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How Much Lead Is in Your Lipstick?

Hundreds of lipstick brands tested positive for small amounts of lead. That’s the word from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Lead has been detected in lipstick for years. The most recent round of testing comes from the Food and Drug Administration. The agency analyzed 400 different products and posted the results on its website. The agency says that there is nothing to worry about since the levels are so low…under 10 parts per billion. The lead is not added intentionally, but rather is a byproduct of the minerals used to create colors. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics disagrees and is urging the agency to establish regulatory limits. It would also like to see pregnant women warned about the hazards of lead exposure.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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