Mascara with carcinogenic nitrosamines

NDR reporters find carcinogenic substances in mascara

20/04/2013

According to an NDR research, carcinogenic pollutants have been detected in mascara. The ink becomes „absolutely normal“ sold commercially. Some laboratory studies have shown that some products have exceeded the regulatory limits of nitrosamines.

NDR reporter from the television documentary "The tricks of the cosmetics industry" were amazed when they found in their research that many mascara products are loaded with carcinogenic substances. By means of random sampling, the goods were purchased in drugstores and perfumeries and then examined for ingredients in the laboratory. The experts found that three out of 15 samples were contaminated with the suspected nitrosamine substances. According to the NDR documentation, the following products are affected: „NYX, 156 micrograms / kg bourjois, 60 micrograms / kg; Chanel, 44 micrograms / kg“.

Risk Authority: Mascara must not be sold
„For the processed raw material needed for mascara, the EU limit is 50 micrograms / kg“, the authors write in a press release. In two cases the values ​​were higher in the laboratory. In this context, the Federal Office for Risk Assessment (BfR) suspected that in all three cases the raw materials used could have been heavily contaminated. For this reason, the contaminated mascara should no longer be sold in German trade. "Since the products measured levels of 44-156 micrograms / kg, it can be assumed that the limit in the raw material was not met, which means that the products are not marketable," says the BfR.

Companies are criticizing
The affected companies responded to requests from the reporters very differently. The manufacturer NYX „could not understand the allegations“, as it was called. The renowned cosmetics manufacturer Bourjois apparently did not respond at all. Only Chanel made a statement. Here the corporation stressed, according to the NDR, that „such amounts no health effects“ had.

Everyday contact with nitrosamines damages the health
At first glance, this assessment is not entirely wrong. The respective quantities are not harmful to health if used alone. However, consumers come in everyday contact with a variety of nitrosamine sources in contact. Physicians and scientists have been advising for years to avoid the contact and ingestion of nitrosamines. In addition to the nitrosamine find, the documentation is also about the effects of „Report anti-aging products, creams, shampoos and make-ups“. The program will be broadcast on NDR television next Monday at 9:00 pm. (Sb)

Image: Daniel Race