Posted on 05/16/2005 6:19:34 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
In a new war with the $35 billion cosmetics industry, a Manhattan lawmaker is preparing to seek a ban in New York of the sale of cosmetics with suspected links to cancer, asthma and birth defects. The chemicals — known as DBP and DEHP — are widely used here in nail polish, lipstick, shampoo, deodorant and other grooming products, mainly as a binding agent for colors, but are banned in the European Union because they were deemed hazardous to women.
Assemblyman Scott Stringer (D-Manhattan), who's introducing the ban in a bill tomorrow, said he's prepared for a firestorm of lobbying from the industry's powerful Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association, which worked to kill a similar bill in committee in California's legislature two weeks ago.
Several cosmetic giants, including L'Oreal, Estee Lauder, Aveda, the Body Shop and Unilever, have already removed the suspected harmful chemicals from many of their products. Revlon has also announced it's replacing the chemicals with safer ones. "New York should be at the forefront of assuring greater cosmetics safety," said Stringer.
"Banning these chemicals now in personal grooming products will stop us from looking back 10 or 20 years from now and saying, 'We should have done something before.'"
Consumer alarms over the safety of the ingredients triggered an inquiry by the Food and Drug Administration, which ruled last week that although the chemicals harmed animals, it found nothing harmful to humans. The FDA said it would monitor the chemicals. In its 67-year history, the FDA has banned only nine such ingredients. The cosmetics lobby group says efforts to ban the chemicals are "scare tactics" that are "not only anti-business, but not even based on scientific evidence."
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Hmmm...Assemblyman/Lawyer going after deep pocketed defendent, or does he really care about our health? *Scratches Head*
Please, Mr. Democrat, save us from ourselves!
The dems are real good at making cosmetic changes.
They can have my make-up when they pry it from my cold, dead hands!
Can they tell me how many cancer deaths we have had from nailpolish?
From the application, or from the kissing of fingers and toes?
When they take away makeup from law-abiding citizens, only criminals will have makeup.
Please mentally insert picture of Michael Jackson. (I can't paste a pic because my techie teen is in school.)
Just for the record, I know a lady who was in the "beauty business" for years who now has asthma and other health problems; did nails for years. Can't be around a lot of stuff now.
Many people with asthma are seriously endangered by stuff like perfumes (most perfumes are based on petroleum by prodcts).
Oh it's okay that you can'y post MJ!
I STILL haven't been able to get his weird mug out of my brain!
That never stopped these nannies in the past.
They probably can't. If they don't quote numbers, there aren't any to quote.
My guess is there are next to none.
A new "sin-tax" in the making?
Specifically, what are the chemicals in question. I hate when people throw around anacronyms figuring they're sounding scientific. Also, it sounds like the next cash cow for the trial lawyers. Ban the substances and then any woman that has a health complaint can sue the cosmetics manufacturers. I guess the asbestos lawsuits aren't bringing in the $$$ like they used to.
I'd heard that talcum powder causes ovarian cancer.
Some people here think EVERYTHING the government does as far as oversight or standards goes is MEDDLIN'! Know what? Sometimes substances get into things we use and they end up being harmful. It's not necessarily through "evil intent" that they got there, but it would be pretty hard for a single citizen to take a corporation to task.
Yes, the government can abuse its power--and does, all too often.
But take it from a father who stood over his expiring 12-year-old daughter in the ER when she suffered an allergic reaction to a substance in a nail polish she tried: Stuff's out there that can kill you. My daughter pulled through, but it was close.
There were other reports of similar reactions, and the company moved fast to change its formulation. I think companies are more responsive these days...and I also think they'd be less responsive if they didn't think some governing body would clamp down at some point.
So, while it's a little long for a bumper sticker, here's my point: GIVE ME JUST ENOUGH GOVERNMENT TO KEEP ME SAFE WITHOUT KILLING ME.
"I'd heard that talcum powder causes ovarian cancer."
There is a link between the old REAL "talcum powder" made from ground rocks and cervical cancer. The powders now are mainly cornstarch-based and won't hurt ya...unless, of course you're an ear of corn, LOL! (Check your ingredient labels.)
There's also a strong link between having an abortion and getting breast cancer later in your life...but of course the Dems will never tell you THAT.
You guys are a riot. I knew you'd have some fun with this one. ;)
"But take it from a father who stood over his expiring 12-year-old daughter in the ER when she suffered an allergic reaction to a substance in a nail polish she tried: Stuff's out there that can kill you. My daughter pulled through, but it was close."
Good point, John. We had a girl in town that had an allergic reaction to celery of all things. And it was the celery, not some chemical on the celery that she reacted to.
I like your bumper sticker idea. :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.