Prohibited chemicals found in American shampoos, sunscreens and tampons
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From shampoos and sunscreens to tampons, many personal care products on the American shelves contain chemicals associated with cancer, infertility and hormone destruction.. Despite these astounding associations, federal law in the United States does not require businesses to disclose potentially harmful ingredients. only California obligations Transparency is limited, and most Americans leave behind in the dark about what they put their bodies in and absorb.
For Tiatomlin Harris, a two-time survivor of triple-negative breast cancer, the lack of transparency was a wake-up call. Diagnosed before the age of 40 without a genetic predisposition, Tomlin Harris began asking harsh questions. Where does this come from? Genetic testing returned to negative and placed her in 80-90% of breast cancer patients who were not associated with family history. Her background as a pharma chemist gave her a unique perspective and an important eye for labels.
The Yuka app depicted here evaluates products for the safety of chemicals. (Fox News Digital)
“I started digging into causality,” she told Fox. “The first thing I did was to remove all the products in my house – from hair care to dish detergent. I went back to my grandma’s treatment (baking soda, vinegar). As she studied, she noticed a number of widely used beauty and hygiene products packed with potentially harmful chemicals.
Director of the Health and Welfare Bureau Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He is yet to tackle the personal care industry, seeking the removal of toxic additives in processed foods. FDA Commissioner Marty McCurry said the agency would “recover the restrictions” and “(We) are overregulating.”
Mobile tools allow shoppers to have more control over the grocery aisle – especially as concerns extend to hidden chemical exposure. (Getty)
That idea has led to an explosion of consumer-driven tools such as Yuka and Clearya. ai. “Most people are shocked,” said Julie Chapon, co-founder of Yuka. “They assume that green packaging means safety.”
Tomlin Harris highlighted the disproportionate impact on women of color, especially black women. “We spend nine times more on beauty products than other demographics, but these products contain the most harmful ingredients like parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde and benzene. They’re not just related to cancer. They’re destroying hormones.
a Consumers report survey Carcinogens have been found in 10 braided hair brands at the top, many of which are sold to black women and girls.
American consumers incorporate product safety into one barcode at a time. (WaveBreamedia)
Janet Noudelman, director of Breast Cancer Prevention Partner’s Safe Cosmetics Campaign, agrees that because of harmful ingredients, consumers often choose “between protecting skin cancer and increasing risk of breast cancer.”. Dr. Leonardo Trasande, a study that highlights the health hazards of common chemicals, is called the current system and is “equipped to produce chemical exposures that are toxic to hormones.” The outcome, he warns, is social.
The federal government is responding slowly. A safer beauty invoice package, Reintroduced in Congressbans toxic ingredients, increases disclosure of ingredients, and tries to protect vulnerable groups such as hair stylists, nail technicians, and women of color. But for now, consumers are pretty much left to protect themselves.
FDA Commissioner McCurry claims that change is coming. “We’re cataloging all the chemicals in our food supply to see how to make it safer.” Still, advocacy groups say the US is far behind the EU in regulating beauty safety.
Industry representatives are pushed back. The Personal Care Products Council states, “PCPC and our member companies are fully committed to supporting the highest standards of safety, quality and transparency.”
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From produce to personal care, supporters like Tia Tomlin Harris say it’s time for full-label transparency in the US (istock)
But for supporters like Tomlin Harris, the promise is not enough. “This isn’t just a woman’s problem,” she said. “It’s a matter of people. Men are affected. Children are affected. Our population is exposed to chemicals that we disagree with, and we are paying the price.”
Her message is clear: “We need transparency. We need regulation. And we need accountability from the companies that create these products. Now is the time to detoxify our daily lives, demand safer alternatives, and prioritize health.”