Kiss of lead, titanium and aluminum, Oh My!:
What’s in your lipstick?
~ Cynthia G. Creel
May 4, 2013
My story:
My eyes would light up when my aunt would say, “Do you want me to put makeup on your face?” I love the attention with feel of the bush and smooth, cool lipstick upon my lips. It make me feel special. In reality my aunt might have been asking me, “Do you want me to put poison on your face?” If the makeup contained lead in it or other heavy metals. This idea would have horrified my aunt that she might have been poisoning herself and putting me at risk if she had known the possibilities. There is no way of knowing today, there is no way of testing that lipstick and makeup.
My aunt was just trying to have some fun with me and luckily I didn't normally wear makeup when I was young. It wasn't until I was in college that I used some on a daily bases. However in my late teens and early 20’s my brain would still have been developing about age of 25 according to Office of Population Affairs (OPA) (12) What I did in the past I can not change, what I do in the future has all possibilities.
Effects of lead:
The Agency of Toxicity Substance and Disease Registry (ATSDR) (1) gives a description of lead affecting the heart and blood vessels, developing organs, digestive, blood formation, muscles and bone, nervous system, eyes, kidneys, urinary system and reproductive system. Children are at higher risk with developing bodies. So far there is no connection to cancer. Lead is part of the natural environment and has been remixed into the environment burning fossil fuels, mining or manufacturing including batteries, pipes, and X-rays. Over the years eliminating or decreasing lead form products has happened in gasoline, paints, ceramics, caulking and pipe solder. Could lipstick be added to the list. (7) with the finding of lead in many brands?
According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (4) increasing concern of level as low as 5 µg/dL and higher risk is associated with work related exposure. A non work related exposure was found in shooting firearms, remodeling, gunshot wound, and lead casting. What damage can be done from exposure to lead painted onto the lips?
Children and lead:
Children have developing bodies and minds and can be at a higher risk when exposed to lead. Preventing lead exposure in now the new focus of the CDC (11)(13) . Children can be given a blood test to test to measure the level of lead in their blood. Exposure to lead, even with low levels in the blood have shown to affect the IQ, ability to focus, perform academically. Currently the it is believed the effects of lead exposure cannot be corrected. 5 micrograms per deciliter level replaced the old reference of 10 micrograms per deciliter level to identify children at risk.
Child‘s brain development well into being considered an adult:
The OPA (12) reports Brain research indicating the prefrontal cortex is not complete until around age 25. The studies have found that teens have less white matter (myelin) in the frontal lobes of their brains when compared to adults. The myelin increases with age for teens. Some of the function of the frontal lobes includes focusing, organization, solving problems, consequences, planning, delayed gratification, stopping inappropriate behavior and the ability to consider a complex situation. These functions seem to be giving a description of the development of judgment, there to help protect ourselves. .
Labeling and amounts of lead found in lipstick:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (7) and reported in the Journal of Cosmetic Science in 2007 report listed lead in 20 lipstick from .09 ppm to 3.06 ppm with an average of 1.07 ppm
In the 2009 the FDA report lead content in 400 lipsticks 7.19 ppm to less than 0.026 ppm with an average of 1.1 ppm. The FDA has no limits set for cosmetics one exception is the lead amounts in color additives with a limit set at no more than 20 parts per million (ppm). The FDA states, “We do not consider the lead levels we found in the lipsticks to be a safety concern.”
Newest study of lead in lipstick is it getting better or worse?:
Lead is still present in some lipstick today. Berkeley news center (8) reported in a new study that examined 32 different lipsticks and lip glosses commonly found for sell potentially being hazardous to health. This newest study published on May 2, 2013 ( 9) shows the lip products tested with daily uses considered most of the products had high levels of titanium and aluminum, all tested products had manganese and lead was found in 24 products with an average concentration of 0.36 ppm and the highest level of 1.32 ppm. If used on of the lip products on a daily bases found the amounts exceeded an acceptable about with 3% for aluminum, 68% for chromium, and 22% for manganese with estimates of lead that were less than 20%. The study concluded that a cosmetics safety should include the hazardous contents and estimated the exposure to health.
