A report released today finds Oregon college-age women are exposed to a range of toxic chemicals every day through the use of personal care products largely unregulated for safety. These same women want manufacturers and government agencies to ensure the products they use every day are safe.
The report, "What's in My Makeup Bag," was released today by Metro and the Oregon Environmental Council. It details results of the survey of 1,008 women attending Portland State University last spring about their personal care product use and knowledge. The vast majority of these women – 88 percent – want personal care product ingredients to be regulated for safety, and nine out of 10 respondents think companies should be required to list all the ingredients in a product.
There is no required process in place to review personal care products, including cosmetics, for safety before they hit store shelves. In addition, product manufacturers are not required to list all ingredients on packaging even though many may pose risks to human health, including hormone disruption, cancer and other irreversible long-term health impacts.
"These women are concerned about their health and they're concerned about the environment," said Lisa Heigh, senior solid waste planner at Metro. "Unfortunately, the 60-year-old laws in place do not really protect these women and manufacturers bear only limited responsibility for the safety of the consumers that keep them in business."
The women surveyed use an average of 10 or more personal care products daily, many containing toxic chemicals linked to detrimental health impacts. They listed more than 10,000 individual products in use.
"Oregonians have the right to know whether the shampoo, sunscreen and lipstick they buy contain ingredients linked to cancer and other health risks," said Renee Hackenmiller-Paradis, program director for environmental health at the Oregon Environmental Council. "It's time for elected lawmakers to ensure these products are adequately tested and safe to use."
"What’s in My Makeup Bag" includes practical tips to help consumers lower their exposure to toxic chemicals in personal care products. A website linked to report features a short video illustrating what chemicals women are putting on their faces, and visitors can sign a petition to demand that government and manufacturers ensure the safety of personal care products.