Something to pout about?
Posted Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Research has shown that women consume up to nine pounds of lipstick during their lifetime; but a new study may make you refrain from licking your lips.
During the upswing of lead-level awareness in the U.S. over the past few months, an organization called the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics decided to test 33 red lipsticks from various brands. The results showed that one third of the lipsticks contained more lead than the amount the FDA permits in candy.
The FDA does not officially monitor lead in lipstick, but they immediately responded to the findings. "These concerns have not generally been supported by FDA's own analysis of products on the market. In the present case, we are looking into the specific details of the issues raised," an FDA spokeswoman told the press. "We will need to confirm the factual basis of these reports independently in order to determine what action, if any, may be needed to protect public health."
So is there really a risk in your favorite tube of color? The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association says no. According to the organization’s executive vice president, “The average amount of lead a woman would be exposed to when using cosmetics is 1,000 times less than the amount she would get from eating, breathing, and drinking water that meets Environmental Protection Agency drinking water standards.”
Tags: FDA, lead, lipstick, study, The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association
Related: Could your nail polish be making you sick?