VOA慢速英语2021--Half Of US Cosmetics Contain Toxic Chemicals

 

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.

More than half of the cosmetics² sold in the United States and Canada have dangerous chemicals connected with serious health conditions. A new study claims that those conditions include cancer and reduced birth weight in newborn babies.

Cosmetics are substances that you put on your face or body to improve appearance. Another name for cosmetics is makeup³.

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame⁴ in Indiana tested more than 230 commonly used cosmetics. They found that 56 percent of foundations and eye products, 48 percent of lip products and 47 percent of mascaras contain fluorine.

The Associated Press recently reported on the story and explained fluorine this way. Fluorine is an irritating gaseous⁵ chemical element. Fluorine is also an indicator⁶ of the so-called "forever chemicals" called PFAS, spelled P-F-A-S. The man-made PFAS molecules⁷ contain fluorine and are used in some cooking containers, floor coverings and many other products.

Some of the highest PFAS levels were found in waterproof⁸ mascara and long-lasting lipstick⁹. This is just one of the findings of the study published recently in the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters.

Researchers did additional testing on 29 products found to have higher fluorine amounts. The researchers found they contain between four and 13 specific PFAS chemicals. However, only one of those tested products listed PFAS as an ingredient on its container.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration oversees¹⁰ cosmetics in the country. A spokesperson for the agency said the FDA does not comment on specific studies. The FDA said on its website that there have been few studies on the amount of the chemicals in cosmetics. And the published studies usually found very low levels of the chemicals. The FDA website also notes that such low levels are not likely to cause harm.

A fact sheet published on the agency's website says, "As the science on PFAS in cosmetics continues to advance," the FDA will continue to analyze¹¹ data from the cosmetics industry as well as published research.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is also collecting industry data on the use of PFAS chemicals and connected health risks. It is considering regulations to reduce possible risks caused by the chemicals.

On its website the EPA states that PFAS chemicals stay in the environment and in the human body for a very long time. They do not break down and can build up over time. The site adds that there is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to several health problems.

PFAS chemicals are an issue of increasing concern for lawmakers who are working to control their use in consumer products. The study results were announced as a group of U.S. senators introduced a bill to ban the use of PFAS in cosmetics and other beauty products.

The move to ban PFAS comes as Congress considers legislation. The legislation aims to set a national drinking water standard for some PFAS chemicals. It also includes cleaning up polluted areas across the United States. Widespread testing in recent years has found high levels of PFAS in many public water systems and military bases.

"There is nothing safe and nothing good about PFAS,″ said Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat¹² from the state of Connecticut. He introduced the cosmetics bill with Senator Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine.

Representative Debbie Dingell, a Democrat from Michigan, has supported several PFAS-related bills in the House of Representatives. She has looked for PFAS in her own beauty products. However, she could not see if they were present because the products were not correctly marked.

"How do I know it doesn't have PFAS?" she asked at a recent news conference. She was talking about the eye makeup, foundation and lipstick she was wearing.

Blumenthal calls himself a fighter for the consumer. Companies that want to avoid possible government regulation should voluntarily go PFAS-free, Blumenthal added.

He said that while he does not wear makeup products, he and his supporters have a message for the cosmetics industry: "We've trusted you and you betrayed us."

Words in This Story

cosmetics – n. a substance (such as a cream, lotion¹³, or powder) that you put on your face or body to improve your appearance

foundation – n. a cosmetic¹ usually used as a base for makeup

irritating – adj. causing displeasure, anger, or annoyance¹⁴

indicator – n. a sign that shows the condition or existence of something

specific – adj. relating to a particular person, situation, etc.

ingredient – n. one of the things that are used to make a food, product, etc.

data – n. facts or information used usually to calculate, analyze, or plan something

exposure – n. the condition of being subject to some detrimental¹⁵ effect or harmful condition

consumer – n. a person who buys goods and services

betray – v. to tell in violation of a trust

1 cosmetic   

n.化妆品；adj.化妆用的；装门面的；装饰性的

参考例句：

• These changes are purely cosmetic.这些改变纯粹是装饰门面。
• Laughter is the best cosmetic,so grin and wear it!微笑是最好的化妆品，所以请尽情微笑吧！

2 cosmetics   

n.化妆品

参考例句：

• We sell a wide range of cosmetics at a very reasonable price. 我们以公道的价格出售各种化妆品。
• Cosmetics do not always cover up the deficiencies of nature. 化妆品未能掩饰天生的缺陷。

3 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

4 dame   

n.女士

参考例句：

• The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
• If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。

5 gaseous   

adj.气体的，气态的

参考例句：

• Air whether in the gaseous or liquid state is a fluid.空气，无论是气态的或是液态的，都是一种流体。
• Freon exists both in liquid and gaseous states.氟利昂有液态和气态两种形态。

6 indicator   

n.指标；指示物，指示者；指示器

参考例句：

• Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation.黃金价格常常被看作是通货膨胀的指标。
• His left-hand indicator is flashing.他左手边的转向灯正在闪亮。

7 molecules   

分子( molecule的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The structure of molecules can be seen under an electron microscope. 分子的结构可在电子显微镜下观察到。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules. 在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

8 waterproof   

n.防水材料；adj.防水的；v.使...能防水

参考例句：

• My mother bought me a waterproof watch.我妈妈给我买了一块防水手表。
• All the electronics are housed in a waterproof box.所有电子设备都储放在一个防水盒中。

9 lipstick   

n.口红，唇膏

参考例句：

• Taking out her lipstick,she began to paint her lips.她拿出口红，开始往嘴唇上抹。
• Lipstick and hair conditioner are cosmetics.口红和护发素都是化妆品。

10 oversees   

v.监督，监视( oversee的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She oversees both the research and the manufacturing departments. 她既监督研究部门又监督生产部门。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Department of Education oversees the federal programs dealing with education. 教育部监管处理教育的联邦程序。 来自互联网

11 analyze   

vt.分析，解析 (=analyse)

参考例句：

• We should analyze the cause and effect of this event.我们应该分析这场事变的因果。
• The teacher tried to analyze the cause of our failure.老师设法分析我们失败的原因。

12 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

13 lotion   

n.洗剂

参考例句：

• The lotion should be applied sparingly to the skin.这种洗液应均匀地涂在皮肤上。
• She lubricates her hands with a lotion.她用一种洗剂来滑润她的手。

14 annoyance   

n.恼怒，生气，烦恼

参考例句：

• Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气？
• I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。

15 detrimental   

adj.损害的，造成伤害的

参考例句：

• We know that heat treatment is detrimental to milk.我们知道加热对牛奶是不利的。
• He wouldn't accept that smoking was detrimental to health.他不相信吸烟有害健康。