Tests of 34 name-brand cosmetic products revealed that 80% contained one or more phthalates, according to a November report published by the advocacy groups Women’s Environmental Network, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, and Health Care Without Harm. Phthalates, which are linked to reproductive birth defects and developmental toxicity, are found in perfumes, deodorants, and hair care products, in which they perform the function of moisturizing, dissolving, or fixing other ingredients. The phthalates are not listed among the ingredients for these products because they are considered proprietary information. However, a certified testing laboratory found for the two most common phthalates, DEHP and DBP—which the European Union has banned because of their reproductive toxicity—were found at average and maximum levels of 9.3 and 24 and 5.4 and 6.6 milligrams per kilogram, respectively. Although the cosmetics industry claims that these levels of phthalates are so low as to render the compounds harmless, the report asserts that the industry is failing to consider the additive exposure of phthalates through consumers’ use of multiple cosmetic products. Pretty Nasty: Phthalates in European Cosmetic Products can be found at www.wen.org.uk/health/Reports/Prettynasty.pdf.