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
This story is from the November 18-24 2023 edition of New Zealand Listener.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 18-24 2023 edition of New Zealand Listener.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
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.
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?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.
