Do you have toxic chemicals in you and baby's shampoo?
This article is long but I think everyone should know about it...from GLN today.
Chemicals in Your Personal-Care Products
Every year consumers across the world spend $230 billion on beauty products, with $40 billion of that going toward shampoo purchases. In North America people are opening their wallets to spend nearly $11 billion on shampoo and conditioner products each year.
Most chemicals used in shampoo have never been tested or assessed for safety!
Shampoo manufacturers make many promises such as getting rid of greasy hair, giving hair shine, thickening it and overall making your hair more beautiful. But what the manufacturers aren't going to tell you is that the ingredients and chemicals used to make some of these shampoos can be dangerous.
No Safety Testing?
Most of the chemicals that make up the ingredients in shampoos and other personal care products have never been tested or adequately assessed for safety by either the federal government or the manufacturers. The FDA is the regulator behind cosmetics; however, there are no regulations, guidelines or mandatory testing required of these products nor does the FDA control what goes onto the market or beauty shelves.
"Companies are free to use almost any ingredient they choose in personal care products, with no proof of safety required. Consumers are not properly warned of possible dangers because of a lack of standards and labeling loopholes," said Jane Houlihan, director of research for the Environmental Working Group in a report on the dangers of cosmetics and personal care products to a House subcommittee.
Similar health concerns were raised from the results of a study conducted by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine on prolonged exposure to low levels of methylisothiazolinone, a common shampoo ingredient often added to shampoos to prevent bacterial growth. The results showed that methylisothiazolinone dramatically restricts the growth of neurons.
How Safe is Your Baby Shampoo?
Even shampoos meant for the most vulnerable among us, babies and children, may not be safe.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently targeted a contaminant and cancer-causing petrochemical called 1,4-dioxane that has been found in dozens of children's bath products and adult personal care products in an amount exceeding twice the maximum FDA recommendation. Although FDA recommendations state that products shouldn't contain any more than 10 parts per million (ppm) of this contaminant, 15 percent of the products tested exceeded that amount.
A breakdown of the adult products showed that the following products had the highest 1,4-dioxane levels:
- Clairol Herbal Essences Rainforest Flowers Shampoo, 23 ppm
- Olay Complete Body Wash with Vitamins (normal skin), 23 ppm
Among the children's products, those with the most of this toxic contaminant were:
Further concern over the use of 1,4 dioxane and formaldehyde , a skin, eye and respiratory irritant, was raised by environmental and consumer groups, which requested the removal of these chemicals from Johnson & Johnson Baby shampoo and other products.
"There's really no excuse for a baby shampoo marketed as the No. 1 choice of hospitals to contain chemicals suspected of causing cancer," Lisa Archer, the campaign's national coordinator, told The Associated Press in an interview.
Toxic Cancer-Causing Carcinogens Found in Children's Bath Products
Laboratory tests on Johnson's baby shampoo revealed that it contained 210 parts per million of formaldehyde. About two dozen other products, out of 48 tested, had similar or higher levels.
Example: Johnson and Johnson Baby Shampoo (as listed on cosmeticsdatabase.com):
Ingredients in this product are linked to:
- Cancer
- Developmental/reproductive toxicity
- Violations, restrictions & warnings
- Allergies/immunotoxicity
Other concerns for ingredients used in this product: Neurotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Miscellaneous, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Enhanced skin absorption, Contamination concerns, Occupational hazards
Directions from packaging: Wet hair, apply shampoo, lather, and rinse, repeat.
Warnings from packaging: Keep out of reach of young children.
