CARCINOGENS IN COSMETICS

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.

FOUND IN: A wide variety of products, depending upon the ingredient

HOW CAN YOU AVOID CARCINOGENS IN COSMETICS?

Read labels and avoid cosmetics and personal care products containing formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (quaternium-15, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, and 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3 diol), phenacetin, coal tar, benzene, untreated or mildly treated mineral oils, ethylene oxide, chromium, cadmium and its compounds, arsenic and crystalline silica (or quartz).

HEALTH CONCERNS: Cancer, endocrine disruption, developmental and reproductive toxicity, bioaccumulation, ecotoxicity.
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS: All
REGULATIONS: Formaldehyde is prohibited in Japan,[1] and restricted in the EU;[2] coal tar is prohibited in the EU;[3] benzene is prohibited in the EU;[4]  ethylene oxide is prohibited in the EU;[5] chromium is prohibited in the EU; [6] cadmium compounds are prohibited in Japan[7] and the EU;[8] arsenic is prohibited in the EU.[9]

Where do we find those known human carcinogenic chemicals?The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is an intergovernmental agency, and part of the World Health Organization. IARC’s mission is to enhance collaboration in cancer research internationally.[10]

IARC consolidates scientific evidence and classifies the chemicals it reviews into five levels:[11]

• Group 1: Carcinogenic to humans
• Group 2A: Probably carcinogenic to humans
• Group 2B: Possibly carcinogenic to humans
• Group 3: Not classifiable as to their carcinogenicity to humans
• Group 4: Probably not carcinogenic to humans.

Of the 113 agents listed by IARC as known human carcinogens (Groups 1), at least 11 have been or are currently used in personal care products: formaldehyde, phenacetin, coal tar, benzene, untreated or mildly treated mineral oils, methylene glycol, ethylene oxide, chromium, cadmium and its compounds, arsenic, and crystalline silica or quartz.[12]

Carcinogens in personal care products: Chemicals and their health concerns?

FormaldehydePhenacetinCoal TarBenzene Mineral oils (untreated and mildly treated)Ethylene oxide Heavy MetalsCadmium and its compoundsArsenicChromium Silica 

Reference

[1] Ministry of Healtth, Labour and Welfare. Standards for Cosmetics. Available online: http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/dl/cosmetics.pdf July 23, 2014.

[2] European Commission. Crude and refined coal tars. Available online: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.details&id=28255 July 23, 2014.

[3] European Commission. Crude and refined coal tars. Available online: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.details&id=28768 July 23, 2014.

[4] European Commission. Chromium trioxide. Available online: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.details_v2&id=28884 July 23, 2014.

[5] European Commission. Crude and refined coal tars. Available online: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.details&id=28401 July 23, 2014.

[6] European Commission. Chromium trioxide. Available online: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.details_v2&id=80923 July 23, 2014.

[7] Ministry of Healtth, Labour and Welfare. Standards for Cosmetics. Available online: http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/dl/cosmetics.pdf July 23, 2014.

[8] European Commission. Cadmium and its compounds. Available online: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.details_v2&id=29456 July 23, 2014.

[9] European Commission. Arsenic. Available online: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.details_v2&id=28880July 23, 2014.

[10] International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). IARC mission. Available online: http://www.iarc.fr/en/about/index.php July 31, 2014.

[11] International Agency for Research on Cancer. Agents classified by the IARC monographs, volumes 1-109. Available online: http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/ July 31, 2014.

[12] IARC Monographs. Agents classified by the IARC Monographs. Vol. 1-109, available online: http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/ClassificationsAlphaOrder.pdf July 22, 2014.

[13] Occupational Safety & Health Administration. Formaldehyde. Available online: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/formaldehyde/index.html July 30, 2014.

[14] Moennich J. et al. Formaldehyde-releasing preservative in baby and cosmetic products. Journal of the Dermatology Nurses’ Association, vol. 1, pp. 211-214, 2009.

[15] Jacob S. & Breithaupt A., Environmental Exposures – A pediatric perspective on allergic contact dermatitis. Skin & Aging. July 2009: 28-36.

[16] Calfornia Safe Cosmetics Program Product Database. Formaldehyde. Available online: https://safecosmetics.cdph.ca.gov/search/categories.aspx August 6, 2014.

[17] Joshua H, & Hillebrand E., Determination of free formaldehyde in cosmetic preservatives and surfactants by HPLC with postcolumn derivatization. American Laboratory, vol. 42, no. 8, pp 14-15, 2010.

[18] Jacob S. & Breithaupt A., Environmental Exposures – A pediatric perspective on allergic contact dermatitis. Skin & Aging. July 2009: 28-36.

[19] Moennich J. et al. Formaldehyde-releasing golpreservative in baby and cosmetic products. Journal of the Dermatology Nurses’ Association, vol. 1, pp. 211-214, 2009.

