Many compounds used in personal care products have a negative impact on the environmental after they have been washed down the drain or released into the air. Some are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (i.e. PBTs), which means they do not degrade in the environment, can accumulate in living organisms so their levels in body tissues continue to increase, and can cause toxic effects in humans or other organisms. Some are toxic to aquatic life – whether plants, invertebrates, or vertebrate fish, and are termed aquatic toxicants. VOCs in personal care products (used to impart fragrance, aerosolize hair spray, or make nail polish hard) are emerging as a major source of indoor air pollution and urban smog emissions.
Benzophenone is used in personal care products such as lip balm and nail polish to protect the products from UV light. Derivatives of benzophenone, such as benzophenone-2 (BP2) and oxybenzone (benzophenone-3 or BP3) are common ingredients in sunscreen. Benzophenone is persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT).[1][2] These chemicals are linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, and organ system toxicity.
The laws governing cosmetics and personal care products are so limited that known cancer-causing chemicals, or carcinogens, are legally allowed in personal care products. Some carcinogens, such as formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, are common in personal care products, while others are less common, but still occasionally present.
Ethanolamines are present in many consumer products ranging from cosmetics, personal care products and household cleaning products. Both have been linked to liver tumors. The European Commission prohibits diethanolamine (DEA) in cosmetics, to reduce contamination from carcinogenic nitrosamines. [1]
Heavy metals like lead, arsenic, mercury, aluminum, zinc, chromium and iron are found in a wide variety of personal care products including lipstick, whitening toothpaste, eyeliner and nail color.
Teflon® in your makeup? Yuck. This non-stick ingredient and other fluorinated compounds have been associated with delayed menstruation, later breast development and cancer.
Synthetic musks are chemicals used in personal care product fragrances. They are rarely listed on the label, since fragrance ingredients are often not disclosed.
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