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In 2011, the National Toxicology Program at the Department of Health and Human Services declared formaldehyde a known human carcinogen that has been found to cause cancer of the lymphatic system, head, nose and neck, as demonstrated by animal and human studies. Yet, nearly one-fifth of cosmetic products contain this potentially harmful ingredient in product formulations, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Additionally, other risky ingredients such as phthalates and parabens, were banned from hand soaps by the FDA in 2016 because of their potential to be linked to cancer, impaired reproductive ability and compromised neurodevelopment in children, according to a 2017 Scientific American article. But they are still often found in cosmetics such as makeup, hair and moisturizers, according to the same report.

More than 40 countries have banned or restricted thousands of dangerous chemicals in cosmetics. https://t.co/SVKrvfQqpC’s time for Congress to fix our broken cosmetics safety law. #BeautyMadeBetter

— EWG (@ewg) December 4, 2019

Chaudry also shed light on how women of color are disproportionately affected by environmental chemical exposures.

\"Black women and women of color are particularly at risk because the cosmetic and personal care products marketed and sold to them often contain the most harmful ingredients,\" she said.

According to the Environmental Working Group Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, a free online resource for finding less-hazardous alternatives to personal care products, an analysis of ingredients in 1,177 beauty and personal care products marketed to black women found about one in 12 was ranked as \"highly hazardous.\"

Beautycounter founder and CEO Gregg Renfrew, who also testified at Wednesday's hearing, spoke on behalf of her community of advocates.

\"I am one person, but I represent the many who have been fighting hard for cosmetic reform,\" she wrote in an Instagram caption. \"It is time. Congress has the opportunity to act to help us fulfill our mission of getting safer products into the hands of everyone.\"

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Gregg Renfrew (@greggrenfrew) on Dec 3, 2019 at 8:52am PST

Renfrew also pointed out in another post, that the U.S. has not passed a major federal law governing the cosmetics industry since 1938.

\"I knew this effort would require the education of our lawmakers by a movement of people committed to transparency and consumer safety,\" she wrote.

\"By amplifying our collective voice over the past seven years through calls, texts, and meetings with representatives, it's clear that we have been heard.\"

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