Lead in Lipsticks
September 10, 2009 by Jo · Leave a Comment
Health Canada has released a study of lead in lipstick that found that 21 out of 26 lipsticks they tested contained lead levels that ranged from .07 to .84ppm. The highest reading of lead in a lipstick tested was 6.3ppm.
Infertility, miscarriage, kidney damage and behavioural problems can all be symptoms of high levels of lead exposure and lead poisoning. Continued exposure to lead poisoning can be fatal. The most vulnerable are children and pregnant women.
United States group of consumers, The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics also did their own tests of 33 lipsticks and found two thirds of the lipsticks tested had detectable levels of lead in them.
Lipstick is often ‘eaten’ off the lips or absorbed through the lips or ingested with food.
Class actions in the United States have been gathering momentum against major cosmetics companies who own well known brands including L’Oreal, Dior and Covergirl.