Problem
Several chemicals that can cause toxic effects can be found in a majority of our everyday products. One is formaldehyde, and research indicates it can be dangerous at the levels found in cosmetics. Nearly one fifth of cosmetic products contains the chemical. Other risky substances include phthalates, parabens and triclosan. Exposure to these chemicals have been linked to cancer, impaired reproductive ability and compromised neurodevelopment in children. Phthalate chemical in our personal care products is linked to women not only becoming infertile but can be the cause of early puberty. The parabens found in our personal care products are linked to neurodevelopment such as ADHD and depression.

Cosmetic products are filled with synthetic chemicals that, when wiped from your face, make their way into the ocean. Therefore, this results in chemical pollutants affecting wildlife, and contributing to the overall problem of species extinction and environmental destruction. Using everyday products containing sodium lauryl sulfate which derives from palm oil contributes to mass deforestation. 90% of the world’s palm oil trees grow in Indonesia and Malaysia, which is home to endangered animals such as Tigers and Orangutans, and by using these products we are destroying their habitat. Oxybenzone is a harsh chemical found in sunscreen that damages the coral reefs DNA and interferes with the reproduction and growth of young coral. Coral reefs provide habitat and shelter for many marine organisms.


Solution
Under current law, companies are allowed to put almost anything into our everyday products. There are few restrictions on the kinds of ingredients that can be added to personal care products, or the amount of those chemicals. The FDA has little influence on the chemicals being placed in our everyday products from the cosmetic and personal care industries. Because the current law does not require any products or ingredients to be assessed by the FDA before they can go to market. The law has not been changed in over 80 years and requires no specific tests before a company can bring a new products with a new chemical to market. Also it does not require companies to release safety data they have collected. We need to start with changing out current laws, so going forward the FDA can regulate the harsh chemicals being put in our everyday products.

There is not enough awareness of the effects everyday products containing harsh chemicals has on people and the environment. A main cause of the lack of awareness is due to the fact that companies do not have to warn consumers about many of the harsh chemicals in their products. Therefore consumers are misled by major corporations due to their misleading packaging and wording.


Personal story
I am a wife and mother of 2 and I strongly care for mine and my families health and well being. We are all living in a time where the risks of obtaining health problems is extremely common and high. Knowing that companies are allowed to slowly poison people is devastating and if there is even a small change that I could make to not allow this to continue I will do so. Its not just my health I'm concerned with, but its everyone's in our society and world. We are all people and we deserve the right to know how these chemicals in our everyday products are affecting us and more importantly they should not be allowed.