Asbestos fibers were found in “Just Shine Shimmer Powder” at Justice stores.
Recently, a North Carolina news station uncovered something shocking when it sent a sample of makeup purchased at Justice, a store for girls and tweens. An investigative team at ABC11 in Durham, North Carolina purchased several types of makeup that are marketed specifically for kids and teens to determine if there were ingredients in these products that are not listed on the package. These cosmetics were then sent to the Scientific Analytical Institute in Greensboro for testing. One of the products tested was the “Just Shine Shimmer Powder,” purchased at Justice. The results of the test showed that this makeup contained heavy metals — and asbestos fibers.
The cosmetics industry is largely unregulated in the United States, which can lead to issues such as these dangerous contaminants getting into makeup. Asbestos can be particularly damaging for young people, especially when they are exposed to it through the air in powdered form. The type of asbestos fibers found in the Justice makeup, tremolite asbestos, can be inhaled into a child’s lungs and trapped there. Once embedded in your lungs, asbestos fibers have the potential to cause disease, including asbestosis, cancer and mesothelioma. The effects of inhaling asbestos may not show up immediately, but could result in a child developing cancer decades down the road.
So how did asbestos get into this makeup? The likely source is the talc powder that is used to make the cosmetic. Talc is a naturally occurring mineral that forms in the earth along with other minerals, including asbestos. The talc could have been contaminated in this manner — but the manufacturer should have tested the talc before using it in its product.
Importantly, asbestos was not the only potentially hazardous product in the Just Shine Shimmer Powder. The investigation also revealed the presence of heavy metals, including barium, chromium, lead and selenium. The presence of lead in particular is disturbing, as it could be absorbed into the user’s bloodstream through the use of the makeup, and cause lead poisoning.
Justice has stopped the sale of this product while it investigates these allegations. However, it is important to note that Justice did not find out about these problems on its own — and that if a news team had not sent off the makeup samples for testing, we may never have known that this makeup contained asbestos or heavy metals. None of the other makeups tested contained asbestos.
A skilled products liability attorney can assist you if you or your child has been harmed by a dangerous or defective product, such as makeup that contains harmful products like heavy metals and asbestos. Defects in the manufacturing of cosmetics that lead to the inclusion of contaminants can lead to serious injuries and illnesses, and may entitle you to compensation.
If you have been harmed by a dangerous or defective product, the skilled products liability attorneys of PLBH can help. Contact us today at (800) 435-7542 or info@plblaw.com to schedule a free initial appointment. In many cases, we are able to work on a contingency fee basis, which means that we will not charge a fee unless we get money for you!