Lead, arsenic, cadmium, formaldehyde, mercury. These are some of the toxic ingredients that are found in products that we put on our skin, in our hair, and on our lips that ultimately make it into our bodies where they can wreak havoc with endocrine systems, neural development, reproductive systems and contribute to higher levels of cancer.

These ingredients are unreported and hard to track, even for the most scrupulous consumer. Annie Leonard, who produced The Story of Cosmetics in partnership with The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics said it best: "It turns out the important decisions don't happen when I choose to take a product off the shelf. They happen when companies and governments decide what should be put on the shelves."

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees regulations governing cosmetics. However, regulation is a term used loosely, as manufacturers can use nearly every chemical and ingredient, man-made or natural, in a cosmetic without approval from the FDA.¹

Updated October 13, 2011

Toxic flame retardants are one of the most common sources of toxicity in our homes and our lives. They are used on everything from computer casings, to furniture, to carpeting, to children's products. "The problem is, they don't stay put," says Rebecca Williams, a reporter for The Environment Report¹. "They leach out of products and they get into us."

Health concerns surrounding these chemicals—including everything from cancer to thyroid issues to reproductive harm—are serious enough that many groups including fire professionals are interested in getting toxic flame retardants out of our daily lives.

From a letter² released by the International Association of Fire Fighters:

"Many studies involving fire fighters exposed to these and other toxic gases during active fire fighting, overhaul, and long term exposure from these chemicals penetrating protective gear, have found that fire fighters have a much greater risk of contracting cancer, heart and lung disease, and other debilitating diseases. While we support the concept of flame retardant chemicals, there are [safer] alternatives."

When we talk about toxic flame retardants on Safer States, we are referring to a whole group of chemicals that are used on household products for the purposes of slowing down combustion. Unlike some chemicals (cadmium, for example), the concern isn't with a specific single chemical. Instead, we reference a group of chemicals intended for a single purpose, nearly all of which have been shown to have harmful effects on children, fire fighters, fish and wildlife.

May is a month focused on women—the month started out with Mother's Day, and the week of May 8 is National Women's Health week, established to empower women to make their health a top priority.

Toxic chemicals are an increasingly important topic with women's health—too much chemical exposure at the beginning of life, or during pregnancy, can cause adverse health effects for women and for their children.

This month, we are featuring women heroes: women who are strong advocates for reducing exposure to toxic chemicals. Three of the women are legislators, and one is a scientist. They are tied together in the hard work that they are doing in their field to make our world and our homes safer from toxic chemicals.

In choosing these women, it was overwhelmingly clear that it's possible to come from very different backgrounds and agendas and reach the same conclusion: that stronger policies to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals are necessary on a state and federal level, with bi-partisan support to protect the health of our families and the most vulnerable populations in our society.

California Attorney General (and Governor elect) Jerry Brown has filed suit against the maker of the "Brazilian Blowout" -- an expensive treatment which straightens hair.

The suit alleges that the company did not warn customers or workers who come in contact with the product that it contains high levels of formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde is a carcinogenic chemical that is an extreme irritant to the eyes, nose and throat.

California's action comes after the state of Oregon issued an alert last month to hair salons warning them of high levels of formaldehyde associated with the Brazilian Blowout.

There has been a lot of toxics news coming from the states lately. The Safer States organizations have been doing an amazing job of protecting their state's citizens through legislation restricting toxic chemicals. Moreover, elected officials have been hearing the message from their voters: we deserve to be protected from toxic chemicals in our lives.

Here's what's happening, state by state:

Alaska

This year's legislative calendar included a ban on Deca-BDE in mattresses and electronics. The bill ultimately failed, but the momentum for the bill was encouraging.