Recently the California Assembly reintroduced the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act, A.B. 2762 – this act would ban 12 ingredients from beauty and personal care products sold in California. What does this mean for you? Well, we have some info to help you.
What Are The Banned 12
The proposed bill is joint authored by Assembly Members Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), Bill Quirk (D-Hayward) and Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) and co-sponsored by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Black Women for Wellness, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners and California Public Interest Research Group (CalPIRG).
The bill would ban 12 chemicals considered toxic by the assembly members and these organizations. The ingredients include:
- Dibutyl phthalate
- Diethylhexyl phthalate
- Formaldehyde
- Paraformaldehyde
- Methylene glycol
- Quaternium-15
- Mercury
- Isobutylparaben
- Isopropylparaben
- m-Phenylenediamine and its salts
- o-Phenylenediamine and its salts
- 13 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their salts
Are These 12 Ingredients Toxic
Here’s some research and commentary on the bill from the authors and sponsors.
A study by the National Institutes for Health (NIH) in December 2019 found a correlation between women who use permanent hair dye and chemical straighteners, and a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Some Hair dyes and chemical straighteners use some of the ingredients listed above. The NIH also concluded that black women were the most adversely affected.
Nourbese Flint, executive director of Black Women for Wellness Action Project proposes:
"Harmful chemicals such as mercury and formaldehyde have no place in our beauty products – period…We know these chemicals are dangerous, and that they have a cumulative effect that disproportionately impacts communities of color, women and low-income working families.”
Jane Nudelman, director of the Breast Cancer Prevention Partner’s Campaign for Safe Cosmetics emphasizes:
“A.B. 2762 is a commonsense bill that would ban 12 of the most toxic chemicals from beauty products sold in California, nine of which are directly linked to breast cancer.”
Assembly Member Muratsuchi comments:
“I want my daughter growing up in a state where I don’t have to be an expert toxicologist to know the soaps, face creams and toothpastes that are safe for her to use…That is why I introduced A.B. 2762 – to get the most toxic chemicals out of the products we use on a daily basis.”
Assembly Member Quirk explains:
"The European Union has done the rigorous science to identify ingredients that are not safe for use in cosmetics. By following their science on chemical bans, we can ensure products sold in California are safe while also creating a more global standard for cosmetic safety."
Finally Laura Deehan, public health advocate for CalPIRG believes:
“Right now, each time we take a shower, put on makeup or go to the salon, we increase our risk of infertility and cancer. That is unacceptable. Now is the time for California to step up to get toxics out of our personal care products.”
Of course, we don’t use any of these 12 ingredients in any Block Island Organics products. Plus, if you’re questioning the safety of an ingredient in a product – it’s always good to do some research and consult your doctor.
Will The Bill Become Law
It’s unclear. The first bill that tried to ban these 12 chemicals was bill AB 495 which and it was considered last year. However, AB 495 stalled in committee.
The specific committee these types of bills go to is the California Assembly Health Committee. Bill AB 495 stopped there because the legislators wanted more conclusive evidence that people are becoming ill from exposure to the ingredients.
Skin Care News
I don’t know what will happen this time around with the bill but we’ll try and keep everyone updated as we get new updates.
So check back our Skin Care blog series often for the latest and greatest news on all things skin care.