[20] Jacob S. & Breithaupt A., Environmental Exposures – A pediatric perspective on allergic contact dermatitis. Skin & Aging. July 2009: 28-36.

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[23] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service National Toxicology Program. Report on carcinogens. 12th  edition, 2011.

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[26] Ministry of Healtth, Labour and Welfare. Standards for Cosmetics. Available online: http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/dl/cosmetics.pdf July 23, 2014.

[27] European Commission. Formaldehyde. Available online: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.details&id=28255 July 23, 2014.

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[43] European Commission. Crude and refined coal tars. Available online: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.details&id=28768 July 23, 2014.

[44] National Toxiciology Program.Report on carcinogens, twelfth edition (2011): coal tars and coal-tar pitches. Available online: http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/twelfth/profiles/coaltars.pdf July 31, 2014.

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[46] U.S. EPA, Toxicity and Exoposure Assessment for Children’s Health. Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). Available online: http://www.epa.gov/teach/chem_summ/BaP_summary.pdf July 31, 2014.

[47] National Toxicity Program (NTP). Available online: http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/about_ntp/bsc/2012/december/pahresearchconcept_508be.pdf July 24, 2014.

[48] National Toxicity Program (NTP). Available online: http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/about_ntp/bsc/2012/december/pahresearchconcept_508be.pdf July 24, 2014.

[49] Silent Spring Institution. Mammary carcinogens review database: phenacetin. Available online: http://sciencereview.silentspring.org/mamm_detail.cfm?cid=71-43-2 July 24, 2014.

[50] United States Department of Labor. OSHA: benzene. Available online: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/benzene/index.html July 24, 2014.

[51] California Safe Cosmetics Program Product Database. Benzene. Available online: https://safecosmetics.cdph.ca.gov/search/categories.aspx July 31, 2014.

[52] National Toxicology Program. CAS registry number: 62-44-2 toxicity effects. Available online: http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/testing/status/chemid/hsdb-62-44-2.html July 23, 2014.

[53]IARC Monographs. Agents classified by the IARC Monographs. Vol. 1-109, available online: http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/ClassificationsAlphaOrder.pdf July 22, 2014.

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[55] Silent Spring Institution. Mammary carcinogens review database: phenacetin. Available online: http://sciencereview.silentspring.org/mamm_detail.cfm?cid=71-43-2 July 24, 2014.

[56] United States Environmental Protection Agency. The original list of hazardous air pollutants as follows. Available online: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/188polls.html July 24, 2014.

[57] United States Environmental Protection Agency. Toxic and priority pollutants. Available online: http://water.epa.gov/scitech/methods/cwa/pollutants-background.cfm#pp August 6, 2014.

[58] The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX). Benzene. Available online: http://endocrinedisruption.org/popup-chemical-details?chemid=401 July 24, 2014.

[59] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NOISH pocket guide to chemical hazards: benzene. Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0049.html July 24, 2014.

[60] European Commission. Chromium trioxide. Available online: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.details_v2&id=28884 July 23, 2014.

[61] OSPAR Commission. List of substances of possible concern. Available online: http://www.ospar.org/content/content.asp?menu=01460304880153_000000_000000 July 24, 2014.

[62] IARC Monographs. Mineral oils, untreated or mildly treated. Available online: http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol100F/mono100F-19.pdfJuly 28, 2014.

[63] EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. Mineral oil. Available online: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/703977/MINERAL_OIL/ July 28, 2014.

[64] Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity. Available online: http://oehha.ca.gov/prop65/prop65_list/files/P65single01032014.pdf July 22, 2014.

[65] National Toxicology Program. CAS registry number: 62-44-2 toxicity effects. Available online: http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/testing/status/chemid/hsdb-62-44-2.html July 23, 2014.

[66]IARC Monographs. Agents classified by the IARC Monographs. Vol. 1-109, available online: http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/ClassificationsAlphaOrder.pdf July 22, 2014.

[67] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NOISH pocket guide to chemical hazards: oil mist (mineral). Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0472.html July 24, 2014.

[68] IARC Monographs. Ethylene oxide. Available online: http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol97/mono97-7.pdf August 5, 2014.

[69] EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. Formaldehyde. Available online: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/726229/ETHYLENE_OXIDE/ July 28, 2014.

[70] Silent Spring Institution. Mammary carcinogens review database: ethylene oxide. Available online: http://sciencereview.silentspring.org/mamm_detail.cfm?cid=75-21-8 July 28, 2014.

[71] Silent Spring Institution. Mammary carcinogens review database: ethylene oxide. Available online: http://sciencereview.silentspring.org/mamm_detail.cfm?cid=75-21-8 July 28, 2014.

