Ask P&G to Stop Using Chemicals Linked to Breast Cancer

Surely you noticed that October is breast cancer awareness month; you can't miss the deluge of pink ribbons everywhere, including the cosmetics aisle.

Case in point: Procter & Gamble's cosmetics division is making a big deal this month about supporting early breast cancer detection, an important issue. But we think P&G should start with prevention by promising to stop using chemicals linked to cancer in its products.

According to the Skin Deep database, P&G still uses parabens – in particular, methylparaben – in hundreds of its Cover Girl, Max Factor, Infusium and other products.

Parabens are compounds widely used as antimicrobial preservatives in cosmetics products. They're also estrogen mimickers, and have been found in breast tumors.

A new study found that methylparaben can not only cause healthy breast cells to behave like cancer cells, but also interfere with the effectiveness of tamoxifen, an important breast cancer drug.

Use the form below to tell P&G that if the company really wants to do something about breast cancer, it should stop using methylparaben and other chemicals linked to cancer or hormone disruption in any of its products.

Subject:

Your Letter:

I'm writing to urge Procter & Gamble to commit to removing chemicals linked to cancer from its entire product line, starting with methylparaben. I am discouraged to learn that P&G is portraying itself as a champion in the fight against breast cancer -- as indicated by your Facebook promotion around early detection -- but has not made this important commitment.

I agree that early detection is important to treating breast cancer, but helping to stop breast cancer before it starts is the most important role your company can play.

According to the Skin Deep database, P&G uses methylparaben in hundreds of products that women use every day. Parabens are estrogen mimickers, and have been found in breast cancer tumors. A recently published study from California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco found that methylparaben in particular can not only cause healthy breast cells to behave like cancer cells, but also interfere with the effectiveness of tamoxifen, an important breast cancer drug.

And we know that this is not women's only exposure to potentially harmful chemicals--we are exposed from a myriad of sources throughout our day. For this reason, I urge P&G to be a true champion of women's health by eliminating methylparaben and all other chemicals linked to cancer from its cosmetics products.

Sincerely,

Gina C. Drosos

Procter & Gamble