U.S. Senators Fight Higher-Than-Legal Limits Of Lead In Lipstick

November 26, 2007 12:03 p.m. EST

Washington, D.C (CNS) - U.S. Senators John Kerry, Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein is aiding the campaign to rid lipsticks with higher-than-legal limits of lead content in them. They wrote a letter to the FDA Commissioner, Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach to investigate products reported by Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

Included in the report is the fact that without the proper inspection on these products, millions and millions of people would be unsuspectingly ingesting lead into their system for every swipe unto their lips. The letter makes a request for the FDA to investigate the situation and retests all products included in the CSC report.

Senator Boxer had this to say, "Toxic chemicals like lead do not belong in cosmetics such as lipstick that people may be exposed to everyday." She adds, "FDA should do everything in its power to get products with lead off the shelf."

The CSC also makes it a point to highlight that the FDA has no regulation for the amount of lead in lipsticks and other cosmetics. Lead has been traced to affects a fetus' developing brain and to children's learning and behavioral problems.