Episode 19: Teni Adewumi

Teni Adewumi has spent the last six years advocating for and educating black women on the hidden dangers found in the ingredients of personal care products. Using her background in industrial hygiene, health sciences, and as a PhD candidate at the University of California, Los Angeles, Teni is at the grassroots level working to find better solutions to limit the negative health impact of cosmetic products predominantly used by women of color.

A lot of women aren’t aware of the toxic ingredients that lurk in their favorite products and that they are negatively impacting their health. So, Teni’s mission is clear — to protect all black women, especially those who work in salons with harsh chemicals and women of reproductive age who may be greatly affected by hormone-disrupting ingredients found in most of their products.

Quote from interviewee for call out box:

“We’re in a very interesting time right now where researchers are really starting to ask questions on the impact of these products on black women.” —Teni Adewumi

Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss:

Black people are usually underrepresented in the environmental health space. That needs to change.
Black women’s products often have the most harmful ingredients, so we should be mindful about the products we use.
Black women have huge purchasing power — we have the power to change the current system and what’s allowed in products.

Check Out These Highlights:

Teni discusses common hormone-disrupting chemicals found in black products (9:51)
Tips on what ingredients to watch out for (23:59)
The outcomes of being exposed to toxic ingredients over time (28:31)

Quotes:

“We are this economic driving force, and we can shift the market when it comes to products marketed to us.”
“Black women have huge purchasing power.”
We came all the way from Madam C.J. Walker. The innovation, the purchasing power, and the sheer will of black women is just amazing.”

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