associated with problems ranging from skin irritation, to breathing difficulties, nausea, increased risk of cancer and blindness? Find out how you can avoid putting harmful additives and chemicals into and onto your body.
Get this book.
Papers
Aluminium in Human Breast Tissue Exley C, Charles LM, Barr L, Martin C, Polwart A, Darbre PD Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry Vol. 101(9), p1344-6, Sep 2007
Talcum Powder, Chronic Pelvic Inflammation and NSAIDs in Relation to Risk of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
Merritt MA, Green AC, Nagle CM et al
International Journal of Cancer Vol. 23, Aug 2007 (E-publication ahead of publishing)
Concentrations of Parabens in Human Breast Tumours
Darbre PD, Aljarrah A, Miller WR, Coldham NG, Sauer MJ, Pope GS
Journal of Applied Toxicology, Vol. 24(1) p5-13, Jan-Feb 2004
Decreased Sperm Number And Motile Activity on the F1 Offspring Maternally Exposed to Butyl p-Hydroxybenzoic Acid (Butyl Paraben)
Kang KS, Che JH, Ryu DY, Kim TW, Li GX, Lee YS.
Journal of Veterinary Medical Science Vol. 64(3), p227-35, Mar 2002
Some Alkyl Hydroxy Benzoate Preservatives (Parabens) Are Estrogenic
Routledge EJ, Parker J, Odum J, Ashby J, Sumpter JP
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology Vol. 153(1), p12-19
