L'Oreal has pledged to phase out PFAS by 2018, but continues to use the chemical in some products.

These pollutants - known as PFAS (chemicals that make products resistant to grease, water and clay) - have been linked to serious health problems, including cancer.


The substance is not illegal in the UK, but five European countries are expected to propose an EU-wide ban on Friday.


PFAS are polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are resistant to oil and water, making them valuable to the cosmetics industry.


Historically, these have been added to products to extend product life, improve finish, and make eyeshadows and lipsticks last longer.


Many brands are now "PFAS-free" due to evidence that these compounds have negative environmental and health effects.


PFAS have strong bonds that cannot be broken naturally, so as more products are used and thrown away, for example with makeup washes, PFAS begin to accumulate in rivers and soils and even in human blood. is discovered.


Studies in which laboratory animals have been exposed to PFAS have shown that it can cause birth defects, liver damage and death in newborns. Most of these studies to date have examined higher-than-normal doses in the environment.


Mary Diamond, a professor of environmental chemistry at the University of Toronto, whose lab has previously studied pollution in US cosmetics, told the BBC that consumers should be concerned about low levels of pollution in products because of long-term use. There is limited information on long-term toxic effects.


Germany and four other European countries will submit a proposal to the European Union on Friday to ban the production and use of PFAS substances due to concerns that they accumulate and could be exposed to humans.


PFAS can end up in rivers when you wash off or leave your makeup on


This potential risk has prompted the Environment Agency to review the use of PFAS in the UK in 2021.


In this review, the Environment Agency asked the cosmetics industry body CTPA to inform the UK cosmetics industry which PFAS compounds are still being used and by which companies.


The CTPA told the Environment Agency that nine PFAS substances were used, but declined to name the companies for "commercial reasons".


In its latest report, UNEP did not list the nine PFASs that are still used by industry. But BBC News revealed this after a Freedom of Information request by the Environmental Protection Agency.


The BBC found it in thousands of ingredient lists of the UK's most popular brands and common products known to use PFAS: mascara, eye shadow, foundation and lipstick.