The Safety Gate 2024 report highlights that, despite the efforts of the European authorities, exposure to dangerous chemicals through daily products, such as cosmetics and toys, remains a significant and growing problem
The recent report Safety Gate 2024 of the European Union He revealed an alarming scenario: notifications relating to non -food products containing dangerous chemicals have doubled in the last year, reaching the record figure of 4,137 reports.
Never since 2003, the year of the start of the monitoring, there had been such a large number. Particularly worrying is then The Italian situation, where the reports went from 825 in 2023 to 1,089 in 2024with cosmetics representing 94% of problematic cases.
The Safety Gate rapid alert system has been designed precisely to limit the marketing of non -food and non -medical products that do not meet, or only partially satisfy, the safety requirements established by the EU. Under observation they ended above all toys and cosmetics, two product categories that come into contact with consumers daily, including the most vulnerable: children.
The origin of products contaminated with toxic substances
The analysis of the origin of the reported products offers a significant cross -section: 61% of total notifications affect products from China But including cosmetics, the Chinese share drops to 40%
Italian products represent 16% of the overall reports. This suggests how the problem is not confined to imports from countries with less rigorous safety standards, but also involves European and Italian production specifically.
The most at risk products
Cosmetics represent the most problematic category, with more than a third of the total reports. 97% of the reported cosmetics contained the Liliaial (Buttylphenyl Methylpropional), A synthetic fragrance prohibited since 2022 for its potentially harmful effects on reproduction.
Toys occupy second place in the ranking of the most dangerous products. The most frequently detected substances include:
Following there are the electrical equipment (10% of the reports). Among the dangerous substances found in this category there are:
Toxic substances were also found in liquids for electronic cigarette, in clothes and costume jewelery.
The chemicals found
On all the Liliaial, also known as Buttylphenyl Methylpropional or P-Bmhcawas banned after animal tests have highlighted its potential CMR (carcinogenic, mutagen, reprotoxic) nature. Particularly worrying are its effects on reproduction, with evidence of possible fetal malformations. Despite the ban in force since 2022, this substance continues to be present in some cosmetics in circulation (evidently old formulations).
Then there is the leadneurotoxin, a particularly serious danger as there is no level of exposure considered safe. This toxic metal attacks the nervous system, with particularly serious effects in children, damages the cardiovascular and reproductive system, compromises the functionality of kidneys, liver and bones, interferes with fetal development.
Following there are the short chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCP) belonging to the PFAS family, Sadly known as “eternal chemicals” for their persistence in the environment. They are mainly found in cables and chargers, lamps and fans and soft plastic components. These compounds are difficult to degradable, accumulate in water organisms and human tissues, alter hormonal functioning, compromise fertility and thyroid function and could encourage the development of tumors.
Mainly used to make plastic flexible, Phthalators are present in some children’s toyssuch as dolls, gaming rugs and soft toys. Like the SCCP, the phthalates are also endocrine interfering and will be progressively eliminated according to European directives.
How to defend yourself
Faced with this worrying scenario, consumers can adopt some strategies to reduce exposure to these harmful substances:
