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Warning! Your Fragrance could be Toxic

Craig Payne — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:33:36 +0000

What does your perfume smell like? Roses? Lavendar? Or, how about coal-tar and petrochemicals? Most likely, the latter is really what you smell when you spray on your favorite perfume or use a fragranced personal care product. Fragrances are loaded with toxic chemicals, and worst of all, nothing is stopping manufacturers from keeping their fragrance ingredients a secret. Actually, there are laws protecting fragrance makers from revealing their fragrance ingredients as it is considered a trade secret and is thereby legally protected.

Before the rise of synthetic fragrances and trade secrets, natural materials like musk and rare botanicals were used to create alluring scents. Now, manufacturers have a choice – cheap synthetics or more expensive natural ingredients. And to no surprise the cheapest option is most commonly selected, putting companies’ bottom line ahead of the consumers’ best interests. Manufacturers formulate synthetic fragrances in a laboratory using potentially dangerous chemicals, 95 percent which are derived from petroleum.

Cosmetic formulators have an astounding supply of over 3,000 stock chemicals to choose from. Often, a fragranced product contains more than 500 different chemicals. Unknowingly to consumers, these extensive chemicals blends are simply labeled “fragrance” on cosmetic, personal care and household products, not just perfumes and colognes. And these fragrances are not just absorbed through the skin, but also inhaled, unintentionally winding up in people’s bodies, including pregnant women and babies.

According to the FDA fragrances are responsible for 30 percent of all allergic reactions. Why, I wonder, don’t they enact regulation that prevents harmful fragrances from causing allergic reactions or worse? The same regulatory agency that is meant to be protecting consumers is instead protecting the manufacturers by allowing them to hide behind their “trade secrets.” This is a clear sign that the US cosmetic laws are out of date and need to be modernized immediately.

Thankfully, organizations like The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics are doing their best to inform the public and lead the charge for cosmetic regulation reform. In doing so, they commissioned an independent study last summer of 17 popular fragrance products.

The analysis revealed that the 17 products contained, on average:

Fourteen secret chemicals not listed on labels due to a loophole in federal law that allows companies to claim fragrances as trade secrets.
Ten sensitizing chemicals associated with allergic reactions such as asthma, wheezing, headaches and contact dermatitis.
Four hormone-disrupting chemicals linked to a range of health effects including sperm damage, thyroid disruption and cancer.

The majority of chemicals found in the testing have never been assessed for safety by any publically accountable agency, or by the cosmetics industry’s self-policing review panels. Furthermore, research has confirmed that many known synthetic fragrance ingredients are neurotoxins and hormone disrupters. And even low-dose exposure to the toxic chemicals, both on the skin and inhaled, can have serious long term health effects.

A sample of the toxic chemicals used in fragrances and perfumes include acetaldehyde, styrene oxide, acetonitrile, Toluene, and Musk tetralin (AETT), amongst many others. These chemicals have been known to cause an array of very serious conditions detailed below.

Acetaldehyde produces a fruity odor, but more importantly it is a probable human carcinogen.

Acetonitrile can cause weakness, headaches, tremors, numbness, and nausea. At high concentrations it can even cause convulsions and death.

Styrene oxide can cause skin and eye irritation, and in animal studies, it is known to cause depression.

Toluene (also known as methyl benzene) is a neurotoxin and is largely sourced from petroleum crude oil. It can cause damage to the lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, and central nervous system . It also can cause headaches, loss of muscle control, brain damage, memory loss, problems with speech, hearing and vision, and even death. It is interesting to note that toluene was detected in every fragrance sample collected by the Environmental Protection Agency for a 1991 report.

Musk tetralin (AETT) has been shown to cause brain cell and spinal cord degeneration.

Unfortunately, there is no full proof way to identify which of these toxic chemicals are used in the “secretive fragrance.” The majority of commercial brands and even some natural products contain synthetic fragrance ingredients, some which are more harmful than others. Therefore, in order to avoid unknowingly poisoning your body it is important to begin reading the ingredient list of your personal care products. And most likely any company that includes “fragrance” in their ingredient list has something to hide.

As a consumer of fragranced products, you are not without safe options. There are many alternatives to synthetic fragrances, such as essential oils, which are derived from plants. Also, you can choose products with no added fragrance. A great resource to utilize while selecting a safe product is the Skin Deep cosmetic safety database.

However, if you cannot part with your favorite fragrance, try eliminating other fragranced products from your collection. The less harmful chemicals you expose your body to the better.

5 Dangerous Natural Cosmetic Ingredients

Craig Payne — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:20:40 +0000

To the trustworthy, non-concerning consumer, “natural” has a direct association with safe. Although ingredients may be natural, that does not mean they are safe. In order to get to the bottom of this, and to find out which ingredients are safe, and which pose a certain health risk, I reviewed the book, “Volume 1 of Plants in Cosmetics: Plants and Plant Preparations Used as Ingredients for Cosmetic Products,” which summarizes a detailed study performed by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on Cosmetic Products.

The Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on Cosmetic Products for this specific study reviewed 71 plants and plant preparations which are used as ingredients for cosmetic products. Out of the 71 ingredients studied, 54 are considered safe, 5 are not recommended for cosmetic use, and the remaining 12 require additional data to make an accurate assessment.

Below lists the 5 non-recommended natural cosmetic ingredients that pose serious health hazards:

Betula alba

Juniperus oxycedrus

Pinus sylvestrisr

Gaultheria procumbens

Cinnamomum zeylanicum

The study was conducted following the methodologies similar to that of safety-in-use of cosmetic products based on man-made ingredients, whereas this study was based on plant and plant preparations. The guidelines set forth to determine if the ingredients were in fact hazardous and toxic were based on the analysis of two types of data and characteristics: Evaluation of human exposure, and evaluation of toxicity.

Evaluation of Human Exposure to Natural Cosmetic Ingredients

The Evaluation of human exposure was classified by measuring the specific toxicity of the ingredients, as well as estimating the extent the consumer is likely to be exposed, including: the type of cosmetic, quantity of the ingredient being used, the quantity of the ingredient contacting the consumer in each application, the frequency of application, the area of the body being exposed, and the foreseeable misuse of the product.

Once the of exposure is estimated, the likely amount to enter body is calculated. That, coupled with the review of past studies of the same ingredient provide an educated estimate of the complete extent of exposure to potentially harmful ingredients.

Evaluation of Toxicity in Natural Cosmetic Ingredients

The evaluation of toxicity is based on exsting knowledge obtained through similar studies of topical effects data and systemic effects data that has been complied through skin and other relevant exposure routes, such as eye and ingestion. However, if the natural cosmetic ingredient is new, topical and systemic effect data should be obtained using internationally acceptable guidelines such as the OECD guidelines for testing of cosmetics.

Top 10 Potentially Toxic Ingredients in Cosmetics

admin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:54:45 +0000

Cosmetics and beauty products are used worldwide on a daily basis. Information you may not be aware of is that those same products you use to enhance your God given beauty may be causing serious effects on your health.

These are just a few of the top potentially toxic ingredients that can be found in your every day

cosmetics.

1. DEA, TEA, Diethanolamine, Triethanolamine:Emulsifier and/or foaming agent. Skin sensitizer, can form carcinogenic nitrosamine compounds in the skin or body after absorption if mixed with nitrosating agents. A respiratory toxin, neurotoxicity hazard and immunotoxicity hazard.

2. Dibutyl Phthalate, DBP: Possible reproductive or developmental toxin, potential endocrine disruptor, skin sensitizer, immune system toxin, gastrointestinal or liver toxicant, kidney toxicant, and neurotoxin. The European Union has found it to be dangerous for the environment, very toxic to aquatic organisms and has banned it from use in cosmetics. The EPA Water Quality Standards Database states it is a priority water pollutant under the Clean Water Act and a hazardous air pollutant under the Clean Air Act.

3. Formaldehyde, Formalin: EWG lists it as a known human carcinogen, skin and lung sensitizer, gastrointestinal or liver toxicant and neurotoxin.

4. Parabens, alkyl parahydroxybenzoate, butylparaben, methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparabens: Widely used as a preservative in cosmetics. Have been assessed as hormonally active, possible endocrine disruptor, skin sensitizer and skin or sense organ toxicant. Recents scientific studies in the U.K. found a strong link between parabens and the increasing rate of breast cancer in women, Researchers found a high concentration of paragons in tumors tested.

5. Petrolatum, petroleum jelly: Emollient or lubricant. Potentially contaminated with impurities linked to cancer or other significant health problems. The European Union has banned petrolatum from use in cosmetics.

6. Propylene Glycol, Proptylene Glycol, 1,2-Propanediol. Related synthetics: PEG (polyethylene glycol) and PPG (polypropylene glycol): Used as humectants (to retain moisture). Penetration enhancer, which alters skin structure, allowing other chemicals to penetrate deeper into the skin, increasing the amounts of other chemicals that reach the bloodstream. Suspected respiratory toxin, immunotoxicity and neurotoxicity hazard.

7. Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate, Anhydrous Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Irium: Used as a surfactant (makes it foamy). Penetration enhancer.

8. Talc, Talcum: potentially contaminated with harmful impurities linked to cancer or other significant health problems and a respiratory toxicant. Scientific studies have shown that routine application of talcum powder to the genital area is linked with a three-to-four fold increase in the development of ovarian cancer.

9. 1,4-dioxane: A carcinogenic contaminant of cosmetic products. Almost 50% of cosmetics containing ethoxylated surfactants were found to contain dioxane. May exert its effects through inhalation, skin absorption, and ingestion.

10. Isopropyl Alcohol: Alcohol is used as a solvent in many skin care products. It causes skin irritation and also strips the skin of its natural acid promoting the growth of bacteria, moulds and viruses. It may also cause premature aging of skin.

Next time you go shopping for cosmetics or skin care products take a few moments to read the labels.

