Millions of women will wake up tomorrow and start their day by applying their normal combination of makeup, perfume and hair products - Exposing themselves to about 175 chemicals according to the Womens Environmental Network.
"Toxic chemicals in cosmetics put people at risk of reproductive diseases, cancer and asthma. More and more women are phoning us for advice and when they find out about whats really in their makeup they stop using it." According to Helen Lynn the health co-ordinator of the WEN.
Consumers are becoming more aware about they buy. For the first time ethical products in have overtaken sales of alcohol and cigarettes in Britain, over £29.3 billion was spent on organic and fair trade products last year.
Dr Chris Fowler the director general of the Cosmetics, Toiletries and Perfume association says that organic cosmetics arent any better than normal cosmetics: "Organic cosmetics still have chemicals in them. If cosmetics have a long list of ingredients on the back its because they do something."
Mrs Lynn however warns that "The longer the list of ingredients on a product, the more likely it is to contain toxic products."
The EU declared that cosmetic products "must not cause damage to human health." Mrs Lynn says that the problem is: "They dont have to prove that its safe, we have to prove that the product is dangerous."
An example of the safety checks is the increase in amount of Hydrogen Peroxide allowed in teeth whitening products from 0.1 per cent to 6 percent last year. This is because teeth whiteners work better with a high level of peroxide.
The Secretary of State for Health, Ruth Winterton headed a committee which researched if the increase was safe. The increase was allowed despite the report saying: "there is an absence of good clinical data and long-term studies that assess possible adverse effects; and new additional data supplied does not provide the necessary reassurance in terms of risk assessment to support that safety of Hydrogen peroxide up to six per cent in teeth whitening products."
Environmentalists have campaigned against the use of several chemicals in cosmetics, such as the preservative Paraben which is used in moisturizers and toiletries, it stopped being used in deodorants in 2004.
There is no evidence that Parabens cause cancer, but study of 20 breast tumour samples by Reading University showed traces of the chemical in all the samples.
Dr Philippa Darbra who carried out the study told the BBC: "The detection in human breast tumours is of concern since parabens have shown been shown to be able to mimic the action of the female hormone oestrogen and oestrogen can drive the growth of human breast tumours.
According to the Environmental Law Centre hairsprays, perfumes and nail varnishes which contain Phthalates are risking their health. Phthalates are used to moisturise skin and to make cosmetics absorb into skin easily.
Last year US scientists from the University of Rochester and other environmental centres found out that the sons of women who have high levels of four phthalates in their urine when they were pregnant were more likely to be born with reproductive defects.
The EU banned certain phthalates being used in plastic toys made to for babies up to three years old in 1999.
Mrs lynn says that people who work with these chemicals are also under threat: "They can breathe fumes or dust and over a long period of time it builds up in their bodies. It can cause allergic reactions or worse. Women hairdressers who have worked for 10 years are five times more likely to get bladder cancer."
The European Council recently decided that a scheme called Cosmetovigilance should be launched to identify the health risks from cosmetics. The council is made up of 46 representatives from all over the EU.
About 93% of women use an average of 20 cosmetic products a day. Mrs Lynn says: "The problem with summing up the effects that these chemicals have on women is that its impossible but we know that theres a real risk."
Robyn Walker
Tagged in Health