SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 28, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Before children apply face
paint for Halloween, parents should know that some face paints contain lead and
other heavy metals, a U.S. advocacy group says.
Lisa Archer, national coordinator of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at the
Breast Cancer Fund, says the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics sent 10 children's face
paints to an independent lab to test for heavy metals and review ingredient
labels of Halloween products sold at a seasonal holiday store.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that parents
avoid using cosmetics on their children that could be contaminated with lead,
Archer says.
The report, "Pretty Scary," found:
-- Ten out of 10 children's face paints contained lead ranging from 0.05 to 0.65
parts per million.
-- Six out of 10 children's face paints contained nickel, cobalt and/or
chromium, which are top allergens in children. The metals were found at levels
ranging from 1.6 to 120 ppm -- many of them far exceeding industry safety
recommendations of 1 ppm.
To learn more about the study see: www.safecosmetics.org/prettyscary.
URL: www.upi.com
Copyright 2009 by United Press International