November 9, 2006

Issue: Most consumers would be surprised to learn that the government does not require health studies or pre-market testing for cosmetics and other personal care products before they are sold. In fact, 89 percent of the 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have not been evaluated for safety. In 2004, the European Union banned potentially dangerous substances from cosmetics, but in the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the field.

While everyday exposure to the chemicals in cosmetics within the general population is of concern, levels of exposure to women working in beauty and nail salons is of even greater concern given that these women are exposed to these chemicals for long periods of time and often in poorly ventilated spaces.

Background: Some of these chemicals are linked to cancer, birth defects, and other health problems that are on the rise. Some chemicals found in a variety of cosmetics are listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as carcinogens or reproductive toxins. Astonishingly, one-third of all products contain one or more ingredients with at least some evidence of cancer-causing ingredients in laboratory studies or investigations of human populations.

OPI Products Inc. is the largest manufacturer of nail polish and nail-treatment products in the world. In Aug. 2006, responding to mounting pressure from consumers, OPI agreed to remove dibutyl phthalate, or DBP, a known reproductive toxin, from its nail products. However, it is continuing to use another substance that the U.S. National Toxicology Program says is “reasonably anticipated” to be a human carcinogen and that is restricted in drinking water because it can cause nervous system disorders and damage the liver and kidneys.

OPI’s removal of DBP is a step in the right direction, but consumers deserve products free of all dangerous chemicals. OPI claims it “needs” to use these toxic chemicals to make “good” nail polish. However, other nail products made by big-name manufacturers and small companies alike do not contain these toxic chemicals, proving safe alternatives do exist. In fact, the Sally Hansen brand recently confirmed that they would be removing DBP, toluene, and formaldehyde. And compact-signing brands like Jerrie Nails, PeaceKeepers, and Honeybee Gardens never used these chemicals.

In addition, OPI has also refused to sign the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, a pledge to remove toxic chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects, and other negative health effects from their products and to replace them with safe alternatives.

Action: Go to www.safecosmetics.org and click “Take Action” to send a free fax to OPI CEO George Schaeffer today. Urge him to protect the health of consumers and salon workers alike by phasing out the use of toxic chemicals in its nail products and joining the more than 400 forward-thinking cosmetics companies that have already signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics. For more information on this issue, refer to Real Change’s article in last week’s paper entitled, “Fashion Victims: Cosmetics’ chemicals hurt women’s health and habitat.”