New Toxic Chemical in Cosmetics: D4 and D5 Siloxanes

Monday, April 06, 2009 by: David Gutierrez, staff writer
Tags: cosmetic products, health news, Natural News

(NaturalNews) The Canadian government has declared two common cosmetics ingredients to be toxic, making it the first government to voice concern over the chemicals D4 and D5.

Studies have found that D4 and D5, members of the siloxane family, resist degradation and accumulate within the bodies of animals -- qualifying them as persistent organic pollutants. Studies have linked them to reproductive damage in animals, including tumors of the uterus. Little research has been conducted on the chemicals' effects on humans, but they have been widely used in consumer products nonetheless.

The siloxanes are found in a variety of cosmetics, including lipsticks, lotions and hair care products. An Environmental Working Group survey of 41,000 different personal care products has found D4 and D5 in one out of every seven of the 41,000 different personal care products it has analyzed. D4 and D5 are also used in plastics (including the nipples of baby bottles), cookware and home cleaning products.

The Canadian government's primary concern is over D4 and D5's effects on wildlife because most studies have been conducted on animals, and the chemicals have been found to travel easily through the air over vast distances. However, persistent organic pollutants that pose threats to animals are often found to damage human health as well.

Canada has also announced that it will prioritize setting safe exposure levels for D4 and D5 under the federal Chemical Management Plan, with the possibility of placing a complete ban on the chemicals.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in contrast, has no plans to assess the safety of or exposure limits for D4 and D5.

"[The] move by Canada is not only important for the health of its citizens, it helps underscore the need for real reforms within the EPA's failed programs to regulate toxins in the U.S.," said Jane Houlihan of the Environmental Working Group. "Congress and President Obama need to overhaul broken toxics laws, and establish a policy that forces the chemical companies to first prove their products are safe before being used."

Sources for this story include: www.ewg.org.