Chemicals in Cosmetics Lead to Diabetes And Obesity -Study

A chemical used in cosmetics can increase risk of diabetes and obesity, according to a new report.

Uppsala University researchers have discovered that phthalates, a chemical used in many cosmetic products can increase risk of obesity and diabetes.

The study claimed that body products like face creams, foundation and perfumes contain phthalates. Phthalates chemical is also found in cleaning products, pesticides and in plastic bottles.

"Many are used in body products, like face creams, fake tan, make up and perfumes. Not only does the packaging contain them, but they are absorbed into the body and bloodstream through the skin," Daily Mail quoted Monica Lind, associate professor of environmental medicine at Uppsala University, as saying.

Researchers had analysed data of 1,000 people aged over 70, among them 119 people had diabetes. After analysing all the factors that causes type2 diabetes like obesity, high cholesterol and smoking, they found people with higher levels of phthalates in their blood were more likely to develop diabetes.

Phthalates is found in more than 70 percent of the perfumes, shampoo. It is not listed in the labels of many products like perfumes because it is considered a trade secret and most of the companies don't disclose it.

Pesticides that contain phthalates pose a higher risk of obesity and atheriosclerosis and diabetes.

"On a study we did last year, we found pesticides and those kinds of substances gave people a higher risk of obesity and atheriosclerosis. Those pollutants containing phthalates are making people obese and now we find they could get diabetes. These products need to be tested," said Lind.

"Although our results need to be confirmed in more studies, they do support the hypothesis that certain environmental chemicals can contribute to the development of diabetes. There's lots of also lots of other health problems (asthma, allergy, obesity, reproduction problem etc) which has been shown to be linked to the phthalates," said Lind

Researchers are of the opinion that along with better regulation, consumers should also ask for labeling since it is impossible to know which products contain the chemical.

"We now know enough to regulate these chemicals. In general all chemicals should be tested for safety before they go on the market not afterwards," Lind concluded.