Aluminum: Another Hoax?

admin — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:13:06 +0000

For years an email has been circulating claiming that deodorant use is one of the leading causes of breast cancer. According to this information, deodorants and antiperspirants avoid toxins in the body to be eliminated in sweat in the underarm area. Causing these toxins to accumulate in the lymph glands under the arm, thus, causing breast cancer.

A good amount of the information found in the email is misleading. First of all, even though sometimes and enlarged lymph gland is the first symptom, breast cancer starts in the breast cells. Many women diagnosed with breast cancer have cancer cells in the lymph glands, but it is not a sign that deodorants are the cause. The breast cells more common to developing breast cancer are those lining the tubes or ducts inside the breast. What happens is that cancer cells break away from the tumor in the breast and travel through the lymphatic system to the lymph glands in the underarm area. Again, it does not mean that the cancer started in the lymph glands.

Also keep in mind that the lymphatic glands and system, and the sweat glands fulfill different functions for the human body. Some waste leaves the body through the sweat glands, but not all of it (the liver and kidneys also play a role in this function). The lymphatic system serves to drain out toxins from tissues and also help the body fight off infections.

Ever since that email, research has been published that analyzes information obtained in a study that compares rates of breast cancer in women who use deodorants, antiperspirants and underarm shaving products with breast cancer rates in women who don’t use them. The results were the same for the women who had breast cancer with women of similar ages and circumstances who had not. It also investigated the possible chance of applying products within an hour after shaving. Of the 1,500 women included in the study there were no findings linking deodorant and antiperspirant use to an increased risk of developing breast cancer, whether products were used within an hour or shaving or not.

There is no compelling information linking deodorant and antiperspirant use to cancer. It has been alleged that harmful substances such as aluminum and parabens can be absorbed through the skin and enter women’s bodies through small nicks and cuts caused by underarm shaving. There has not been a conclusive report rendered confirming that aluminum and paragons cause breast cancer. Many of the experiments were not conducted properly to be able to validate findings. But there is evidence available suggesting that these products do not cause cancer.

Lead in Lipstick

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:02:27 +0000

A new study shows that the amounts of lead in lipstick are higher than thought.

The first report on the subject came out into the light in 2007 when the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics released, “A Poison Kiss: The Problem of Lead in Lipstick,” after that the FDA promised to run its own testing. After a two-year wait, results of the study done on lead found in lipstick have been published in the July/August 2009 issue of the Journal of Cosmetic Science. This trade journal is not readily accessible to the general public. Unfortunately this report can only be bought through their site and it does not name the brands that were tested.Moreover, this testing was intended to highlight the effectiveness of a new lead-testing tool, not to reveal the quantities of lead found in lipstick.

What the FDA found is surprising. All lipsticks tested had some level of lead, ranging from 0.09 ppm (parts per million) to 3.06 ppm – more than four times the highest lead level of 0.65 reported in the 2007 CSC (Campaign for Safe Cosmetics) study.FDA used a new testing method to analyze lipstick and concluded that earlier methods likely underestimated the amount of lead in lipstick.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has set a safe lead level for candy (also ingestible) to be 0.1 parts per million. The lipstick brand containing the greatest concentration of lead measured 0.65 parts per million.The FDA hasn’t established a level of lead that is considered hazardous yet, while the U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (not a regulatory body) has declared in information for consumers on lead that “no safe blood lead level has been identified.” Many of the ingredients used in lipstick have not been tested thoroughly to prove the exact levels of toxicity in the human body. Although the FDA limits lead in candy for children’s protection there is no such limit for lipstick, which people still do ingest.

Even though lipstick use is for topical use only, we ingest small amounts of it and its ingredients when we lick our lips, eat, drink or kiss someone who is wearing lipstick. Glamour magazine wrote in their June 2002 issue that a woman ingests upwards of four pounds of lipstick in her lifetime. Because lead is a compound that accumulates in the body, trace amounts over time can become hazardous.

Lead and your body

Confirmed harmful effects of lead in the human body are numerous. Lead is a dangerous chemical and proven neurotoxin involved in the interference of a variety of body processes as well as developmental abnormalities. Although studies show specific levels of lead are considered safe, constant exposure may accumulate and become a health risk over time.

Lead ingestion has been linked to impaired functioning of the nervous system, seizures, brain damage, anemia, and if exposed long enough damage to the kidneys, reproductive harm and mental and physical retardation, and behavioral problems in children. Lead can also cause miscarriage, reduced fertility in men and women, menstrual irregularities and delays in the onset of puberty in girls. Which may result in language, learning and behavioral difficulties in children, as well as lowered IQ, reduced school performance and increase in aggression. Pregnant women who wear lipstick on a daily basis could pass lead through the placenta to their unborn child, affecting his/her normal development.

Although some cosmetic companies have protested the possibility of manufacturing a lead-free lipstick, claiming it to be too expensive and difficult to do, Stacy Malkan, co-founder and author of the award winning Not Just A Pretty Face: The Ugly Side Of The Beauty Industry http://notjustaprettyface.org/ says these lead-free lipsticks exist and can be most likely bought at your closest drugstore.

The bottom line is that lead is toxic and no matter the amount, you should never be exposed to it.