More on HB 1248

 

Twenty-one years ago, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I racked my brain trying to figure out why. Neither my mother nor grandmother had cancer. I never smoked or drank. I was not overweight. My doctors had no explanation for why an otherwise healthy 38-year-old would have cancer.

Years later, I discovered a possible contributor: my daily use of personal care products.

I have the same morning routine as most women: I shampoo my hair and wash my face. I brush my teeth, put on moisturizer, deodorant, and finish with makeup.

It was the same routine for 40 years. But my daily regimen could be lethal.

Many products sold in the U.S. contain ingredients (such as formaldehyde, phthalates, and coal tar) that are linked to cancer and birth defects, even many of the "natural" ones. Men and women use an average of 10 products a day, including sunscreen, deodorant and aftershave.

I was surprised to learn that neither the FDA nor the state of Colorado reviews the safety or regulates what goes into products before they are placed on the shelves. In fact, only 11 percent of the chemicals have been tested for safety. How are consumers to know which of these ingredients are safe and which are dangerous? We shouldn't have to be chemists to shop for shampoo.