Petition launched to prohibit use of endocrine disruptors in cosmetics
The petition questions why there aren’t regulations restricting the use of estrogen-mimicking substances in personal care products found on shop shelves such as shampoos, lotions, deodorants and make up.
"Canada's Cosmetic Regulations are clear: Products that contain estrogenic substances should not be allowed on the shelf," said Lisa Gue, researcher with the David Suzuki Foundation.
"Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are ubiquitous and it makes sense to minimize unnecessary exposure," she continued.
Ban of bisphenol-A and phthalates
Gue cited Health Canada’s recent decisions to ban bisphenol-A in baby bottles and six types of phthalates in soft vinyl toys, with hopes that the petition will spur the government to introduce regulatory prohibition on estrogenic substances it claims are used in cosmetics.
The petition highlights that although Canada's Cosmetics Regulations prohibit the sale of any cosmetic that contains ‘an estrogenic substance,’ parabens, siloxanes, phthalates and BHA are common ingredients in cosmetics.
The David Suzuki Foundation claims that all four show evidence of estrogenic activity and have been classified by the European Union as suspected endocrine-disrupting substances.
Endocrine disrupters are chemicals that mimic hormones or interfere in other ways with the endocrine system, which regulates various body functions. Estrogenic substances are endocrine disrupters that can mimic estrogens.
Having seen Denmark announce a ban on the use of parabens in children’s cosmetics the petition asks Health Canada to follow suit and take action against manufacturers or importers of cosmetics containing these and other estrogen-mimicking endocrine disrupters.
The government will have 120 days to respond to the petition.
Presentation on controversial ingredients
Communicating the science behind controversial ingredients to concerned consumers and politicians is one of the focuses of the Personal Care Products Council’s Annual meeting held on February 28.
As the keynote speaker Dr Joe Schwarz, the director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society, will talk on keeping the proper perspective on scientific issues.
Schwarz will address the recent media scares on bisphenol A, phthalates, parabens and others and address the consumer, and political, confusion that surrounds such ingredients.
