The remarks from the US cosmetics trade association are in response to a report published by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC) called ‘No More Toxic Tub’.
In the report, CSC state that out of 28 baby products tested, 23 contained formaldehyde, and 32 out of 48 products tested contained 1,4 dioxane. It claims the chemicals are linked to cancer and skin allergies.
The PCPC has responded by calling the allegations "patently false and a shameful and cynical attempt by an activist group to incite and prey upon parental worries and concerns in order to push a political, legislative and legal agenda".
It argues that CSC has falsely attempted to position the report as ‘scientifically noteworthy’ and new.
“The US FDA and the Cosmetic Ingredients Review (CIR) …have long been aware of the potential presence of 1,4 dioxane and formaldehyde in personal care products and found them to be safe when present at low levels,” said Dr John Bailey, chief scientist for the Personal Care Products Council.
By-product from detergent manufacture
1,4 dioxane is not an ingredient in cosmetics products but a by-product created from the manufacture of certain detergent and solvent ingredients.
CSC claims that the presence of the chemical even in trace levels is a cause for concern.
However, PCPC quote the FDA as stating that 1,4 dioxane levels found in their monitoring of personal care products and cosmetics ‘do not present a hazard to consumers.’
The second ingredient in question, formaldehyde, is not added to cosmetics but rather released in very small doses by the formaldehyde-releasing preservatives that are used, explained PCPC.
CSC calls formaldehyde a ‘probable carcinogen’, although it does say that the risk of cancer from absorption through the skin is not fully understood.
However, the CIR Expert Panel concluded that formaldehyde in cosmetics and personal care products is safe and should not exceed 2,000ppm when measured as free formaldehyde, which matches the European legislation on the chemical.
CSC’s test of 28 products, which were chosen to be likely candidates for containing the chemical, showed 23 to contain between 54 and 610 ppm of formaldehyde.
Bailey concluded by stating that cosmetics and personal care companies take commitment to safety very seriously and accuses CSC of distorting the facts about how products are regulated in the US.
“Parents should be given complete and accurate information about their products based on sound science rather than on incomplete and alarmist reports,” he said.