Half Of US Cosmetics Contain Toxic Chemicals
2021-08-10
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
2More than half of the cosmetics sold in the United States and Canada have dangerous chemicals connected with serious health conditions.
3A new study claims that those conditions include cancer and reduced birth weight in newborn babies.
4Cosmetics are substances that you put on your face or body to improve appearance.
5Another name for cosmetics is makeup.
6Researchers at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana tested more than 230 commonly used cosmetics.
7They found that 56 percent of foundations and eye products, 48 percent of lip products and 47 percent of mascaras contain fluorine.
8The Associated Press recently reported on the story and explained fluorine this way.
9Fluorine is an irritating gaseous chemical element.
10Fluorine is also an indicator of the so-called "forever chemicals" called PFAS, spelled P-F-A-S.
11The man-made PFAS molecules contain fluorine and are used in some cooking containers, floor coverings and many other products.
12Some of the highest PFAS levels were found in waterproof mascara and long-lasting lipstick.
13This is just one of the findings of the study published recently in the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters.
14Researchers did additional testing on 29 products found to have higher fluorine amounts.
15The researchers found they contain between four and 13 specific PFAS chemicals.
16However, only one of those tested products listed PFAS as an ingredient on its container.
17The U.S. Food and Drug Administration oversees cosmetics in the country.
18A spokesperson for the agency said the FDA does not comment on specific studies.
19The FDA said on its website that there have been few studies on the amount of the chemicals in cosmetics.
20And the published studies usually found very low levels of the chemicals.
21The FDA website also notes that such low levels are not likely to cause harm.
22A fact sheet published on the agency's website says, "As the science on PFAS in cosmetics continues to advance," the FDA will continue to analyze data from the cosmetics industry as well as published research.
23The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is also collecting industry data on the use of PFAS chemicals and connected health risks.
24It is considering regulations to reduce possible risks caused by the chemicals.
25On its website the EPA states that PFAS chemicals stay in the environment and in the human body for a very long time.
26They do not break down and can build up over time.
27The site adds that there is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to several health problems.
28PFAS chemicals are an issue of increasing concern for lawmakers who are working to control their use in consumer products.
29The study results were announced as a group of U.S. senators introduced a bill to ban the use of PFAS in cosmetics and other beauty products.
30The move to ban PFAS comes as Congress considers legislation.
31The legislation aims to set a national drinking water standard for some PFAS chemicals.
32It also includes cleaning up polluted areas across the United States.
33Widespread testing in recent years has found high levels of PFAS in many public water systems and military bases.
34"There is nothing safe and nothing good about PFAS,″ said Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from the state of Connecticut.
35He introduced the cosmetics bill with Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine.
36Representative Debbie Dingell, a Democrat from Michigan, has supported several PFAS-related bills in the House of Representatives.
37She has looked for PFAS in her own beauty products.
38However, she could not see if they were present because the products were not correctly marked.
39"How do I know it doesn't have PFAS?" she asked at a recent news conference.
40She was talking about the eye makeup, foundation and lipstick she was wearing.
41Blumenthal calls himself a fighter for the consumer.
42Companies that want to avoid possible government regulation should voluntarily go PFAS-free, Blumenthal added.
43He said that while he does not wear makeup products, he and his supporters have a message for the cosmetics industry: "We've trusted you and you betrayed us."
44And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo.
1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. 2More than half of the cosmetics sold in the United States and Canada have dangerous chemicals connected with serious health conditions. A new study claims that those conditions include cancer and reduced birth weight in newborn babies. 3Cosmetics are substances that you put on your face or body to improve appearance. Another name for cosmetics is makeup. 4Researchers at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana tested more than 230 commonly used cosmetics. They found that 56 percent of foundations and eye products, 48 percent of lip products and 47 percent of mascaras contain fluorine. 5The Associated Press recently reported on the story and explained fluorine this way. Fluorine is an irritating gaseous chemical element. Fluorine is also an indicator of the so-called "forever chemicals" called PFAS, spelled P-F-A-S. The man-made PFAS molecules contain fluorine and are used in some cooking containers, floor coverings and many other products. 6Some of the highest PFAS levels were found in waterproof mascara and long-lasting lipstick. This is just one of the findings of the study published recently in the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters. 7Researchers did additional testing on 29 products found to have higher fluorine amounts. The researchers found they contain between four and 13 specific PFAS chemicals. However, only one of those tested products listed PFAS as an ingredient on its container. 8The U.S. Food and Drug Administration oversees cosmetics in the country. A spokesperson for the agency said the FDA does not comment on specific studies. The FDA said on its website that there have been few studies on the amount of the chemicals in cosmetics. And the published studies usually found very low levels of the chemicals. The FDA website also notes that such low levels are not likely to cause harm. 9A fact sheet published on the agency's website says, "As the science on PFAS in cosmetics continues to advance," the FDA will continue to analyze data from the cosmetics industry as well as published research. 10The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is also collecting industry data on the use of PFAS chemicals and connected health risks. It is considering regulations to reduce possible risks caused by the chemicals. 11On its website the EPA states that PFAS chemicals stay in the environment and in the human body for a very long time. They do not break down and can build up over time. The site adds that there is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to several health problems. 12PFAS chemicals are an issue of increasing concern for lawmakers who are working to control their use in consumer products. The study results were announced as a group of U.S. senators introduced a bill to ban the use of PFAS in cosmetics and other beauty products. 13The move to ban PFAS comes as Congress considers legislation. The legislation aims to set a national drinking water standard for some PFAS chemicals. It also includes cleaning up polluted areas across the United States. Widespread testing in recent years has found high levels of PFAS in many public water systems and military bases. 14"There is nothing safe and nothing good about PFAS,″ said Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from the state of Connecticut. He introduced the cosmetics bill with Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine. 15Representative Debbie Dingell, a Democrat from Michigan, has supported several PFAS-related bills in the House of Representatives. She has looked for PFAS in her own beauty products. However, she could not see if they were present because the products were not correctly marked. 16"How do I know it doesn't have PFAS?" she asked at a recent news conference. She was talking about the eye makeup, foundation and lipstick she was wearing. 17Blumenthal calls himself a fighter for the consumer. Companies that want to avoid possible government regulation should voluntarily go PFAS-free, Blumenthal added. 18He said that while he does not wear makeup products, he and his supporters have a message for the cosmetics industry: "We've trusted you and you betrayed us." 19And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo. 20Matthew Daly reported this story for the Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted this for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 21________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23cosmetics - n. a substance (such as a cream, lotion, or powder) that you put on your face or body to improve your appearance 24foundation - n. a cosmetic usually used as a base for makeup 25irritating - adj. causing displeasure, anger, or annoyance 26indicator - n. a sign that shows the condition or existence of something 27specific - adj. relating to a particular person, situation, etc. 28ingredient - n. one of the things that are used to make a food, product, etc. 29data - n. facts or information used usually to calculate, analyze, or plan something 30exposure - n. the condition of being subject to some detrimental effect or harmful condition 31consumer - n. a person who buys goods and services 32betray - v. to tell in violation of a trust