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CNN Live At Daybreak

Cosmetic Dangers: Warnings About Additives

Aired July 11, 2002 - 06:19   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Before you put on that hair spray, deodorant or perfume this morning, you may want to think about what's not listed on the ingredients label. Cosmetic manufacturers are not required to list all of the ingredients and that's got some environmental groups issuing a warning about one common additive.

Our Julie Vallese has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a $20 billion a year industry. Cosmetics are classified as everything from hair gel to deodorant, nail polish to perfume and additives known as thalades (ph) are showing up in almost all of them. That has environmental groups concerned.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How absurd is it that we have products designed to make women feel more attractive, more sexy actually have the potential to damage the development and future potential of our babies.

VALLESE: Early research has shown it is not women of child bearing years at risk, instead, if the research on animals holds true for humans, possible side effects could develop in offspring, specifically boys.

DR. TED SCHETTLER, SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH NETWORK: When a laboratory animal is exposed to some thalades (ph) either as a fetus or as an infant, the male reproductive tract does not form normally. Testis are smaller than normal. The sperm count is lower.

VALLESE: In a new report entitled "Not Too Pretty," 72 off-the- shelf name brand products were tested for the chemical. Fifty-two contained at least one kind of thalade (ph).

(on camera): Product loyalty may be one of the most difficult obstacles to overcome in reducing your exposure to thalades (ph). For almost every product that contains the additives, there's a similar one that doesn't.

(voice-over): But the industry says consumers don't need to make the change.

GERALD MCEWEN JR., VP, COSMETIC TOILETRY AND FRAGRANCE ASSN.: There should be no concern among consumers of the ingredients that are in their cosmetic products. All of the ingredients in the cosmetic products, including thalades (ph), are safe.

VALLESE: In 1985 the Cosmetic Ingredient Review studied the safety of thalades (ph) and deemed them safe in cosmetics. But new information has prompted the panel to re-review their findings. Their conclusions are expected next year.

In Washington, Julie Vallese reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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