The Most Toxic Adult and Baby Shampoos
The Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database, designed to keep you informed of toxic chemicals in consumer products, lists some of the worst offenders among adult and baby shampoos:
Adult Shampoo
- Halo Hydrating Shampoo
- Michael Kors for Men Body Shampoo
- Bumble & Bumble Curl Conscious Shampoo, Nordic Angel
- Bumble & Bumble Curl Conscious Shampoo, Wild Child
- L'Oreal Kid's 2 in 1 Shampoo, Extra Gentle, Burst of Fruity Apricot
Baby Shampoo
- Johnson & Johnson Johnson's Soothing Naturals Gift Set
- Mustela Bebe Baby Shampoo
- Mustela Bebe Foam Shampoo for Newborns
- Baby Magic Hair & Body Wash with Vitamins
- Baby Magic Gentle Hair & Body Wash
Check Your Shampoo and Soap Labels Today
Below are the top 10 dangerous chemicals found in many shampoos, released from a study conducted by the EPA:
1. Cocoamide DEA (diethylalomine) TEA, MEA,-- detergent in most shampoos, moisturizers and more Studies also show that DEA's (including cocamide DEA) directly inhibit fetal brain development in laboratory studies by blocking the absorption of choline, a nutrient required for brain development and maintenance.
2. Propylene Glycol -- industrial antifreeze -- in deodorant, shampoos, shaving gels, and moisturizers
3. Sodium Laurel Sulfate and Fluoride -- garage floor cleansers, detergents -- in shampoos and toothpastes
4. Benzaldehyde -- in perfume, cologne, hairspray, laundry bleach, deodorants, detergent, Vaseline lotion, shaving cream, shampoo, bar soap, dishwasher detergent
- Narcotic
- Sensitizer
- Local anesthetic
- Central nervous system depressant
- Irritates the mouth, throat, eyes, skin, lungs and GI tract
- Causes nausea and abdominal pain
- May cause kidney damage
5. Benzyl Acetate -- in perfume, cologne, shampoo, fabric softener, stickup air freshener, dishwashing liquid and detergent, soap, hairspray, bleach, after shave, deodorants
- Carcinogenic
- Linked to pancreatic cancer
- Can be absorbed through the skin causing systemic effects
6. Benzyl Alcohol-- in perfume, cologne, soap, shampoo, nail enamel remover, air freshener, laundry bleach and detergent, Vaseline lotion, deodorants, fabric softener
- Irritates the upper respiratory tract
- Causes headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and drop in blood pressure
- Central nervous system depression
- Death in severe cases from respiratory failure
7. Ethanol -- in perfume, hairspray, shampoo, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid and detergent, laundry detergent, shaving cream, soap, Vaseline lotion, air fresheners, nail color and remover, paint and varnish remover
- Is on the EPA Hazardous Waste list
- Irritates the eyes and upper respiratory tract
- Causes initial stimulatory effect followed by drowsiness, impaired vision and ataxia
- Causes central nervous system disorder
8. Ethyl Acetate in after shave, cologne, perfume, shampoo, nail color, nail enamel remover, fabric softener, dishwashing liquid
- Is on the EPA Hazardous Waste List
- Narcotic
- Irritates the eyes and respiratory tract
- May cause headache and narcosis
- May cause anemia with leukocytosis and damage to the liver and kidneys
9 Linalool -- in perfume, cologne, bar soap, shampoo, hand lotion, nail enamel remover, hairspray, laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, Vaseline lotion, air fresheners, bleach powder, fabric softener, shaving cream, after shave, solid deodorant
- Narcotic
- Causes respiratory disturbances in some cases leading to death
- Causes central nervous system disorder
10. Methylene Chloride -- in shampoo, cologne, paint and varnish remover
- Banned by the FDA in 1988
- Is on the EPA Hazardous Waste list
- Carcinogenic
- Causes headaches, irritability, fatigue and tingling in the limbs
- Causes central nervous system disorder
Thank you very much for posting this Nightowl! Very informational post. I just wanted to comment here as I recently went to a local health food store and bought a natural shampoo. A few days after using it, I noticed a huge increase of itchiness on my scalp. I then looked at the ingredients in the shampoo and found sodium laurel sulfate as one of the first ingredients. Needless to say, I am even more careful now when it come to health food store shampoos as sometimes they can contain some of those ingredients listed.
