Chemical cosmetics horrors.

March 24, 2006

Montreal group raises alarm over cosmetics

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Charlie Fidelman, CanWest News Service

Published: Wednesday, March 22, 2006

MONTREAL -- Perfumes, moisturizers, cosmetics and multiple personal-care

products are being fingered for their contribution to a rise in breast cancer

and other serious health problems.

" We’re concerned about products that contain hazardous ingredients, " Janine

O’leary Cobb, president of Breast Cancer Action Montreal said Wednesday.

" About 90 per cent of chemicals used in personal care and house cleaning

products aren’t tested for their cancer causing potential. "

The local group is targeting large cosmetic manufacturers to remove pthalates

from their products. A chemical additive used in plastic, vinyl and cosmetics,

pthalates, are linked to cancer, birth defects and reproductive problems.

The cosmetics industry recently issued a press release saying the research is

inconclusive.

" We are trying to raise awareness of breast cancer so it could be stopped

before it starts, " Cobb said.

In the war against cancer, there are only casualties, said Elizabeth May,

executive director of the Sierra Club of Canada, who was invited by Cobb’s

organization to speak in Montreal on Wednesday night on the role of the

environment in breast cancer prevention.

" We have better treatments and better survival rates but we’re still getting

more cancers, " May said. " We’ve contaminated the environment and our bodies and

yet we don’t make the links. "

For a brand by brand guide to cosmetics, compiled by the Washington-based

Environmental Working Group called Skin-Deep, visit www.safecosmetics.org.

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