Of the 75,000+ chemicals registered with the Environmental Protection Agency, only a fraction have gone through complete testing to find out whether they might cause problems for human health. Many that are produced in enormous quantities have never been tested at all. Usually, it takes dramatic episodes of workplace injuries or wildlife poisonings, combined with rigorous scientific proof of harm and public outcry, before the government will act to restrict or ban any chemical. The current regulatory system allows synthetic chemicals in to our lives unless one is proven beyond doubt to be dangerous.
Just a few of the nasties lurking in your cosmetics and toiletries: Many of these are even in so-called 'natural' products!
Isopropyl Alcohol: a very drying and irritating solvent that strips your skin's moisture and natural immune barrier, making you more vulnerable to bacteria, moulds and viruses. It is made from propylene, a petroleum derivative and is found in many skin and hair products, fragrance, antibacterial hand washes as well as shellac and antifreeze. It can act as a "carrier" accelerating the penetration of other harmful chemicals into your skin.
It may promote brown spots and premature ageing of skin. Inhalation or ingestion of the vapour may cause headaches, flushing, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, narcosis, anaesthesia, and even coma. Fatal ingested dose is one ounce or less. Other alcohols to be concerned about in skin care products are Benzyl Alcohol, SD Alcohol and Alcohol denat.
Butyl, Ethyl, Methyl & Propyl Paraben (preservatives): Used as inhibitors of microbial growth and to extend shelf life of products. Widely used in cleansers, moisturisers, shampoos, conditioners, foundations etc. even though they are known to be highly toxic. The cause of gastric irritation, numbing of the mouth and many allergic reactions and skin rashes. They particularly affect asthma sufferers.
DEA, MEA & TEA: (Diethanolamine, Monoethanolamine, Triethanolamine) hormone-disrupting chemicals that can form cancer-causing nitrates and nitrosamines. These chemicals are already restricted in Europe due to known carcinogenic effects. In the United States however, they are still used despite the fact that Americans may be exposed to them on a daily basis with products such as shampoo, shaving creams and bubble baths.
Diazolidinyl Urea & Imidazolidinyl Urea: just two of many preservatives that often release formaldehyde which may cause joint pain, skin reactions, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and loss of sleep. Used in cleansers, toners, moisturisers etc. Exposure may also irritate the respiratory system, trigger heart palpitations or asthma, and aggravate coughs and colds. Other possible side effects include weakening the immune system and cancer. These are the most commonly used preservatives after the parabens.
FD&C Colour Pigments: synthetic colours made from coal tar used in cosmetics like eye shadow, blusher, foundation and lipstick, containing heavy metal salts that deposit toxins onto the skin, causing sensitivity and irritation. Absorption of certain colours can cause depletion of oxygen in the body and death. Animal studies have shown almost all of them to be carcinogenic.
Fragrances: mostly synthetic, ingredients can indicate the presence of up to four thousand separate ingredients, many toxic or carcinogenic. Symptoms reported to the FDA include headaches, dizziness, allergic rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and skin irritation. Clinical observation proves fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioural changes.
Mineral Oil, Liquid Paraffin (Paraffinum Liquidum): petroleum by-products that coat the skin like plastic wrap, clogging the pores. Interferes with skin's ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne and other disorders. May cause skin discolouration. Slows down skin function and cell development, resulting in premature ageing. Used in many products because it is cheap - baby oil is 100% mineral oil!
Petrolatum & Petroleum Jelly: mineral oil jelly, and like mineral oil interferes with the body's own natural moisturising mechanism, leading to dry skin and chapping. Appears in lipgloss, lipstick, lip balm - we are being sold products that actually create the very conditions they claim to alleviate. Manufacturers use it because it is unbelievably cheap.
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG): potentially carcinogenic petroleum ingredient that can alter and reduce the skin's natural moisture factor. This could increase the appearance of ageing and leave you more vulnerable to bacteria. Used in cleansers to dissolve oil and grease. It adjusts the melting point and thickens products. Also used in caustic spray-on oven cleaners.
Propylene Glycol (PG) & Butylene Glycol: gaseous hydrocarbons which in a liquid state act as "surfactants" (wetting agents and solvents). They easily penetrate the skin and can weaken protein and cellular structure. Commonly used in cleansers, moisturisers, body lotions, foundations etc. Used in industrial anti-freeze and hydraulic brake fluid, PG is strong enough to remove barnacles from boats!
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) considers PG so toxic that it requires workers to wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles and to dispose of any PG solutions by burying them in the ground. Because PG penetrates the skin so quickly, the EPA warns against skin contact to prevent consequences such as brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities. But there isn't even a warning label on products such as stick deodorants, where the concentration is greater than in most industrial applications! Also used in some salad dressings, yuk!
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES): industrial detergents and surfactants that pose serious health threats. Used in car washes, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers - and in 90% of personal care products that foam - toothpaste, bubble bath, shampoo, bath and shower gel, facial cleansers, handwashes etc. because they are cheap. A small amount generates a large amount of foam, and when salt is added, it thickens to give the illusion of being thick and concentrated.
Animals exposed to SLS experience eye damage, depression, laboured breathing, diarrhoea, severe skin irritation, and even death. Young eyes may not develop properly if exposed to SLS because proteins are dissolved. SLS may also damage the skin's immune system by causing layers to separate and inflame. When combined with other chemicals, SLS can be transformed into nitrosamines, a potent class of carcinogens. Your body may retain the SLS for up to five days, during which time it may enter and maintain residual levels in the heart, liver, the lungs, and the brain.
Triclosan: a synthetic "antibacterial" ingredient with a chemical structure similar to Agent Orange! The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) registers it as a pesticide, giving it high scores as a risk to both human health and the environment. It is classified as a chlorophenol, a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer in humans. Its manufacturing process may produce dioxin, a powerful hormone-disrupting chemical with toxic effects measured in the parts per trillion; that is only one drop in 300 Olympic-size swimming pools!
Hormone disruptors pose enormous long-term chronic health risks by interfering with the way hormones perform, such as changing genetic material, decreasing fertility and sexual function, and fostering birth defects. It can temporarily de-activate sensory nerve endings, so contact with it often causes little or no pain. Internally, it can lead to cold sweats, circulatory collapse, and convulsions. Stored in body fat, it can accumulate to toxic levels, damaging the liver, kidneys and lungs, and can cause paralysis, suppression of immune function, brain haemorrhages, and heart problems.
Tufts University School of Medicine (Boston) says that triclosan is capable of forcing the emergence of "super bugs" that it cannot kill. Its widespread use in popular antibacterial cleansers, toothpastes, mouthwashes and household products may have nightmare implications for our future.
Phthalates: (pronounced tha - lates) can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled as fumes, ingested when they contaminate food or when children bite or suck on toys, and are inadvertently but directly administered to patients from some PVC (polyvinyl chloride or vinyl) medical devices. Hundreds of animal studies have shown that phthalates can damage the liver, the kidneys, the lungs and the reproductive system, especially the developing testes. Phthalates are found in many leading beauty care products, including hair spray, deodorant, nail polish and perfume that you may be using everyday.