Charlotte Personal Injury Lawyer Warns That Common Cosmetic Preservatives May Be Unsafe

Most people use certain cosmetic products every day, including fragrances, deodorants, makeup and facial cleansers. Those individuals generally are aware that the products contain many chemicals that make them work as expected. They may be less aware that potentially-dangerous chemical additives, such as parabens, serve as preservatives that extend the lives of the products by preventing bacterial risks.

According to a United Press International article that was published in October, 2015, the levels of paraben commonly contained within the body of every individual may meet the requirements set by a number of government agencies. However, new studies show that those levels may be dangerous.

Researchers Report That Regulations Do Not Consider the Real-World Effects of Parabens

According to a University of California Berkeley study, paraben research done to date has any number of potential flaws, including the following:

• It considers parabens in isolation, rather than recognizing potential hazards when parabens interact with other molecules in cells.
• While it recognizes that parabens mimic the growth effects that estrogens have on breast cancer cells, it considers their effect to be weak. However, it does not consider what happens when parabens combine with other cell growth-regulating agents.
• Research is limited to cell culture and animal testing, so the effects on humans have not been proven.

Right now, there are more questions than answers regarding acceptable levels of parabens and other preservative chemicals that cosmetic products can safely contain. Also, these chemicals help protect against bacteria, which carries risk, as well. In the best cases, bacterial exposure can cause minor skin irritation, but it can also lead to infection or even severe eye damage in rare cases. Of course, in spite of possible flaws within government agency research, the regulations they impose are the current law of the land.

Some Cosmetic Users May Have Legal Recourse in the Event of Injuries

Unless definitive research results provide government agencies with conclusive evidence of the need to reduce allowable levels of parabens and other preservatives, individuals who suffer cancer cell growth may have limited — if any — chances to claim damages against cosmetic manufacturers. However, it is important to understand that product liability cases do not pertain just to the base product.

Many individuals have significant concerns about the chemical contents of the products they use, and they make an extended effort to purchase products that are free of chemicals, even if they have to pay more. Some manufacturers claim to be “all-natural,” and assert that their products contain no unsafe ingredients, however, they may have labeling issues that open them up to legal claims by injury victims.

Product labels may go so far as to say “paraben-free,” while containing similar dangerous chemical preservative agents under different names. Or, they may simply fail to include hazardous preservatives within their ingredient lists. Before assuming they have no legal recourse, injury victims should call us at 800-948-0577 or use our convenient online contact form.