Two associations for the defense of the environment are calling for the prohibition of certain substances, present in sunscreens for children, which contain allergenic endocrine disruptors.
- Two associations have discovered endocrine disruptors and allergenic fragrances contained in sunscreens for children
- They request referral to ANSES and investigations to the DGCCRF and ANSM
- The associations found 29 risky substances after analyzing 71 products
The big holidays are approaching and these rhyme for a good number of French people with sun. To protect yourself, there is the essential sunscreen. Depending on your skin type, it is important to choose it well. Ultraviolet rays are an important risk factor for skin cancer and responsible for some of the 80,000 new cases of people with this form of cancer each year.
Ban products containing these substances
Beware of sunscreens which not only have protective properties but can also be a source of disease. This is the case of sunscreens for children, as reported by Wecf France and Agir pour l’environnement, two associations for the defense of the environment. “Given the number of substances of concern found in sunscreen products for children, we are requesting referral to ANSES to assess the benefit/risk ratio between protection against the harmful effects of the sun and the risks generated by the substances of concern”, they indicated in a communicated.
The two associations are specifically targeting endocrine disruptors and allergenic fragrances contained in sunscreens for children for which they are calling for their ban. They ask “the prohibition in products for children of ingredients classified as extremely worrying, including endocrine disruptors and nanoparticles: 4-MBC, homosalate, octocrylene, cyclypentasiloxane, cyclohexasiloxane, nanoparticle titanium dioxide, phenoxyethanol, in particular. Similarly, fragrance substances established as contact allergens in humans (…) should no longer be authorized in products for children.”
An investigation demanded
The two associations want to go further and want to “an investigation by the DGCCRF and the National Health and Medicines Agency (ANSM) on compliance with labeling obligations for nanoparticle ingredients in cosmetics.” To ensure that these substances are no longer seen, they want to see the establishment of “dissuasive sanctions in the event of violation of the regulations.”
To reach these conclusions, the associations analyzed 71 sunscreen products for children. They claim to have found29 substances of varying degrees of concern”. Of these, 10 have been identified as “extremely worrying”, that is to say carcinogenic, neurotoxic or even endocrine disruptors. They found 7 other substances”very worrying”, in particular because they are allergens, and 12 “worrying“presenting”minor health or environmental problems”.
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