Many cosmetic products contain hormonally harmful substances

Many cosmetic companies have not yet said goodbye to hormonal ingredients
Cosmetic products often contain substances of concern which, when in daily contact, are associated with significant health risks. For example, the Austrian environmental protection organization Global 2000 found hormone-active ingredients in around one third of the tested cosmetic products in their "Cosmetics Check 2013/2014" and asked companies to "ban these potentially harmful substances from their cosmetics." Now the cosmetics reviewed again and improvement was only partially in sight.

"Two years ago, we found hormone-active ingredients in around one-third of the cosmetics we tested, and we called on industry and commerce to eliminate these harmful substances from cosmetics," the Global 2000 statement said Although noticeable improvements. Unfortunately, "about every fourth cosmetic product tested contains hormonal ingredients such as parabens, UV filters or other substances suspected of interfering with hormonal control processes and thus increasing human health, especially that of pregnant women and children damage, "says the environmental organization.

Furthermore, many cosmetic products contain extremely questionable hormonally active substances. (Image: pagnacco / fotolia.com)

Over 500 personal care products checked
In the current study, the experts reviewed "the three product groups that were already at the focus of our first Cosmetics Check 2013/2014: toothpastes (174 items), body lotions (231 items) and aftershaves (126 items)," explains Global 2000. The products were acquired "at the dm, Müller and BIPA drugstores (REWE Group), as well as at the Hofer and Spar retail chains." Altogether, 531 personal care products were checked on the packaging according to the manufacturer's information on whether they contain substances that are on the EU Priority List of Hormonally Active Chemicals in Category 1 or 2 are listed.

Improvements compared to the first cosmetic check
The scientists found 11 per cent of the toothpastes examined and 21 per cent of the bodylotions examined and were able to demonstrate hormonally effective cosmetic ingredients. In view of the results of the investigation two years ago quite positive figures. The proportion of hormone-loaded products in toothpastes and body lotions has been halved since the first cosmetic check, reports Global 2000. However, there was no improvement in shaving irrigation. Here, as in the first check, about 40 percent of the articles examined contained hormonally effective UV filters and UV absorbers. Slightly decreasing, however, is the sometimes quite problematic use of denatured alcohol.

Every fourth cosmetic product with hormonally active ingredients
According to Global 2000, the decline in hormone-contaminated cosmetics clearly shows that at least parts of the cosmetics industry are turning away from hormonally active ingredients. Decisive pioneer in the exit from cosmetic hormones is the trade. This has already started to make own brands hormone-free. However, about every fourth cosmetic product still contains hormonally active ingredients. According to the experts, this is also to be critically assessed against the background of indications of a contribution of hormonally active chemicals in everyday products "to the worldwide increase in diabetes, obesity, reproductive disorders, breast and prostate cancer, cardiovascular diseases and cognitive disorders "Have massively compacted recently.

Certified natural cosmetics guaranteed free from hormonally active chemicals
It is not without reason that most of the tested ingredients, such as all parabens, are ranked in the EU's list of priorities for endocrine disruptors in the highest category (Cat. 1), emphasizes Global 2000. Clearly endocrine disrupting effects on animals have already been identified. In addition, many of these substances, such as real hormones, would be effective even in very small concentrations. Such a "low-dose effect" shows the most used cosmetic hormone "Methylparaben". While all this is "not conclusive evidence that parabens and other hormonal cosmetic ingredients are harmful to human health, the evidence available should be sufficient grounds for the precautionary abandonment of these substances of concern," the environmental organization said. Guaranteed free of hormonally active chemicals are certified natural cosmetic products. (Fp)