Dear Friends,

February is National Cancer Prevention Month, children's environmental health research has shown that toxic chemicals are risk factors for cancer.

Pesticides, paints/solvents, air pollution, climate change and beauty and personal care products put our children at risk.

Research and advocacy efforts have made important strides. There is a growing awareness of the actions we must take to reduce our children's risk, and the need for legislative protections to keep our children safe. These efforts require ongoing study and community vigilance.

We are grateful for your support and that of our community partners engaged in amplifying community voices and safeguarding children's environmental health and justice.

Thank you!

*In solidarity with Ukraine

CCCEH, EHS & Justice News

Study Finds Most U.S. Children Use Potentially Toxic Makeup Products, Often During Play

CHILDREN CAN BE EXPOSED TO LEAD, ASBESTOS, AND OTHER TOXIC CHEMICALS THROUGH USE OF MAKEUP AND BODY PRODUCTS

A study by scientists at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Earthjustice found that most children in the United States use makeup and body products that may contain carcinogens and other toxic chemicals.

Results are published in the peer-reviewed International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 

The study, based on more than 200 surveys, found that 79 percent of parents say their children 12 or younger use makeup and body products marketed to children, like glitter, face paint, and lip gloss.

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Children's Makeup & Body Products

(CMBP)

FACT SHEET

How Racialized Beauty Norms Motivate the Use of Toxic Beauty Products Among Women of Color, Jan. 18 2023

A new study sheds light on racialized beauty norms that motivate the use of chemical hair straighteners and skin lighteners linked to poor health outcomes. Among survey respondents, beauty was the leading reason for using both chemical straighteners and skin lighteners. Evidence suggests chemical straightener use has declined among Black women, in line with the rise of the natural hair movement, while skin lightener use by Asian woman remains steady, the study also finds.

Data analysis was led by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in close partnership with the environmental justice group WE ACT for Environmental Justice, which also led the design and execution of the study. Findings are published in the journal Environmental Justice.



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BEAUTY INSIDE OUT ADULT SURVEY FACT SHEET

CCCEH

Community Outreach & Translation Core (COTC)

COTC - Community Advisory & Stakeholder Board, (CASB) Meeting

This January the CASB gathered to review and assess 2022 CEHJ activities and provide feedback to guide this year's initiatives. Twenty-four people attended. We are very grateful to our CASB members for their active engagement.

Components discussed include:

• CEHJ Research Opportunities
• Youth Internships & Practicums
• College Prep New Strategies
• Youth Coalition and Earth Month 2023
• CEHJ Educational Sessions & Media Outreach (ongoing)

MPH Practicum: Water-Testing Project

NYC DOH Open Data Set Analysis

We are recruiting

Estamos reclutando

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Community Activities/Resources

Actividades/Recursos Comunitarios

WE ACT Beauty Justice Manager, Sophia Huda organized an online panel to discuss the results of Beauty Inside Out survey compiled by Dr. Lariah Edwards, associate research scientist in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia Mailman, published in Environmental Justice. Dr. Edward's manuscript for the discussion included colorism and euro-centric beauty standards associated with the use of chemical straighteners and skin lighteners among BIPOC communities.  

The panel included makeup artists, A. Love, Youth Engagement Leaders, Briana Black from Leave It Better and Anabel Cole, CCCEH EHJ Advocates/COTC Coordinator and activists, TK Saccoh, Darkest Hue. The panel shared their efforts to raise awareness and ultimately to advance policy.

View WE ACT Beauty Inside Out Panel Discussion

Agent of Change

ESPAÑOL

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Children's Environmental Health