EPA Studies Cosmetics Waste in Our Waterways

So, we know that chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products are bad for people, but we can't forget that they're bad for the environment, too!

The Environmental Protection Agency is digging in on research into fish tissue to determine how cosmetics waste is affecting American waters. Along the way, they're developing important methodology that is going to allow them to detect steroids and hormones related to personal care products and pharmaceuticals, which are also included in the study.

Hormones, you say? In the Bay Area? Not in our town... Well, think again. Apparently, 95% of San Francisco's waterways are contaminated with "hormone-disrupting substances" traced to personal care products. Eighteen of the 19 samples collected contained trace levels of at least one of the following: phthalates, bisphenol A, and triclosan, according to a study conducted by the Environmental Working Group.