Esearchers find signs of PFAS in more than half of 231 product samples including lipstick, mascara, and foundation
Mascara stick
PFAS are often referred to as “permanent chemicals” because they do not break down naturally and can accumulate in the body.
Esearchers find signs of PFAS in more than half of 231 product samples including lipstick, mascara, and foundation
Mascara stick
PFAS are often referred to as “permanent chemicals” because they do not break down naturally and can accumulate in the body.
Toxic PFAS “permanent chemicals” are widely used in cosmetics made by major brands in the U.S. and Canada, and a new study tested the chemicals in hundreds of products.
The peer-reviewed study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, detected “high” levels of organic fluorine content (an indicator of PFAS) in more than half of 231 cosmetic and personal care samples. This includes lipstick, eyeliner, mascara, foundation, concealer, lip balm, blush, nail polish, and more.
Products with the highest fluorine content include waterproof mascara (82% of brands tested), foundation (63%) and liquid lipstick (62%).
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PFAS, or Perfluoroalkyl Substances and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, are a class of approximately 9,000 compounds used to make water and stain repellent products such as food packaging, clothing, and carpets. They are often referred to as "permanent chemicals" because they do not break down naturally and have been found to accumulate in the body.
These chemicals have been linked in part to cancer, birth defects, liver disease, thyroid disease, weakened immunity, hormone disturbances and a host of other serious health problems.
Tom Bruton, a senior scientist at the Green Science Policy Institute and one of the authors of the study, said researchers were surprised by the number of products that contained the dangerous chemical.
"This is the first study to look at total fluoride, or PFAS, in cosmetics, so we just don't know what we'll find," he said. "It's a product that people spread on their skin day in and day out, so it does have the potential for significant exposure."
Each of the products examined for individual PFAS compounds contained between 4 and 13 types. The study's authors tested makeup from dozens of brands, including L'Oreal, Ulta, Mac, Cover Girl, Clinique, Maybelline, Smashbox, Nars, Estee Lauder, and more.
However, the study did not reveal which brands used toxic chemicals because the authors said they did not want to be "picky" about the companies involved. The Guardian could not ask companies for comment because it was unclear which companies used PFAS.
These chemicals are highly mobile, move easily in the environment and the human body, and can be absorbed through the skin, through the tear ducts, or ingested. The Green Science Policy Institute points out that people who wear lipstick can accidentally ingest several pounds of the product in their lifetime.