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| Popular Lipsticks Contain Dangerous Levels of Lead |
At least two popular lipstick brands have lead levels above the threshold considered safe (5 ppm) in personal care products in the state of California, according to FDA researchers.
Lead is a neurotoxin that is particularly dangerous for pregnant women.
In the FDA testing, the most-contaminated brand, Maybelline Color Sensation made by L'Oreal USA, had lead levels more than 275 times the level found in the least contaminated brands, and more than seven times higher than the average found in all the lipsticks.
The FDA researchers, who tested 400 brands of lipstick, have concluded that the problem is much more widespread among lipsticks sold to U.S. customers than the agency's previous research had found.
According to Jane Houlihan, senior VP for research at Environmental Working Group, "Millions of women get a little bit of toxic lead on their lips each day with every swipe of their lipstick"
"There is no safe level of lead exposure. The biggest concern is for pregnant women – lead is a potent neurotoxin and the fetus and very young children are most at risk. Some companies make lead-free lipsticks, and we think all companies should."
EWG has addressed a letter to Linda Katz, M.D., M.P.H., director of FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors, that reads, "Your new analysis found lead levels in lipstick more than twice as high as your previous report. As in previous studies, certain manufacturers consistently have higher lead levels than other brands... Clearly, some manufacturers could be doing more to protect women from unnecessary lead exposure."
