Love is.......ensuring
you're not contaminated! Take action for strong
European chemical laws.
10/02/2005 — When you buy a gift for a loved
one you don't expect that it might come with
a dose of harmful chemicals. But if you are
buying certain perfumes this Valentine's day
that's exactly what you'll get.
We tested 36 well know brands of perfumes
for two potentially hazardous man-made chemical
groups: phthalate esters and synthetic musks.
Both these types of chemicals can enter the
body and may cause unwanted health impacts.
They are also harmful when released into the
environment. Virtually all the perfumes tested
contained these chemicals with high levels
being found in brands like Calvin Klein's
'Eternity for Women,' The Body Shop's 'White
Musk' and Jean Paul Gaultier's 'Le Mâle.'
Many brands of perfume contain toxic chemicals.
Other brands contained low levels of these
harmful chemicals. Puma's 'Jamaica Man' had
one of the lowest levels of the musks tested
and Gloria Vanderbilt's 'Vanderbilt' contained
no detectable phthalates. The different levels
of chemicals shows there is room for discussing
the phase-out of these chemicals with perfume
manufactures.
Chemicals out of control
Perfumes are the latest consumer products
tested by Greenpeace to expose how common
the use of toxic chemicals is in everyday
products. We are using the results to show
how current laws on chemicals are inadequate.
A new chemical law being discussed in Europe
is vital to set a worldwide precedent on the
strong effective control of chemicals.
While better chemical control should be welcomed
by all, it is under attack from predictable
quarters. The chemical industry has been scare
-mongering with exaggerated claims of job
losses and declining profits. It has also
recruited dirty industry's best friend, the
Bush Administration, to threaten Europe with
a World Trade Organisation lawsuit if it dares
to try and cut toxic pollution.
We are countering the negative industry lobbying
by pressuring companies to demonstrate that
they can do without toxic chemicals in products.
The list of companies setting a good example
by substituting hazardous chemicals for safer
alternatives is growing - Ikea, H&M, Marks
& Spencer, Nokia, Samsung and Puma are
leading the way. Adidas, Unilever and Sony
are heading in the right direction.
Consumer power is vital in changing these
companies and you can check our products database
to help you avoid toxic chemicals in your
shopping basket. Right now we are focusing
on the electronics sector so why not take
the toxic tech test!
