USA: PFAS Ubiquitous in Cosmetics – U.S. Senators Call for Ban

Under the direction of Graham Peaslee at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, American scientists studied 231 cosmetics products sold in the United States and Canada. The results? All of them contained fluorine, some in comparatively high concentrations. The team examined 29 products in more detail, including mascaras, concealers, foundations, and lip and eye cosmetics, only to find that they contained various per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). But only one of the product labels correctly listed PFAS as an ingredient. The remaining products gave no indications of the presence of PFAS.    

In addition to the missing labeling, the authors see the increased concentrations of fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) as concerning. The chemicals are treacherous because they easily degrade into perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) like perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) – all of which are highly mobile substances. 

The article was published on June 15 in Environmental Science and Technology. On the same day, U.S. senators introduced draft legislation, the No PFAS in Cosmetics Act, that would ban the use of PFAS in cosmetics. One of the senators, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut urged consumers to be vigilant and make their anger known.

We are checking the labeling requirements mandated by the Code of Federal Regulations Sections for Cosmetics Labeling (CFR Title 21, Part 701); as well as the marketability of cosmetic products with consideration of special regulations, such as the California Safe Cosmetics Act. 

We also advice about the requirements of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) and the administrative regulations of 21 CFR Subchapter G – Cosmetics. 

If you have any questions, we are here for you at sales@kft.de

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