Final words:
Cosmetics covers up the unwanted look of age or damage. The idea of what is beautiful is being sold by companies to our children, young and adults as normal and an applied beauty and health that comes from a box, jar, tube or bottle. Children can play dress up to performing on stage that may include a risk of exposure to lead and other elements. What we do to help our children maybe putting them at risk from the hidden dangers that are not obvious to the naked eye. My children performed for years on stage, I didn't like the use of makeup but understood the need to help the effects of the performance. Just like a costume, with the uses of extra heavy cosmetics. It never occurred to me there might be lead exposure.
The hidden dangers we have to deal with are the worst. Lead and other contaminations in the lipstick and other cosmetics are only one of many different elements that may harm a person. If that person is a child, with a developing brain, the effects could be a much higher risk than for an adult. When we think something is just for fun or makes us beautiful than the real harm may be not understanding the risk which could affect someone over a lifetime. It has the ability to alter the course of a person.
What we do to make ourselves “pretty” may have the highest cost of all if we don't know what is being absorbed or digested into our bodies the end results can be silent and devastating in the long run. The truth of the matter is when a person has True Health there is not much need to add cosmetics to the body. The brightness, tone and color of the hair, skin, and eyes is there. The easiest solution is to step onto the path of True Health and find the beauty that the body can develop naturally.
Be proactive. Understand what your risks are for yourself and your children. Children are always at higher risk with limited abilities and experience. Parents and guardians are the first line of defense for children to protect them from others and themselves. Keep our children safe helps keep us safe.
Discover a new world. Help yourself, help your children, help the world, step onto the Path of True Health and vote with your dollars which cosmetics are purchased helps create the world you want to live in, to create a world you will love to live in. I do, and I like the world I am helping to create. Together we can create a better life for all to remember over their entire lifetime Together we can protect what we have so we don't need to live in a world that is second rate.
By Design ~ “Life is good By Design”
Photo creation by Cynthia G. Creel all rights reserved ©2013
Plum tree on the By Design Farm
all rights reserved ©2013 written permission is needed to duplicate
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of By Design or Cynthia G. Creel. Consultation of a medical professional is highly recommended before any changes are considered. This article is not saying anyone person in a leadership position is unhealthy or healthy, it is just a possibly of many and is only speaking in general terms. .Note: No company mentioned in this article is considered to serve “healthy or unhealthy” food, any examples given was only used as an example of how business works though their history and public information. The focus is only to help explain a idea. Statements and conclusions of any study authors that are presented are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of Cynthia G. Creel or any means the information is published. There is no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability.
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Sources:
(1) http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/substances/toxsubstance.asp?toxid=22
(2) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2104453/Cadmium-mascara-lead-lipstick-arsenic-eyeliner-The-ugly-secrets-beauty-industry-isn-t-telling-you.html
(3) http://classwebs.spea.indiana.edu/dhenshel/Toxicology/Policy%20Briefs%20Consumer%20Products/Phthalates%20in%20makeup%20Kiri%20Nielsen%20PolicyBrief.pdf
(4) http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6025a2.htm
(5) http://blog.epa.gov/greeningtheapple/2012/10/lead-in-lipstick/
(6) http://journal.scconline.org/pdf/cc2009open/cc060n04/p00405-p00414.pdf
(7) http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/ProductInformation/ucm137224.htm#analyses
(8)
http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/2013/05/02/toxic-metals-in-lipstick/
(9) http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1205518/
(10) http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/CaseManagement/caseManage_main.htm
(11) http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/ACCLPP/blood_lead_levels.htm
(12) http://www.hhs.gov/opa/familylife/tech_assistance/etraining/adolescent_brain/Development/prefrontal_cortex/
(13) http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/acclpp/cdc_response_lead_exposure_recs.pdf
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