hollydolly
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- Location
- London England
Hannah, 48, from Oxshott in Surrey, smiles as she recalls the happy memories of wearing make-up as a child growing up. But the smile soon fades because something that was in the make-up this former City high-flier and mother of two played with as a child, or wore in later life, is killing her: Asbestos.
Hannah has mesothelioma, a terminal cancer caused by asbestos which affects the mesothelium, a membrane on the outside of the lungs, heart, intestines and abdomen.
It can cause cancer in any of these, but in Hannah's case, her peritoneum - the lining of the abdomen is affected. There is no cure and, once diagnosed, 60 per cent of patients die within 12 months.
Hannah is at the vanguard of a growing number of British women seeking legal redress against cosmetics companies in the U.S. courts for mesothelioma which they believe was caused by asbestos in their make-up. This summer, American manufacturers Avon and Estee Lauder, and its subsidiary Clinique, reached a 'resolution' with Hannah to avoid going to trial. None of the parties will say what the resolution involved, and the companies denied liability for causing Hannah's illness, but it is thought to have cost them a substantial sum to settle.
No one knows for sure how many more British women are in the pipeline, but Hannah's UK lawyer, Harminder Bains, a partner at Leigh Day, says her firm alone is representing at least 20 other claimants.
'I had no idea that my make-up could be hazardous to my health - nobody did, and most people still don't - but there is proof that the cosmetics industry knew and I am so very angry about that,' says Hannah.
'I'm living a half-life right now. I say half because of all the things I can no longer do because of my illness, but also half because of what it means for how long I will be able to carry on. They've taken my life away. I just want people to be aware of the possible danger in their make-up.
But what danger? How can make-up, worn by millions of people every day with no ill effects, be hazardous? Well, because of the talc that's in much of it.
Talc is a naturally-occurring soft clay mineral composed of magnesium, silicon and oxygen. It is mined around the world, the largest producers being China, Brazil, France, India and the U.S.
The mined talc, which can be green, white or grey, is ground into a fine powder valued for its absorbent, deodorant and anti-chafing properties.
The problem is that talc is often found in the same geological locations as asbestos, which is also mined as a naturally-occurring fibrous mineral. And sometimes the talc is contaminated by the asbestos.
see the full story here... but IMO it's worrying that without admitting liability the biggest cosmetic name , Paid out undiclosed sums in compensation this year to this young woman....
Your makeup may be killing you like it's killing me
Hannah has mesothelioma, a terminal cancer caused by asbestos which affects the mesothelium, a membrane on the outside of the lungs, heart, intestines and abdomen.
It can cause cancer in any of these, but in Hannah's case, her peritoneum - the lining of the abdomen is affected. There is no cure and, once diagnosed, 60 per cent of patients die within 12 months.
Hannah is at the vanguard of a growing number of British women seeking legal redress against cosmetics companies in the U.S. courts for mesothelioma which they believe was caused by asbestos in their make-up. This summer, American manufacturers Avon and Estee Lauder, and its subsidiary Clinique, reached a 'resolution' with Hannah to avoid going to trial. None of the parties will say what the resolution involved, and the companies denied liability for causing Hannah's illness, but it is thought to have cost them a substantial sum to settle.
No one knows for sure how many more British women are in the pipeline, but Hannah's UK lawyer, Harminder Bains, a partner at Leigh Day, says her firm alone is representing at least 20 other claimants.
'I had no idea that my make-up could be hazardous to my health - nobody did, and most people still don't - but there is proof that the cosmetics industry knew and I am so very angry about that,' says Hannah.
'I'm living a half-life right now. I say half because of all the things I can no longer do because of my illness, but also half because of what it means for how long I will be able to carry on. They've taken my life away. I just want people to be aware of the possible danger in their make-up.
But what danger? How can make-up, worn by millions of people every day with no ill effects, be hazardous? Well, because of the talc that's in much of it.
Talc is a naturally-occurring soft clay mineral composed of magnesium, silicon and oxygen. It is mined around the world, the largest producers being China, Brazil, France, India and the U.S.
The mined talc, which can be green, white or grey, is ground into a fine powder valued for its absorbent, deodorant and anti-chafing properties.
The problem is that talc is often found in the same geological locations as asbestos, which is also mined as a naturally-occurring fibrous mineral. And sometimes the talc is contaminated by the asbestos.
see the full story here... but IMO it's worrying that without admitting liability the biggest cosmetic name , Paid out undiclosed sums in compensation this year to this young woman....
Your makeup may be killing you like it's killing me
