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<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman">Cosmetic dangers</FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman">Posted: July 28, 2008 05:29 PM EDT </FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman">Updated: July 28, 2008 06:00 PM EDT </FONT>
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<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman"> Cosmetic dangers </FONT>
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<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman">BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - - Many of us wear makeup; we've been putting it on for centuries. However, have you ever wondered what this stuff is really made of?</FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman">I recently showed shopper Charis Gatas a list of cosmetics that were evaluated for safety.</FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman">"Are you getting nervous?" I asked. "A little bit," Gatas said.</FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman">Environmental groups say there's nothing pretty about a lot of beauty products. Some contain chemicals linked to cancer and other health problems. "What's in them that's making them so hazardous," Gatas wondered. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman">The truth is, many mainstream products contain a host of unregulated toxic ingredients. Scientists are particularly interested in phthalates and parabens - chemicals variously linked to breast cancer and other health problems. But don't toss out your makeup bag just yet.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman">Dr. Christine Ambrosone chairs the Department of Cancer Prevention and Control at Roswell Park. She said, "Some of the chemicals used in cosmetics in lab studies have been shown to disrupt estrogens now estrogens may affect risk of cancer but there have been no studies that have directly shown that cosmetics or chemicals in cosmetics increase risk of breast cancer."</FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman">The cosmetic industry is largely a self regulated industry and companies will argue that the chemicals in question are used in such small amounts that they can't do any harm.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman">Merle Norman's American made products have been on the market for decades and undergo rigorous testing.</FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman">"The amount of cancer causing ingredients that would be in the product would be so miniscule that there's probably more contaminants in the water that we drink," said Cheryl. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman">Still, momentum is building for greater oversight. California recently imposed new rules and the American Cancer Society supports continued research.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman">Gretchen Leffler from the American Cancer Society said, "You never know every cosmetic company uses different formulas and so it's an industry that needs to be looked at."</FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman">Ambrosone also said, "I think this is really a personal decision based on what people read and believe. It's far more important that people keep weight at a moderate level, exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle. Don't smoke. These are much stronger risk factors for cancer."</FONT></P>
<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman">Still, more and more cosmetic companies have reformulated products to remove questionable chemicals. </FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman">"I guess it would be good to check in before I buy anything else in the future," Gatas said.</FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman">If you want to check your cosmetics, simply log click on the safe products link on WIVB.com.</FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman"> Cosmetics Database: </FONT> <A HREF="http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/splash.php?URI=%2Findex.php"><U></U><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Times New Roman">http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/splash.php?URI=%2Findex.php</FONT></U></A>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" FACE="Times New Roman">Story by Lorey Schultz (WIVB)</FONT>
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<P><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Deborah L. DeBiasi</FONT>
<BR><B><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Email: dldebiasi@deq.virginia.gov</FONT></B>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">WEB site address: </FONT><A HREF="file://www.deq.virginia.gov"><U></U><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">www.deq.virginia.gov</FONT></U></A>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Virginia Department of Environmental Quality</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Office of Water Permit Programs</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Industrial Pretreatment/Toxics Management Program</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Mail: P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA 23218</FONT><B><I> <FONT COLOR="#FF0000" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">(NEW!)</FONT></I></B>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">Location: 629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA 23219</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">PH: 804-698-4028</FONT>
<BR><FONT COLOR="#000080" SIZE=2 FACE="Times New Roman">FAX: 804-698-4032</FONT>
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