Known as ‘forever chemicals’, PFAS compounds have numerous beneficial properties, but are also suspected of causing harm to unborn children and cancer. Consumer advocates from the Upper Austrian Labor Chamber and the organization “Die Umweltberatung” discovered these controversial substances in 15 cosmetic products in random tests.
They found what they were looking for in facial creams, facial masks and make-up items, some from well-known brands such as L’Oréal or Biotherm. A total of four different PFAS compounds were found in one mask.
Chemicals are hardly degradable
The cosmetics industry uses the chemicals, which are also found in coatings on raincoats, pans and plates, as well as in fire extinguishers, for their skin and hair conditioning properties, their ability to combine grease with water and as a stabilizer. Due to their artificial production, PFAS compounds are very resistant to heat, moisture or chemical influences and are therefore hardly degradable, according to consumer advocates. That is why they are also called ‘forever chemicals’.
They would increase the risk of kidney and testicular cancer and cause low birth weight in babies and developmental damage in unborn children, it said in a broadcast on Thursday. The substances are excreted only very slowly and accumulate, among other things, in breast milk. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has classified several subsets of PFAS as suspected carcinogens and reproductive toxicants.
App can help detect PFAS in products
The AK and the environmental consultancy point out that PFAS substances were found in the urine of Austrian schoolchildren in 2020, as well as at more than a quarter of all groundwater measuring points examined in Austria. It is recommended to look for the Austrian Ecolabel or the EU Ecolabel on cosmetic products and exercise caution if the word “fluorine” appears on the ingredients list. The app ‘ToxFox’ can provide assistance, allowing you to scan and check the products in the store.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
