FDA Study: Lead Levels in Lipstick Much Higher Than Previously Reported

[Robbien]

Source: Reuters

FDA won't disclose brands; still has no standard for lead in lipstick

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A study by the Food and Drug
Administration found lead in lipstick at levels much higher than those
detected by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC) in a 2007 study that
received international attention.

FDA found lead in all 20 lipsticks tested, at 0.09 to 3.06 parts per million -
four times higher than the highest level reported in by CSC. FDA used a new
method to analyze lipstick and concluded that earlier methods likely
underestimated lead levels.

FDA noted that three manufacturers had the highest lead levels, but did not
name these brands. The CSC report found a few brands with consistently higher
lead levels, including L'Oreal, Maybelline and Cover Girl.

Health experts say lead in lipstick in any amount is a health concern.

"Since recent science suggests that there is truly no safe lead exposure for
pregnant women, it is disturbing that manufacturers are allowed to continue to
sell lead-containing lipstick," said Sean Palfrey, M.D., medical director of
Boston's Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.

. . .

The Centers for Disease Control states: "No safe blood lead level has been
identified," and suggests avoiding all sources of lead exposure, including
lead-containing cosmetics.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS170678+01-Sep-2009+PRN20090901

[woo me with science]

1. Mmmmmmm. Lead. nt

[Mari333]

2. dont wear that crap anyway.

[Captain Hilts]

3. What the hell, only women use the stuff....nt

[Wisperingvoice]

4. Here's a list of the lipsticks that were found to have unsafe lead levels

Here's a list of the lipsticks that were found to have unsafe lead levels (i.e., higher than the 0.1ppm that the FDA says is safe for candy):


Maybelline NY Moisture Extreme Scarlet Simmer (0.11)

Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor Maximum Red (0.12)

Peacekeeper Paint Me Compassionate (0.12)

Maybelline NY Moisture Extreme Midnight Red (0.18)

Maybelline NY Moisture Extreme Cocoa Plum (0.19)

Dior Addict Positive Red (0.21)

Cover Girl Continuous Color Cherry Brandy (0.28)

LʹOreal Colour Riche True Red (0.50)

Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor Maximum Red (0.56)

LʹOreal Colour Riche Classic Wine (0.58)

LʹOreal Colour Riche True Red 0.65
60% Of Lipsticks Contain Lead

[populistdriven]

5. I read once the average woman swallows 2+ pounds of lipstick in her lifetime.

I don't know what the average for men is.

[Berry Cool]

9. Sounds like one of those dubious "Internet statistics" people are always trying to amaze you with.

The kind that get sent around in emails with no verification.

I doubt it.

[Sivafae]

17. I've heard that statistic for years actually. eom

[yankeeinlouisiana]

8. Hmmm, they are all shades

of red. Maybe the "peach" shades are safer??

[Captain Hilts]

12. The whole thing is stunning. I can't get over it. I'm glad I don't use it.

I thought I would when I hit 40, but I'm colorful enough, so I don't.

The whole thing stinks.

[mamaleah]

21. All the deep red shades?

I like them but they have never looked good on me.

[populistdriven]

6. including pregnant women

[Captain Hilts]

13. I'm stunned NO ONE thought to regulate this.It's really amazing to me. Something ingested by so many

on a daily basis.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

22. When I bought face paints for my son last Halloween...

I was horrified to find that they contained lead. :-(

Fortunately, I was able to locate some that did not, but it's not something most people are looking for when they make that purchase.

[mzmolly]

7. Wish I'd known this while I was pregnant.

:(

[Berry Cool]

10. They're going to revive the show "Mad Men" in the year 2056

and set it in the early 21st century. And people will watch it and say "Can you believe all those women sitting there putting on lipstick even though they're PREGNANT?? Crazy!!"

[Lone_Star_Dem]

11. I've never been so glad to be a lip balm and clear gloss kind of girl

However, in my teens I wore lipsticks some. No telling what was in the stuff back then either.

[Name removed]

28. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[nolabear]

14. Maybe that explains Angelina Jolie and Octomom. n/t

[intheflow]

15. This is why I don't use cosmetics and I don't dye my hair.

I don't trust the beauty industry to have my health at heart. When they're only interest is in skin-deep beauty, they sure as hell don't care about how their products affect me internally. As long as a topical agent doesn't give me a rash or make me violently ill immediately, who cares about long-term effects? x(

[endarkenment]

16. Kiss me stupid!

[AtheistCrusader]

18. Sure glad my wife doesn't bother with any of this shit.

Beauty doesn't come out of a tube or a bottle anyway.

[Mari333]

19. Huge price to pay

for going around pretending to have a big old vagina on your face.

[kimmerspixelated]

20. If it's made by a big corp., it's got shit in it!

Almost always true. LADIES you MUST read the labels. I only wear natural lipstick, or some kind of shiney chapstick-Burts Bees, but there are others. Look for products without parabens, and if there are things you can't pronounce, avoid it.

This same advice goes for the food we eat, the prepackaged type. Read, read, read labels.

The green movement is here to stay, so it's just a matter of time before the big guys have to comply!

[Berry Cool]

24. What if I become really, really good at pronunciation? n/t

[gratuitous]

23. Lead has an effect on mental health, doesn't it?

Sort of explains one particular recent political phenomenon in the United States (i.e., our very own pit bull with lipstick - lots and lots of lipstick, evidently), doesn't it?

[wickerwoman]

26. Also intelligence.

I was just reading a book talking about pollution in Poland where they charted childrens' IQ levels dropping 10-15 points in places with heavy lead pollution.

"Lead poisoning interferes with the normal development of a child's brain and nervous system; therefore children are at greater risk of lead neurotoxicity than adults are. It has been shown to cause permanently reduced cognitive capacity (intelligence) in children"

"Chronic cases, which can occur at lower blood levels, present with behavioral problems, restlessness, drowsiness, depression, memory loss, discoordination, loss of sensation, and seizures"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_poisoning

[babydollhead]

25. Whats the difference between a pit bull and a dip shit

lipstick

[troubledamerican]

27. Surprise.

Not quite.

[trudyco]

29. Is Burt's Bees OK? The lip gloss? nt

[Scout]

30. now more pleased than ever that i rarely wear the stuff n/t

[kestrel91316]

31. Probably a good thing that I can never remember to put it on.