Environmental group warns vs toxic lipsticks

MANILA, Philippines — An environmental group on Wednesday cautioned lipstick lovers against adulterated and misbranded lipsticks found to have hazardous substances.

EcoWaste Coalition issued the warning after screening 115 samples bought from Baclaran, Cubao, Divisoria and Quiapo.

Sixty-one were found to be laden with lead concentrations above the 20 parts per million under the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive. Of the 61 lead-laden samples, 41 contained lead levels ranging from 1,026 to 44,800 ppm.

Samples of Qianxu lipstick and imitation MAC lipstick topped the list of products with dangerously high concentrations of lead.

“The levels of lead in these lipsticks are way beyond the permissible limit and without a shred of doubt, a serious safety concern,” Thony Dizon, EcoWaste Coalition chemical safety campaigner, said.

Dizon added: “Teen girls and adult women should avoid these lipsticks as lead, a cumulative toxicant, can build up in the body over time with frequent application of such lipsticks. There is no safe level of lead exposure.”

Lead, as classified by the World Health Organization, “is a cumulative toxicant that affects multiple body systems, including the neurologic, hematologic, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and renal systems.”

Aside from lead, some samples were also found positive for mercury, arsenic and cadmium.  

With the importation of adulterated lipstick, EcoWaste Coalition called on the government to strengthen border controls to prevent the entry of such cosmetics.

“We also think that national and local government agencies should conduct nonstop law enforcement activities, including on-the-spot confiscation of contraband items and preventive closure of erring business establishments, to rid the market of toxic cosmetics,” Dizon said.