Mon 17 Dec 2007
A popular ingredient used in lip gloss to add shine, butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), may be cancer-causing according to reports from scientists at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. The scientists said that BBP “can interfere with the development of healthy breast tissue.” This happens because BBP builds up in fat cells in the breast with the result being an increased risk of breast cancer.
The team lead by Jose Russo gave lactating rats BBP which was absorbed by their young in breast milk. It was found that the genetic-makeup of the mammary glands in the young female rats changed as a result of the BBP.