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Experts say this affects products sold throughout Europe.
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) team in Helsinki examined nearly 4,500 cosmetic products across 13 European countries. They found that 6 percent of the tested products (285 items) contained substances banned because of their harmful effects on health.
ECHA said the chemicals appeared in products from ‘various sellers and across all price ranges.’ Examples include eyeliners, lip pencils, conditioners, and hair masks.
ECHA said the compounds are banned under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and under EU law. Exposure to these substances can reduce fertility and increase the risk of cancer, ScienceAlert reported.
ECHA said its experts focused primarily on the products’ ingredient lists, and the agency suggested consumers check labels themselves.
As a result of the inspections, regulatory authorities took action to remove non-compliant products from the market.
The countries where cosmetic inspections were conducted include Austria, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Romania, and Sweden.
