Americans Should Know What's in Their Soap and Shampoo by Dr. Mercola
Americans Should Know What's in Their Soap and Shampoo
April 20, 2016|14,948views
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By Dr. Mercola
You may be happy to know that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) prohibits the use of mercury, chloroform and nine other
substances in your shampoo, soap and other personal care products.
That is, until you learn that the European Union prohibits the use of more than 1,300 substances in their personal care products.
The FDA's paltry restriction of just 11 substances is even more
ridiculous considering there are nearly 13,000 chemicals used in
cosmetics, and only about 10 percent have been evaluated for safety.
Although the FDA has the authority to regulate harmful ingredients
in cosmetics and personal care products, it typically doesn't,
preferring instead to rely on the products' manufacturers to regulate
themselves.
If customers claim that a product has caused them harm, however, the
companies are not required to report such claims to the FDA. And in
the event that a product is deemed to be harmful, the FDA can't even
order a recall.1
Do You Know What's in Your Shampoo?
It's a simple enough question, but chances are you have no idea
what's lurking in your shampoo. Even if you read the label, you probably
won't recognize most of the ingredients. The fact is if you use common
commercial shampoos, you're lathering up your scalp with chemicals
with every wash.
Several years back many people were shocked to learn that even Johnson & Johnson's baby shampoo contained toxic chemicals like formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane.
In response to consumer demand, in 2012 Johnson & Johnson agreed
to remove some of the toxic chemicals from their products (and
reportedly took formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane out of their personal care
products as of 2015).2 However, many questionable chemicals still exist in popular shampoos.
Shampoo commonly contains endocrine disruptors,
for instance, which are chemicals known to interfere with development
and reproduction, and they may cause serious neurological and immune
system effects. What else might be in your shampoo?
• Sodium lauryl sulfate, a surfactant, detergent and emulsifier used in thousands of cosmetic products, as well as in industrial cleaners. It's present in nearly all shampoos, scalp treatments, hair color and
bleaching agents, toothpastes, body washes and cleansers, make-up
foundations, liquid hand soaps, laundry detergents, and bath oils/bath
salts. The real problem with SLES/SLS is that the manufacturing process
(ethoxylation) results in SLES/SLS being contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, a
carcinogenic byproduct. • Phthalates are
plasticizing ingredients that have been linked to birth defects in the
reproductive system of boys and lower sperm-motility in adult men, among
other problems. Be aware that phthalates are often hidden on shampoo
labels under the generic term "fragrance." • Methylisothiazolinone (MIT), a chemical used in shampoo to prevent bacteria from developing, which may have detrimental effects on your nervous system. • Parabens, chemicals
found in shampoo, deodorants and other cosmetics, have been shown to
mimic the action of the female hormone estrogen, which can drive the
growth of human breast tumors. A study published in 2012 suggested that parabens from
antiperspirants and other cosmetics indeed appear to increase your risk
of breast cancer.3 The research looked at where breast tumors were appearing and
determined that higher concentrations of parabens were found in the
upper quadrants of the breast and axillary area, where antiperspirants
are usually applied.
Cancer-Causing, Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals and Heavy Metals Are Common
Unfortunately, you cannot assume that your personal care products
are safe, and it's not only shampoo and soap (often loaded with toxic antibacterial triclosan) that's the problem.
One of the biggest offenders is hair straightener, some brands of
which may contain up to 10 percent pure, cancer-causing formaldehyde.
Not only does this pose a risk to the customers using the product but
also the stylists who apply it.
Further, when the Environmental Working Group (EWG) tested teens to
find out which chemicals in personal care products were found in their
bodies, 16 different hormone-altering chemicals, including parabens and
phthalates, were detected.4
Another EWG study found that 37 nail polishes from 22 companies
contained dibutyl phthalate (DBP), which is known to cause lifelong
reproductive impairments in male rats, and has been shown to damage the
testes, prostate gland, epididymus, penis, and seminal vesicles in
animals.
It's used in nail polish because it increases flexibility and shine;
research by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
revealed that all 289 people they tested had DBP in their bodies.5
Worse still, this chemical, which is linked to birth defects in
animals, was found at the highest levels in women of childbearing age.
Environmental Defense also tested 49 different makeup items,
including foundations, concealers, powders, blushes, mascaras, eye
liners, eye shadows, lipsticks and lip glosses.6 Their testing revealed serious heavy metal contamination in virtually all of the products:
96 percent contained lead
90 percent contained beryllium
61 percent contained thallium
51 percent contained cadmium
20 percent contained arsenic
Environmental Chemicals May Become More Toxic When Combined
It's thought that 1 in 5 cancers may be caused by exposure to
environmental chemicals, and according to a study published in the
journal Carcinogenesis, this includes chemicals deemed "safe" on their
own.7
However, the analysis found that by acting on various pathways, organs and organ systems, cells, and tissues, the cumulative
effects of non-carcinogenic chemicals can act in concert to
synergistically produce carcinogenic activity, turning conventional
testing for carcinogens on its ear.
