It’s not easy these days to choose cosmetics that do not contain toxic chemicals. In order to make this process a bit more manageable, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) maintains Skin Deep, a user-friendly, searchable database where consumers can browse the ingredient lists of over 74,000 personal care products in an effort to understand what safe options are available.

Recently, EWG analyzed its database and found over 200 products that contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), a family of chemicals that has been linked to negative health outcomes, such as extremely slowed metabolism. One of the reasons these chemicals are used in cosmetics is due to their oil- and water-repellency, the same role they play in food packaging materials and non-stick pans. Most concerning is the fact that these chemicals are extremely persistent, polluting animals and waterways throughout the globe.

Health Care Without Harm has worked with nearly 60 furniture manufacturers to create lists of furnishings without PFASs. You can find those lists on this webpage.

[Source: Huffington Post]