Do Lead-Containing Lipsticks Cause Cancer?
Q: I got an e-mail that lipsticks contain lead and can cause cancer. Should I be concerned?
A: An FDA analysis of 10 different lipstick brands did detect very low levels of lead (0.09 to 3.06 parts per million), but the amount is minimal, compared with other common sources, says LuAnn E. White, PhD, a toxicologist and professor of environmental health at the Tulane School of Public Health. The permissible level for paint is 90 ppm, for example. While the FDA doesn’t regulate lead in cosmetics, the Canadian government is trying to. Their proposed standard for maximum safe levels: 10 ppm.
