Not My Breasts

What Goes On Baby Goes In Baby, Too

On Monday, the respected medical journal Pediatrics published a study that could (should) change the way parents use and think about the lotions, powders and shampoos they rub on their babies.

The study showed a correlation between exposure to these typical personal care products and the levels of phthalates in the babies' urine. In other words, the babies who got the most lotion, powder and shampoo on their skin also had the highest levels of these toxic chemicals in their little bodies.

Phthalates, unfortunately for us and our kids, are not harmless. They've been linked to breast cancer, early puberty in girls, reduced testosterone levels, lowered sperm counts, genital defects in baby boys and testicular cancer.

Phthalates are often hidden in the ingredient "fragrance" because a loophole in U.S. law allows manufacturers to avoid disclosing the components of fragrance or perfume in products. The chemicals are also used to keep plastics soft and pliable--for use in products like baby toys and teethers, among other plastics.

In fact, phthalate exposure among kids is of such high concern that California recently banned them from toys intended for children 3 and younger (this bill was co-sponsored by the Breast Cancer Fund and Environment California in 2007), Congress has introduced a similar bill (the Children's Chemical Risk Reduction Act of 2007) and the state of Washington is considering a broader ban that would include phthalates, lead and cadmium in toys as well as personal care products for kids 12 and under.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, of which the Breast Cancer Fund is a part, expressed concern for both babies and women of childbearing age--baby's first environment. But this groundbreaking study proves what we already knew: what goes on our skin goes in our bodies. With that in mind, it's time we closed the loopholes on cosmetic safety in the U.S.

Teens for Safe Cosmetics take Union Square

On Tuesday, dozens of Bay Area high-schoolers took to Union Square in downtown San Francisco to protest the use of toxic chemicals in cosmetics products. They wore prom dresses and combat boots.

Teens for Safe Cosmetics is yet another example of concerned women across the country who are pressuring cosmetics companies to remove ingredients linked to cancer or birth defects from products.

Learn more about the problem and check out the video from Tuesday's "ProjectPROM" event below.

Perfume, perfume everywhere

Synthetic musk fragrances are added to countless consumer items. A decade ago, musks were found in human breast milk in Europe, raising a red flag. Now, even higher levels of polycyclic musks have been found in breast milk from U.S. mothers.

To check out the ingredients of your cosmetics products, visit the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep database. And visit the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to get involved and take action for safer cosmetics.