This is especially concerning because the average U.S. woman uses 12
personal care products and/or cosmetics a day, containing 168 different
chemicals, the cumulative effects of which are completely unknown.8
While most men use fewer products, they're still exposed to about 85
such chemicals daily, while teens, who use an average of 17 personal
care products a day, are exposed to even more.
Another Failure for Consumers: The Toxic Substances Control Act
Adding to the problem is the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which
took effect in 1976. It allows high-production volume chemicals to be
launched without their chemical identity or toxicity information being
disclosed.
It also makes it very difficult for the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) to take regulatory action against dangerous chemicals. The
National Resources Defense Council explained:9
"Under the law now, the EPA must prove a chemical poses an
'unreasonable risk' to public health or the environment before it can
be regulated. Widely considered a failure, the law allowed 62,000
chemicals to remain on the market without testing when it first passed.
In more than 30 years, the EPA has only required testing for about
200 of those chemicals, and has partially regulated just five. The rest
have never been fully assessed for toxic impacts on human health and
the environment.
For the 22,000 chemicals introduced since 1976, chemical
manufacturers have provided little or no information to the EPA
regarding their potential health or environmental impacts. These
chemicals are found in toys and other children's products, cleaning and
personal care items, furniture, electronics, food and beverage
containers, building materials, fabrics, and car interiors."
The Personal Care Products Safety Act Could Address "Glaring Safety Loopholes"
Congress has proposed a law that would give the FDA authority to
test whether chemicals added to personal care products are being used
at safe levels. If the chemicals are found to exceed "safe" levels, the
FDA could force a recall. As it stands, the FDA does not have the
resources to routinely test such products or even to take regulatory
action except under extreme circumstances. According to the FDA:10
"FDA takes regulatory action based upon agency priorities, consistent with public health concerns and available resources."
The bill, dubbed the Personal Care Products Safety Act, would require
cosmetics companies to pay a facility registration fee based on their
annual gross sales of cosmetics, and the collected fees would be used
for cosmetic safety activities.11 As reported by ABC News:12
"Senators Dianne Feinstein, D-California, and Susan Collins,
R-Maine, introduced an amendment to the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic
Act that would give the Food and Drug Administration more power and
oversight to regulate the chemicals men and women slather on their
bodies every day."
FDA Would Be Required to Review at Least Five Cosmetic Ingredients Each Year
The bill includes a system requiring product manufacturers to
register their products and ingredients, and would require the FDA to
review five chemicals in personal care products each year in order to
evaluate their safety. The first set of chemicals recommended for
testing include:
"The Personal Care Products Safety Act would address these
glaring safety loopholes and create a modern regulatory structure for
personal care products. Consumer groups, health groups and businesses
have joined forces for the first time to support this bill, which is
key to moving forward."
Simplify Your Hygiene Routine With Natural Ingredients
Your skin is your largest, and most permeable, organ. Just about
anything you put on your skin will end up in your bloodstream and be
distributed throughout your body. Once these chemicals find their way
into your body, they tend to accumulate over time because you typically
lack the necessary enzymes to break them down.
This is why I'm so fond of saying "don't put anything on your body that
you wouldn't eat if you had to." And if you don't know what a chemical
is on a label, don't take a chance by putting it on your body. The
Environmental Working Group has a great database to help you find
personal care products that are free of potentially dangerous
chemicals.15
In addition, be aware that products boasting "all-natural" labels can
still contain harmful chemicals, so be sure to check the full list of
ingredients. Look for simple ingredients that you recognize and know to
be safe. If you can't find natural options at your local health food
market, we carry them in our online store.
You can also simplify your routine and make your own products. A slew of lotions, potions, and hair treatments can be eliminated with a jar of coconut oil, for example, to which you can add a high-quality essential oil,
if you like, for scent. For starters, try Tree Hugger's natural
deodorant recipe below and, for more information, see the infographic
below.16
Make a double boiler by placing a half-pint glass jar in the middle
of a small pot of water. Bring water to a simmer. Add coconut oil and
shea butter to the jar and let melt. Turn off the heat, add baking soda and cornstarch, and stir until completely smooth. Mix in the essential oil of your choice. Let cool.
At room temperature the deodorant is hard. You can scrape out a
small ball and apply it directly to your armpits, or transfer it to an
old deodorant tube for easier application. In warmer months, you'll
need to keep this deodorant in your refrigerator to prevent the coconut
oil from liquefying.
Embed this infographic on your website:
Click on the code area and press CTRL + C (for Windows) / CMD + C (for Macintosh) to copy the cod
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