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The Safe Cosmetics Act: Protecting Workers from Harmful Exposure
The unrestricted use of hazardous chemicals in cosmetics poses significant safety concerns for workers in the
beauty industry who are exposed to an array of chemicals on a daily basis, often for prolonged periods of time.
Under current federal regulations, it is legal for cosmetics manufacturers to use unlimited
amounts of virtually any ingredient in salon and professional use products, including
chemicals linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental harm, hormone disruption
and other adverse health impacts, with no premarket safety assessment. An increasing
body of scientific research leaves reason to be concerned. One recent study has shown
that nail salon workers have higher levels of di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), a reproductive
and developmental toxicant, than the general population.i Another study found that
beauticians and hairdressers are likely to have significant exposure to solvents that are
linked to birth defects.ii Other studies have found cosmetologists are at a higher risk for
having spontaneous abortions and low birth weight babies.iiiiv
Salon products are also exempt from ingredient labeling requirements, limiting the availability of this important
information on chemical exposure. While Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) outlining the hazards of chemicals
in salon products are required, they are ineffective tools for disseminating information, particularly given the
language barriers present among many salon workers. Workers can and should be better protected from
exposure to toxic chemicals in their workplaces.
How the Safe Cosmetic Act Addresses the Problem
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has been working with people in Congress to introduce legislation to reform
the Cosmetics industry. The following provisions are included in the Safe Cosmetics Act (H.R. 5786) and will help
to improve workplace health and safety:
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A ban on the use of known carcinogens, genetic mutagens, and reproductive toxins from cosmetics,
including salon and other professional use products
Premarket safety assessments of all salon and professional use product ingredients
FDA requirements for substantiating the safety of ingredients used to formulate salon products
Full product ingredient lists on labels and websites, including professional salon products
Expansion of MSDS sheets to include the identification of chemical hazards associated with ingredients
and requires translated versions of MSDS sheets to be made available to salon owners in multiple
languages, including Vietnamese and Spanish
When determining safety, FDA must incorporate assessments on the risk to highly exposed or
vulnerable populations including salon and cosmetology workers. Safety standards for ingredients and
cosmetics must include risk assessments for impacts on highly exposed or vulnerable populations
including nail salon and cosmetology workers.
For more information please contact Jamie Silberberger at [email protected], or 406-5433747.
i
Hines J, Cynthia et al. “Urinary Phthalate Metabolite Concentrations among Workers in Selected Industries: A Pilot
Biomonitoring Study.” The Annals of Occupational Hygiene. (2009); 53(1):1-17
ii
Garlantezec, Monfort, Cordier. “Maternal occupational exposure to solvents and congenital malformations: a prospective
study in the general population.” Occup. Environ. Med. (2009); 66: 456-463
iii
John, EM, Savitz D, Shy C. “Spontaneous abortions among cosmetologists.” Epidemiology. (1994) Mar; 5(2): 147-155
iv
Herdt-Losavio ML. “The risk of having a low birth weight or preterm infant among cosmetologists in New York State.”
Maternal Child Health Journal. (2009) Jan;13(1):90-7.
July, 2010
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