| The majority of shampoos and other body care | | | | |
| products do not have their ingredients tested | | | | The family of preservatives known as |
| for safety before being used. According to | | | | parabens, which includes methyl-, ethyl-, |
| the FDA Office of Cosmetics and Colors, 1995, | | | | propyl-, and butylparaben, has recently been |
| the "FDA cannot require companies to do | | | | identified as xenoestrogens which mimic the |
| safety testing of their cosmetic products | | | | sex hormone estrogen. They are widely used |
| before marketing." It is unlikely that | | | | in shampoos and cosmetics for adults as well |
| individual applications of one product are | | | | as children, even in many so-called "natural" |
| causing immediate harm, however, most of us | | | | products. However, Dr. S. Oishi of the |
| use many products per day, such as shampoo, | | | | Department of Toxicology, Tokyo metropolitan |
| conditioner, make-up, skin care like facial | | | | Research laboratory of Public Health, Japan, |
| cleanser, moisturizers, etc., and all these | | | | reported that the daily sperm production in |
| exposures may add up. | | | | lab tests of animals was significantly lower |
| | | | in those receiving a dose of parabens that is |
| Did you know that pharmaceutical companies | | | | "similar to the lower level of acceptable |
| have investigated putting drugs into shampoos | | | | daily intake for parabens in the European |
| because the scalp is so thin that it readily | | | | Community and in Japan." |
| absorbs substances that are put on it? Many | | | | |
| other personal care products are put on our | | | | Diethanolamine (DEA) is often used as a |
| skin and stay there and are absorbed all day | | | | foaming agent and emulsifier in shampoos. |
| long. Do you ever wonder about their safety? | | | | However, a federal National Toxicology |
| | | | Program completed a study in 1998 that found |
| According to the Environmental Working Group, | | | | an association between cancer in lab animals |
| in the United States, the FDA has banned or | | | | and the topical application of DEA and other |
| restricted nine (9) ingredients out of 1,175 | | | | DEA-related ingredients. DEA can also lead |
| that are used in personal care products. The | | | | to the formation of nitrosamines, which are |
| European Union, in contrast, has banned 450 | | | | known carcinogens. In response, many |
| ingredients for use in cosmetics. Hmm! | | | | manufacturers switched to cocamide MEA. |
| | | | However, the FDA says that cocomide MEA is |
| Some further food for thought: Cancer rates | | | | one "of the most commonly used ingredients |
| are now approaching 1 in 2 American men and 1 | | | | that may contain DEA." Other ingredients |
| in 3 American women. This is up from 1 in 4 | | | | that include other types of MEA or TEA may |
| Americans in the 1950s despite huge | | | | also contain DEA. |
| expenditures on the "War on Cancer." Dr. | | | | |
| Samuel Epstein from the University of | | | | Polyethylene glycol (PEG), including PEG-6, |
| Illinois says that cancer rates have gone up | | | | PEG-150 and other similar ingredients can be |
| about 60% from 1950 to 1998. A lot of us | | | | found in shampoos, lotions and other personal |
| think that these rising cancer rates are at | | | | care products. However, a report in the |
| least in part due to our increasing exposure | | | | International Journal of Toxicology routinely |
| to carcinogenic chemicals, often in small | | | | found many impurities in PEG, including |
| amounts that accumulate in our bodies over | | | | ethylene oxide and 1,4-Dioxane. Ethylene |
| time. These come from our food, our air and | | | | oxide increases the risk of uterine, breast |
| water, household furnishings and building | | | | and other cancers. 1,4-Dioxane is a |
| materials, cleaning products and personal | | | | suspected human carcinogen. Testing |
| care products. | | | | commissioned by the Doctors' Prescription for |
| | | | Health Living showed that around 50 percent |
| Commonly Used Chemicals in Personal Care | | | | of personal care products with PEG contain |
| Products That May Be Toxic: | | | | significant amounts of 1.4-dioxane. PEG is |
| | | | also found in some "natural" body care |
| Artificial fragrances are derived in large | | | | products. |
| part from petrochemicals, not flower essences | | | | |
| or other herbal products as many imagine. | | | | High Quality Natural Body Care Products |
| These petrochemicals release volatile organic | | | | |
| compounds (VOCs) that often cause headaches, | | | | If you are serious about reducing the amount |
| skin irritation, nausea and allergies. Some | | | | of chemicals you are exposed to on a day to |
| are carcinogenic, contain or release | | | | day basis, you need to search out truly |
| formaldehyde or are toxic to the nervous | | | | natural body care products that are free of |
| system. Many artificial fragrances contain | | | | the above mentioned chemicals, as well as |
| phthalates, which are linked to birth defects | | | | other toxins and carcinogens. A good place |
| in the male reproductive system. Phthalates | | | | to start is to go to a health food store |
| were found in a 2002 study by a coalition of | | | | either online or a physical store, and make |
| environmental and public health organizations | | | | sure and read all the ingredients on the |
| in deodorants, fragrances, body lotions, hair | | | | labels. Many products that call themselves |
| gels, mousses and sprays. Artificial | | | | "natural" contain questionable ingredients |
| fragrances in general are found in many | | | | that you will be absorbing on a daily basis. |
| cosmetic and personal care products. | | | | |