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[73] The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX). Benzene. Available online: http://endocrinedisruption.org/popup-chemical-details?chemid=578 July 24, 2014.

[74] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NOISH pocket guide to chemical hazards: naphtha (coal tar). Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0275.html July 24, 2014.

[75] European Commission. Crude and refined coal tars. Available online: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.details&id=28401 July 23, 2014.

[76] Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Hexavalent Chromium. Available online: https://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA-3373-hexavalent-chromium.pdf August 5, 2014.

[77] Occupational Safety & Health Administration. Cadmium. Available online: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/cadmium/ August 5, 2014.

[78] EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. Available online: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/717716/CHROMIUM/ August 5, 2014.

[79] EWG’s Skin Deep Database. Impurities of concern in personal care products. Available online: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/2007/02/04/impurities-of-concern-in-personal-care-products/ August 6, 2014.

[80] California Safe Cosmetics Program Product Database. Arsenic. Available online: https://safecosmetics.cdph.ca.gov/search/products.aspx July 30, 2014

[81] Hormones Matter. Toxins in cosmetics – contaminants in your personal care products. Available online: http://www.hormonesmatter.com/toxins-cosmetics/ August 6, 2014.

[82] EWG’s Skin Deep Database. Arsenic. Available online: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/726195/ARSENIC/ August 7, 2014.

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[84] IARC Monographs. Agents classified by the IARC Monographs. Vol. 1-109, available online: http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/ClassificationsAlphaOrder.pdf July 23, 2014.

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[86] Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity. Available online: http://oehha.ca.gov/prop65/prop65_list/files/P65single01032014.pdf July 23, 2014.

[87] United States Department of Labor. OSHA: cadmium. Available online: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/cadmium/index.html July 23, 2014.

[88] Ministry of Healtth, Labour and Welfare. Standards for Cosmetics. Available online: http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/dl/cosmetics.pdf July 23, 2014.

[89] European Commission. Cadmium and its compounds. Available online: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.details_v2&id=29456 July 23, 2014.

[90] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). IRIS: Arsenic, inorganic. Available online: http://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/0278.htm July 23, 2014.

[91] United States Environmental Protection Agency. Priority Polutants. Available online: http://water.epa.gov/scitech/methods/cwa/pollutants.cfm July 23, 2014.

[92] The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX). Arsenic. Available online: http://endocrinedisruption.org/popup-chemical-details?chemid=389 July 23, 2014.

[93] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NOISH pocket guide to chemical hazards: Arsenic. Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0038.html July 23, 2014.

[94] European Commission. Arsenic. Available online: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.details_v2&id=28880July 23, 2014.

[95] European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Candidate list of substances of very high concern for authorization: chromium trioxide. Available online: http://echa.europa.eu/candidate-list-table?p_p_id=substancetypelist_WAR_substanceportlet&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_pos=2&p_p_col_count=3&_substancetypelist_WAR_substanceportlet_delta=20&_substancetypelist_WAR_substanceportlet_keywords=&_substancetypelist_WAR_substanceportlet_advancedSearch=false&_substancetypelist_WAR_substanceportlet_andOperator=true&_substancetypelist_WAR_substanceportlet_orderByCol=INCLUSIONDATECL&_substancetypelist_WAR_substanceportlet_orderByType=desc&_substancetypelist_WAR_substanceportlet_cur=6July 23, 2014.

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[97] United States Environmental Protection Agency. Priority Polutants. Available online: http://water.epa.gov/scitech/methods/cwa/pollutants.cfm July 23, 2014.

[98] European Commission. Chromium trioxide. Available online: http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/cosmetics/cosing/index.cfm?fuseaction=search.details_v2&id=80923 July 23, 2014.

[99] United Stated Department of Labor. OSHA: silica, crystalline. Available online: https://www.osha.gov/dsg/topics/silicacrystalline/index.html July 22, 2014.

[100] Crystalline silica and health from a European industry perspective. What is respirable crystalline silica (RSC) ? Available online: http://www.crystallinesilica.eu/content/what-respirable-crystalline-silica-rcs July 31, 2014.

[101] EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. Silica, crystalline. Available online: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/705472/SILICA%2C_CRYSTALLINE_%28QUARTZ%29/ July 28, 2014.

[102] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service National Toxicology Program. Report on carcinogens. 12th  edition, 2011.

[103] IARC Monographs. Agents classified by the IARC Monographs. Vol. 1-109, available online: http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/ClassificationsAlphaOrder.pdf July 22, 2014.

[104] Chemicals Known to the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive Toxicity. Available online: http://oehha.ca.gov/prop65/prop65_list/files/P65single01032014.pdf July 22, 2014.

[105] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. NOISH pocket guide to chemical hazards, silica, crystalline. Available online: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0684.html July 22, 2014.

http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/known-carcinogens/