How good is European consumer protection? A wide range of dubious substances, many used in cosmetics, are apparently allowed. In a recent survey, the Norwegian Consumer Council found endocrine disrupting substances in more than 1200 of 3000 examined body care and cosmetic products.

In an effort to help consumers avoid potentially dangerous products, the Council made an Iphone app that allows you to scan a product’s bar code and check whether it is in the Council’s cosmetics database. If it is, you get an overview of the products contents and a safety rating. If not, you may register the product and it’s content. Norwegians have now scanned cosmetic and body care products with the app from the Council more than one million times.

The Hormone Check-app was an instant success when it was launched on November 7 (2011). Over 80,000 have downloaded the app for the Iphone, and in 2012, the Consumer Council make it available for all smart phones using the Android operating system. The Council is overwhelmed by the response from people who download or requested the Hormone Check-app. The Norwegian Consumer Council, 2011-12-28

Surprises

Although I don’t have an iPhone – and desperately want the Android app – the Concil’s database is available online. I used it to check some of the products in our bathroom and was taken aback by what I found. Many of the most frequently used products contain substances that are rated as potentially harmful. I was particularly disappointed by products from Body Shop, as I thought that this company had “natural” as a policy; that their products were both environmentally friendly and healthy. No such thing. There is a reason why the list of ingredients on many of their products is practically impossible to read…

European initiative?

It is disappointing that the European consumer isn’t better protected against potentially harmful substances in cosmetics. I shouldn’t have to study the fine print on each and every lotion, after shave and shaving cream. Why isn’t there a European initiative on this issue? While euro-bureaucrats and euro-politicians go around in circles, and the cosmetics industry is allowed to act freely, here is a list of uglies to help you out (with links to Wikipedia):

• Benzophenone-1: Used as a UV filter. Documented endocrine disruption in animals. On the EU list of endocrine disrupting substances.
• Benzophenone-2: UV filter. Documented endocrine disruption in animals. On the EU list of endocrine disrupting substances.
• BHA or Butylated hydroxyanisole: Antioxidant. Documented endocrine disruption in animals. On the EU list of endocrine disrupting substances.
• Boric Acid: Antiseptic. Documented endocrine disruption in animals. On the EU list of endocrine disrupting substances.
• Butylparaben: Preservative. Documented endocrine disruption in animals. On the EU list of endocrine disrupting substances. High toxicity. Banned
• in Denmark in body care products for children under 3 years.
• Cyclotetrasiloxane (in EWG Database): Used to care for hair and skin. Located drug group ring-shaped organic siloxanes. Classified reproduction. Does the environment status in Norway. On the EU list of endocrine disrupting substances.
• Diethyl phthalate (DEP): Used to bind cosmetics and fragrances. Documented endocrine disruption in animals. On the EU list of endocrine
• disrupting substances.
• Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and Octyl methoxycinnamate: UV filter. Documented endocrine disruption in animals. On the EU list of endocrine disrupting substances.
• Ethylparaben: Preservative. Documented endocrine disruption in animals. On the EU list of endocrine disrupting substances.
• Methylparaben: Preservative. Documented endocrine disruption in animals. On the EU list of endocrine disrupting substances.
• Hydroxycinnamic acid: Used for skin care. Documented endocrine disruption in animals. On the EU list of endocrine disrupting substances.
• Propylparaben: Preservative. Documented endocrine disruption in animals. Banned in Denmark in body care products for children under three
• years. On the EU list of endocrine disrupting substances.
• Resorcinol: Used in hair color. Documented endocrine disruption in animals. Allergenic. On the EU list of endocrine disrupting substances.
• 4,4 ‘-Dihydroxy-benzophenone: UV filter. Documented endocrine disruption in animals. On the EU list of endocrine disrupting substances.
• 4,4 ‘-Di-hydroxy bi-phenyl (Dihydroxybiphenyl): Often used as a bleaching and skin protection. Documented endocrine disruption in animals. On the EU list of endocrine disrupting substances.
• 4 – methylbenzylidene camphor: UV filter. Documented endocrine disruption in animals. On the EU list of endocrine disrupting substances.
• 3-Benzylidene camphor: UV filter. Documented endocrine disruption in animals. On the EU list of endocrine disrupting substances. Banned in France in body care products and cosmetics.

References

In English:

Skin Deep – The EWG Database

Cosmetics, Wikipedia, downloaded 2012-02-18.

The Ultraviolet Filter 3-Benzylidene Camphor Adversely Affects Reproduction in Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas), Oxford Journals, Life Sciences & Medicine, Toxicological Sciences, Volume 93, Issue 2, Pp. 311-321.

In Spanish:

Cosméticos, Wikipedia, downloaded 2012-02-18.

In Norwegian:

Kosmetikkbransjen raser mot hormonsjekk-app, NRK Nordland, downloaded 2012-02-18.

Hormonkjemi i 4 av 10 hudpleieprodukter, Grønn Hverdag, downloaded 2012-02-18.

Fakta om parabener, Grønn Hverdag, downloaded 2012-02-18.

Krem, Wikipedia, downloaded 2012-02-18.