Many popular perfumes contain undisclosed chemicals associated with hormone disruption, allergic reactions and a tendency to accumulate in human tissues, according to a report from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. The study, which was conducted for the campaign by the Environmental Working Group, tested 17 name-brand fragrances, including Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio, Chanel Coco and Jennifer Lopez J. Lo Glow. In the tested products, the study found an average of 10 chemicals that can cause allergic reactions such as asthma, wheezing and headaches. An average of four hormone-disrupting chemicals were found in each product.
Regulators haven’t evaluated the safety of most of the undisclosed chemicals found in the fragrances, according to the report.
This complex mix of clandestine compounds in popular colognes and perfumes makes it impossible for consumers to make informed decisions about the products they consider buying.
Fragrance secrecy is legal due to a loophole in the Federal Fair Packaging and Labeling Act of 1973, which requires companies to list cosmetics ingredients on the product labels but explicitly exempts fragrance. By taking advantage of this loophole, the cosmetics industry has kept the public in the dark about the ingredients in fragrance, even those that present potential health risks or build up in people’s bodies.
An industry scientist criticized the study, saying the chemicals identified as potentially toxic were sensitive only at very high doses. From CNN:
I think they’re misusing information at several levels,” Bailey says. “They report the so-called secret materials in products and they don’t report the levels. As an analytical chemist, you have two jobs. One is to identify chemicals. And the other is to identify how much is there. The quantity is critical.”
Thanks for the information, but why have you failed to lists the names of the toxic chemicals and hormone-disruptors and links to evidence showing that it does cause these health issues? I mean, it’s almost as if we have to take your word for it. I don’t know you from Adam.
Why are you not being more clear about the outcomes of your research? Where is your evidence?