May.02.2010
9:50 pm
by scribblekat
Did we get the lead out of lipstick?
So now that you’re pregnant and steering clear of environmental dangers, you may be wondering what the buzz was all about a few years ago about lead in lipstick. And did they fix the problem and get the lead out of lipstick once and for all? Yes, it’s true, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found lead in two-thirds of the 33 brand-name lipsticks they tested in 2007. And no, the FDA, who said they were looking into it, hasn’t fixed the problem. The reason you should care about this is that there is no safe level of lead for anyone, and most particularly lead is not safe for pregnant women and their infants.
Putting lead on your lips, even in tiny amounts, is a danger you definitely want to avoid. Think about it, how many times do you reapply your lipstick every day? Then you lick your lips and swallow some of it. This builds up in the body over time. Not good!
If you live in Europe or Canada, you have less to worry about because those countries regulate cosmetics better than they do in the United States.
What this means for pregnant women and their babies?
Pregnant women and young children are particularly vulnerable when exposed to lead, the researchers say. That’s because lead is a proven neurotoxin that easily crosses the placenta and enters the fetal brain. That could (but doesn’t always) result in slowed development, lower IQ, poor school performance, and increased aggression in your child. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “Recent studies suggest that adverse health effects exist in children at blood lead levels less than 10 µg/dl.” They recommend avoiding all lead exposure. Other studies have linked lead to infertility and miscarriage.
How can you make sure your lipstick is lead free?
One thing we know is that even the pricier brands and brands made by well known companies may contain lead. In the study, some of the brands with the highest lead levels were Christian Dior, L’Oreal, and Cover Girl. The lipstick they tested had no detectable levels of lead.
They didn’t test every brand, so no one can necessarily tell you if your favorite lipstick or the brands you’ve been using recently are safe. For a complete list of lipsticks they did test, download a PDF of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics report “A Poison Kiss: The Problem of Lead in Lipstick.” This report includes a complete chart (on page 10) of the lipsticks they tested and how much lead they found in each sample.
Another way to make sure your lipstick is safe is to buy lipstick from green companies. Even so, I suggest you call the companies and ask them specifically if their lipstick has been tested for lead contamination. You can usually find the phone number to call on the company web site. Don’t give up until you get someone on the phone who can answer your question.
In the meantime, you can save the lipstick for special occasions only andjust gloss with natural for fresh and natural lips. And hey, you can share the product with your baby later on to prevent diaper rash.
For more information
- A Poison Kiss: The Problem of Lead in Lipstick
- Take Action: Ask the FDA for answers about lead in lipstick
- Science: Lead and other heavy metals
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