Saturday, February 2, 2008

In raising anxieties about the alleged health hazards of lipstick and mascara, Suzanne D'Amato has done readers a serious disservice ["Can Beauty Be Dangerous?" Sunday Source, Jan. 27]. The mere ability to detect traces of lead in lipstick or mercury in mascara does not mean that they are hazardous in any way.

In today's state of analytical chemistry, scientists can find traces of almost anything in anything. Indeed, if "detectable level" becomes the benchmark for toxicity, we will be forced to discard all our cosmetics -- as well as most other consumer products and foods, including natural foods.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is an alarmist misnomer -- there is no scientific support for its contention that any of our cosmetics are unsafe. No one has been shown to have been harmed by typical use of cosmetics. This crusade is being waged by an activist anti-chemical organization going by the name of Environmental Working Group.

Cosmetics users need have no fear of their lipstick or mascara.

-- Elizabeth M. Whelan

New York

The writer is president of the American Council on Science and Health, which receives its funding from foundations, companies and consumers.