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 ...
Thank you.
I just saw a teaser that our local news (KDKA-Pittsburgh) is doing a report on this story tonight.
Isn't this why we used to test products on animals? Call PETA and complain!
I have a life-threatening allergy to latex, seriously. Being around latex gives me an asthma attack. Wearing a glove could put me in your daughter's position in the ER. With that, comes a host of other allergies to plants and foods similar to latex in some way: bananas, kiwis, avocados, etc. And, of all things, birthday party balloons. I blew one up once, and my tongue and whole face swelled, I ended up in the ER.
I don't see latex being banned.
Lysol spray and Windex give me migraines if I smell either for more than a few seconds. I'm not real big on perfumes of any sort. I don't see any of 'em being banned. Sometimes I wish perfume-wearers would consider others before dousing themselves, but I don't make a big deal about it.
"That never stopped these nannies in the past."
While that's often true, this one might have some merit. These ingrediants appear to be suspect enough that some companies such as Unilever have removed them from their product lines.
Further, small don't appear to be "harmful" these phthalates are oil soluable which means that repeated exposure causes them to accumulate in the body (not flushed out by the water in the body.) A search of Google indicates these compounds show up in other products, hence, further exposures and accumulations. So how much is enough?
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=DBP+and+DEHP&btnG=Google+Search
(I've worked in the chemical industry for close to 30 years and people expose themselves to all kinds of hazards they're unaware of. Too, some chemicals receive a much harsher scrutiny than they deserve. Politics and health cause an extreme pain in the a$$) LOL
I wonder how much you would really have to eat for it to cause illness. </sarcasm>
When you go into a nail salon, you really do find that the fumes are awful. Just polishing your own nails is no biggie, though. If those cosmetic companies named can get rid of the offending ingredients, why can't the others? Just a question. Don't start flaming me.
Plus, I don't like animal testing. Don't flame me for that, either. Remember, my dog Harm kept me from being date raped.
I'm not saying it has no merit, I'm just getting a bit sick and tired of the fear mongering that many of these reports tend to generate.
Sorry, I'm all out of toxic nailpolish remover.
And if the fumes are so bad, why isn't OSHA involved? THat's a probelm that can be solved with proper ventilation.
One would think so. The salons I have been in have been family owned by Vietnamese people. I don't go there anymore. Those long fake nails are not safe for changing diapers. LOL! I have a new granddaughter.
I would never flame anyone for being opposed to testing on animals. I am 100% opposed to it, and I'll get flamed as well.
I am not easy to put in a box. Not all conservatives are the same in every way!
"I'm just getting a bit sick and tired of the fear mongering"
I'm with you. Feel like getting drunk, smoke a pack of cigs, eat a pound of ground round fried in bacon grease and call it a day. LOL
I think I'll join you !!!!! LOL
None.
But it's the symbolism that's important. He's taking a stand against cancer, don't you see?
Skooz,..how many times do we have to tell you not to do your nails and drive at the same time,....it takes too long to coast to the stop lights and traffic is backing up behind you....
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.