According to media report, under the Trump administration, officials are quietly advancing a plan that could reverse hundreds of bans on toxic chemicals in consumer products — including highly hazardous PFAS “forever chemicals.” At the heart of the strategy is a move by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reshape how it conducts chemical risk evaluations. Critics say this shift would weaken regulations and override state-level bans that currently serve as critical protections against harmful substances.
The proposed changes could dismantle a wide array of restrictions on chemicals such as bisphenol in children’s items, mercury in personal care products, and PFAS in food packaging and clothing. If implemented, the move would pre-empt state laws — including California’s influential Proposition 65 — and even threaten newly enacted federal prohibitions, like the early 2024 asbestos ban.
An EPA employee, speaking anonymously, warned that the plan could increase health risks for consumers by exposing them to toxic substances linked to cancer, hormone disruption, liver damage, birth defects, and reproductive issues. “It also allows the market for toxic chemicals to continue, because it maintains the financial incentive for them to be made for all these consumer products,” the source said.
In the beauty industry, PFAS are commonly used in long-wearing cosmetic products such as mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow, waterproof lipstick, and foundation. These substances are also relatively easy for the body to absorb.
Previously, France officially introduced a nationwide ban on “forever chemicals,” while Canada’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and its Department of Health have also launched comprehensive regulatory actions targeting PFAS.
However, the health risks posed by PFAS to humans remain a subject of debate. A study published in the internationally renowned journal Science of The Total Environment suggested that “PFAS may reduce female fertility by 40%.” On the other hand, some industry experts believe that whether PFAS-containing cosmetics are harmful to the human body depends on the amount and duration of exposure. If such products are used only once or twice a week, the level of exposure is minimal and generally not harmful to health.
