On the run
New Zealand Listener|November 18-24 2023
Health and environmental concerns spell curtains for some waterproof mascara and other cosmetics.
VERONIKA MEDUNA
On the run

Most people applying makeup probably don't stop to ponder how hazardous the swipes of lipstick or mascara might be. But beauty products are chemical concoctions, formulated to cover skin blemishes or stick to eyelashes for hours without running, clinging on through a sweaty night out dancing or a weepy movie. To give cosmetics this durability and water resistance, some manufacturers use a group of substances commonly known as "forever chemicals", or PFAS.

There are thousands of distinct compounds in the PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) group and all are synthetically manufactured chemicals that contain links between carbon and fluorine atoms. The carbon-fluorine bond is one of the strongest in organic chemistry and it gives PFAS some interesting properties. They repel both water and fats and tolerate heat, which means they are stain-resistant, grease-resistant and waterproof.

This in turn makes them useful in a wide range of applications, including food packaging, non-stick cookware, electronics, refrigerants, stain-proof or waterproof textiles - and cosmetics.

But the strength of this bond also means PFAS don't break down easily. Instead, they build up in the environment and accumulate in our bodies. For some PFAS compounds, evidence of health risks emerged as early as the 1980s, albeit not publicly, associating high levels of exposure with certain cancers, birth defects and thyroid or immune malfunction. Research to determine the health impacts of lower exposures such as through regular use of PFAS-containing beauty and personal care products - is continuing, but their persistence in the environment has prompted regulators in the US and Europe to propose bans on their use.

This has led our Environmental Protection Authority to propose a blanket ban on their use in all cosmetics, with a phase-out in locally manufactured or imported products by the end of 2025. Shaun Presow, the

Denne historien er fra November 18-24 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra November 18-24 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA NEW ZEALAND LISTENERSe alt
First-world problem
New Zealand Listener

First-world problem

Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Applying intelligence to AI
New Zealand Listener

Applying intelligence to AI

I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Nazism rears its head
New Zealand Listener

Nazism rears its head

Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Staying ahead of the game
New Zealand Listener

Staying ahead of the game

Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?

time-read
4 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Grasping the nettle
New Zealand Listener

Grasping the nettle

Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Hangry? Eat breakfast
New Zealand Listener

Hangry? Eat breakfast

People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.

time-read
3 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Chemical reaction
New Zealand Listener

Chemical reaction

Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Me and my guitar
New Zealand Listener

Me and my guitar

Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 9, 2024
Time is on my side
New Zealand Listener

Time is on my side

Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?

time-read
7 mins  |
September 9, 2024
The kids are not alright
New Zealand Listener

The kids are not alright

Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.

time-read
4 mins  |
September 9, 2024