Really crappy about toxic chemicals in J&J baby products especially.
I've used GLN's Miracle II products for many years for myself and their MII
Moisturizing Soap does a great job as a shampoo. I buy it in multiple bottles
at a time to get the cheapest price possible.
care_berry, I bought a popular natural underarm deodorant several years ago and it burned my skin bright red. It still gets red when I wash there. You can't trust anything without reading the lable anymore. Even then, I'm not convinced that all ingredients get listed.
EarlyBird, I read the lable on J&J baby oil a while back and it just said mineral oil and fragrance...so, since I'm alergic to perfumes, I just bought plain mineral oil. Evidently the fancier the name the more toxins they throw in. I agree...anyone who has been trusted for so long for their baby products, then putting neurotoxins in them is sick themselves!
More than half the baby shampoo, lotion and other infant care products analyzed by a health advocacy group were found to contain trace amounts of two chemicals that are believed to cause cancer.
Some of the biggest names on the market, including Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo and Baby Magic lotion, tested positive for 1,4-dioxane or formaldehyde, or both, the nonprofit Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reported.
The chemicals, which the Environmental Protection Agency has characterized as probable carcinogens, are not intentionally added to the products and are not listed among ingredients on labels. Instead, they appear to be byproducts of the manufacturing process. Formaldehyde is created when other chemicals in the product break down over time, while 1,4-dioxane is formed when foaming agents are combined with ethylene oxide or similar petrochemicals.
The organization tested baby bath products such as bubble bath and shampoo.
* 17 out of 28 products tested ? 61 percent ? contained both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane.
* 23 out of 28 products ? 82 percent ? contained formaldehyde at levels ranging from 54 to 610 parts per million (ppm).
* 32 out of 48 products ? 67 percent ? contained 1,4-dioxane at levels ranging from 0.27 to 35 ppm.
While a single product might not be cause for concern, the reality is that babies may be exposed to several products at bath time, several times a week, in addition to other chemical exposures in the home and environment. Those small exposures add up and may contribute to later-life disease.
Formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane are known carcinogens; formaldehyde can also trigger skin rashes in some children. Unlike many other countries, the U.S. government does not limit formaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, or most other hazardous substances in personal care products.
"Our intention is not to alarm parents, but to inform parents that products that claim to be gentle and pure are contaminated with carcinogens, which is completely unnecessary," said Stacy Malkan, a spokeswoman for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which is calling for the government to more strictly regulate personal care products such as shampoo, lotion and makeup.
Where They Come From
The chemicals were not disclosed on product labels because they're contaminants, not ingredients, and therefore are exempt from labeling laws.
Formaldehyde contaminates personal care products when common preservatives release formaldehyde over time in the container. Common ingredients likely to contaminate products with formaldehyde include quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea and diazolidinyl urea.
1,4-dioxane is a byproduct of a chemical processing technique called ethoxylation, in which cosmetic ingredients are processed with ethylene oxide. Manufacturers can easily remove the toxic byproduct, but are not required by law to do so. Common ingredients likely to be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane include PEG-100 stearate, sodium laureth sulfate, polyethylene and ceteareth-20.
What You Can Do
Contrary to industry statements, there are no regulatory standards that limit formaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane or most other toxic chemicals in personal care products sold in the United States. There are signs the U.S. is gearing to catch up, but for now it's up to consumers to consider carefully before they buy. Here's some suggestions for safeguarding your family's health:
* Simplify: Select products with fewer ingredients and no synthetic fragrance or dyes, and use fewer products overall.
* Choose safety: Search EWG's cosmetic safety database, Skin Deep, to learn more about the products you use and find safer alternatives. Also check out EWG's Safety Guide to Children?s Personal Care Products.
* Read labels: Select products for baby and yourself that don't contain the ingredients listed above, which are commonly contaminated with formaldehyde or 1,4-dioxane.
