Consumer Reports (CR), the independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, is committed to advocating for safe, high-quality products for consumers. The lack of strong federal health and safety standards for cosmetics and personal care products has resulted in millions of consumers, particularly Black women and girls, being unknowingly exposed to toxic chemicals that threaten their health. A study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that women of color are disproportionately exposed to toxic chemicals from cosmetic products compared to white women.
Thousands of chemicals are used in cosmetics and personal care products and many pose no known health risks to consumers. However, there are also hundreds of chemicals with known or strongly suspected connections to health issues like asthma, allergies, hormone disruption, neurodevelopmental problems, infertility, and cancer. Many of these toxic chemicals, including those addressed in this bill, are already banned in food, children’s products, and other consumer products. New York State has the opportunity to lead by banning many of the same toxic chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products.
To read the full letter, please see the attached PDF.