EU scientific committee advises on hair dyes and sunscreen
The European Commission's scientific committee on consumer products has called for urgent studies into the cosmetic preservative triclosan because of evidence that the chemical is being absorbed and transmitted into mothers' milk. Under the EU Cosmetics Directive, triclosan can be used up to a maximum concentration of 0.3% in a finished product. However, the committee is calling for a dossier of data on toxicology of this preservative on “all relevant exposure and toxicological end points”. This should be considered “a matter of urgency because triclosan has been identified in [the] human milk of some European populations”. However, the committee dismissed as unproven claims that the preservative was contributing to antibacterial resistance.
The European Commission's scientific committee on consumer products has called for urgent studies into the cosmetic preservative triclosan because of evidence that the chemical is being absorbed and transmitted into mothers' milk. Under the EU Cosmetics Directive, triclosan can be used up to a maximum concentration of 0.3% in a finished product. However, the committee is calling for a dossier of data on toxicology of this preservative on “all relevant exposure and toxicological end points”. This should be considered “a matter of urgency because triclosan has been identified in [the] human milk of some European populations”. However, the committee dismissed as unproven claims that the preservative was contributing to antibacterial resistance.
In another study, on sunscreen UV filter 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor, the committee has decided that according to current tests the safe use of a maximum concentration of 4% 4-MBC in sunscreens cannot be established.
Meanwhile the committee has been examining hair dyes and has concluded there should be “studies on the genotoxicity/mutagenicity of finished hair dye formulations”.
Regarding dye p-Phenylenediamine, the committee says that safety information on potential genotoxicity and carcinogenicity is “insufficient to allow a final risk assessment to be carried out”.
On HC Red n°1 semi-permanent hair dye formulation, although a maximum final concentration of 1% generally “does not pose a risk to the consumer”, and although it said it can cause skin sensitivity, this is a “manageable risk”. For another hair dye 4-amino-2-hydroxytoluene, the committee has agreed that a maximum concentration of 1.5% is also generally safe, barring potential skin sensitivity.