__________________ "We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." ~Immanual Kant~
i was thinking yesterday, my baby shampoo is not as natural as i would like, i've been on the PETA website in the UK, and it seems johnson and johnson are not cruelty free also. i used to buy personal care form an organic shop near where i live, but it's been replaced with a different one claiming to be more natural....with SLS in it...
now i'm stuck with what to find.
anyone tried making their own? i tried once but it wasn't that good. if anyone has any good sites for making your own stuff please share.
Thanks
I like Dr. Bronner's soaps; liquid and bar. I use the liquid as a shampoo. Very few ingredients. No SLS. They use the coconut oil as a foaming agent. Organic everything.
Make your own natural shampoo and avoid the harsh chemicals contained in commercial shampoos. Some form of soap is required to develop the suds; natural shampoo recipes usually call for castile soap. This soap is made from plant oil, traditionally olive oil, but others can be used. It comes in both liquid and bar form.
Shampoo for Normal Hair - Mix together 1/2 cup liquid castile soap, 1/2 cup distilled water, and 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Shake well before each use and store in a lidded container. This shampoo can be scented with a few drops of the essential oil of your choice. Try rose essential oil or geranium for a lovely scent. Peppermint and lavender are both thought to be beneficial to hair.
Moisturizing Natural Shampoo - Combine 2/3 cup of liquid castile soap with 1/3 cup of distilled water. Stir in one teaspoon of sea salt until dissolved. Add 3 teaspoons of jojoba oil, 15 drops of peppermint essential oil, 5 drops of spearmint essential oil, and 5 drops of bergamot essential oil. Decant to a container with a lid. Shake before each use and use as you would use any other shampoo.
Itch-Relief Natural Shampoo -
Bring 8 ounces of water to a boil and add 1 teaspoon each of stinging nettles and lavender, which are both herbs. Cover the pan and simmer on low for 30 minutes. Strain the infusion into a bottle and discard the herbs. Add 3 ounces of castile soap and cap the bottle. Shake gently to combine and store in a cool place.
Natural Shampoo for Oily Hair -
Place 2 cup of distilled water in a pan and bring to a boil. Add 2 tablespoon of dried peppermint, 2 tablespoons of dried spearmint, and 1 tablespoon of dried sage to the pot and cover. Remove from heat and steep for 20 minutes. Strain the infusion and discard the herbs. Add 1/4 cup of grated castile soap to the infusion and stir until the soap dissolves. Pour into a plastic squirt bottle and add a few drops of the essential oil of your choice. Lavender oil is a degreaser and gives a pleasant scent.
Soap-Free Shampoo
Combine 1/4 cup of baking soda with enough water to make a paste. Massage into wet hair and scalp. Let it sit for five minutes and rinse well. This is a soap-free natural shampoo that will leave hair feeling clean and soft. There will be no bubbles with the soap-free shampoo.
I spent a lot of time searching and there's very little choice in brand other than Dr. Bonner. Swansons carries some but here's a link to Vitacost. https://www.vitacost.com/productResul...0liquid%20soap
The soap that has hemp was mild and advertised for babies. It has a variety of oils in it, and it is the only one that says unscented that I could find. I'm sensative to fragrances. Castile soap was made with all olive oil in the beginning, but they say it can be "slimey" and one person wasn't happy with the way it lathered. Most make it with a variety of organic plant oils. There is never animal fat in castile soap.
thanks nightowl. i'll give it a go, make my own shampoo, test it on me and my family,and post my findings on here.
if its not so good i'll try the baking soda method that kind2creatures posted about
I have not tried (at least recently) to make my own shampoo. But I thought I'd share this site where you can search cosmetics and shampoos for toxic ingredients.
Do you have toxic chemicals in you and baby's shampoo?
Shampoos!
More than half the baby shampoo, lotion and other infant care products analyzed by a health advocacy group were found to contain trace amounts of two chemicals that are believed to cause cancer.
but where would i find castille soap?
Linear Mode
