Are nitrosamines in cosmetics a health hazard?
 The
nitrosamine of primary concern is N-nitrosodiethanolamine (NDELA). For many
years the FDA has analyzed surveillance samples of cosmetics, principally those
containing DEA and TEA, for NDELA. The levels of NDELA detected has ranged from
less than 30 parts per billion to 150 parts per million.
FDA has urged cosmetic manufacturers to voluntarily remove from cosmetic any
ingredient which may combine with others to form NDELA and to conduct additional
testing to determine why cosmetics become contaminated with NDELA.
Information currently available does not indicate that NDELA, at the levels
detected in cosmetics, is a health hazard.
Source: Excerpted from a response to a 1992 consumer inquiry prepared by a staff
person in the Office of Cosmetics; updated November 1996.
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