This message warns that certain prominent brands of lipstick contain dangerous amounts of lead and can cause cancer in those who use them. Although a 2007 study by The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found that some lipsticks do have higher than expected levels of lead, this message is in no way related to that study and contains highly misleading and inaccurate information. Health authorities worldwide have long known the dangers associated with lead exposure. Most have strict guidelines that regulate the level of lead in consumer products, including cosmetics. Regulatory and industry bodies such as the FDA in the US, the CTPA in the UK, the European Commission and similar institutions in other nations control the substances that can be added to cosmetic products. ©iStockphoto/Ivan Mateev One popular version of the message claims that the information originated from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. However, this claim is untrue. There was no mention of such a warning published on the Walter Reed Army Medical Center website (now part of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center). Furthermore, this apparent endorsement and the mention of Dioxin Carcinogens also appear in another email hoax that warns of links between plastic use and cancer. Apparently, the Walter Reed reference was copied verbatim from one hoax email and tacked on to the other in a fruitless attempt to add a measure of credibility. A later version, which circulates via Facebook and other social media sites, claims to be an alert issued by a biomolecular and medical expert by the name of Dr. Elizabeth Ayoub. However, it is unclear if Dr. Ayoub is even a real person. Moreover, given that the new alert is virtually identical in wording to the original message, and is as equally factually flawed, it seems highly doubtful that it was issued by any genuine doctor. Another aspect of the email also casts doubt on the authenticity of its claims. While long-term lead exposure may possibly have links to cancer, it is much more likely to be indicated in other serious health issues such as stroke, kidney disease and brain damage. Even short-term exposure can have adverse health effects, including impact on blood cell chemistry and developmental issues in children. In spite of this, the warning focuses purely on a potential cancer link and ignores other equally serious - and considerably more likely - lead related health issues. It is doubtful that a genuine, medically endorsed warning message would mention only one of the health risks inherent in lead exposure. The test outlined in the message is also highly misleading. According to information available from New Zealands COSMETIC TOILETRY & FRAGRANCES ASSOCIATION, the reactions described in the email occur when the test is done with any metal and just using plain wax which is a core component of most lipsticks. My own random testing revealed that dark streaks appear to be left in a variety of substances by a variety of metals, even copper on plain old candle wax. Thus an apparently positive result for this test does not effectively indicate the presence of lead. Reliably detecting the presence of lead in a substance generally requires scientific testing or at least the use of specialized lead testing kits. This supposed test seems to be a corrupted version of the ancient touchstone method of testing the purity of gold by examining the streak left when gold was scraped against a dark stone. Clearly, instructions for conducting this fake test were only included in the email to trick recipients into believing its claims. Thus the information in this email is highly misleading and inaccurate and it should not be forwarded to others in its current form. That said, a 2007 study by The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics indicated that some lipsticks do contain small amounts of lead. Although the results of this study are certainly cause for concern, they in no way vindicate the misinformation contained in this email forward. Stacy Malkan, a co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is genuinely concerned about the findings of the study. However, an article on the issue notes: Malkan said that lead in lipstick is a valid concern, borne out by the campaigns tests. But she dismissed the cancer scare and a suggestion that consumers can test for lead by scratching lipstick with a gold ring. And even The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics does not claim that the lead in lipstick is likely to cause cancer. Moreover, information about lead in lipstick published on the FDA website notes: FDA has recently received a number of inquiries from consumers concerned about the amount of lead present in lipstick. FDAs studies have found no lead levels that would pose safety concerns when lipstick is used as intended. FDA scientists developed an analytical method, published in 2009, for measuring the amount of lead in lipstick. Our initial findings, as well as our expanded findings posted in December 2011, confirm that the amount of lead found in lipstick is very low and does not pose safety concerns. In fact, lead is a common element in our environment and we are likely to be exposed to it every day from a variety of sources. The potential danger is that the tiny amounts of lead contained in some lipsticks could accumulate along with other lead sources and eventually cause health issues. References: NEW PRODUCT TESTS FIND LEAD IN LIPSTICK FDA The CTPA :The Cosmetic Toiletry Perfumery Association :Cosmetic legislation European Commission Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Plastics Cancer Link Email - Freezing Plastic Bottles - Plastics In the Microwave or Car American Cancer Society - Lead Lead and Cosmetics Lead tests raise red flag for lipsticks Lipstick and Lead: Questions and Answers Last updated: January 18, 2013 First published: January 7, 2006 Write-up by Brett M. Christensen Home Latest Information Current Newsletter Previous Newsletters Email Hoaxes Internet Scams True Emails Software Reviews Spam Control Computer Security Internet Resources Privacy About Site Map Search FAQ Latest Email Hoaxes - Current Internet Scams - Hoax-Slayer Newsletter
Posted on: Sat, 01 Mar 2014 07:40:46 +0000