Toxic cosmetics: Top ten most harmful ingredients

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1234Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)Imidazolidinyl Urea & DMDM HydantoinPropylene Glycol (PG)Mineral OilTriclosanIsopropyl AlcoholSynthetic FragrancesDEA, TEA, & MEAPhthalatesFD & C Color PigmentsImidazolidinyl Urea And DMDM HydantoinThese two chemicals are just two of many preservatives that release formaldehyde. They are called formaldehyde-donors. It is a colorless liquid or gas with a pungent, distinctive smell. It is utilized in the manufacturing of synthetic resins that are used in adhesives for plywood, particle board, coatings for paper and textiles, in molded plastics and for sound insulation. It is extensively used in the textile and apparel industries to:•Produce fabrics, so that they are permanent press•Make fabrics waterproof•Enhance the colorfastness of dyes•Formulate fabrics that are fire retardantAny materials treated with a formaldehyde-based resin emit formaldehyde gas until it is rinsed out, washed, cleaned or shampooed. If anyone tells you that the gas will dissipate when the resin finishes “curing”—that will take months or years.Formaldehyde is also utilized in disinfectants, drugs and cosmetics, as a tanning agent for leather, as a laboratory and photographic chemical and in embalming fluids.Formaldehyde is used in so many beauty products, that the expression, “well preserved” isn’t too far-fetched. The Safe Cosmetics Campaign is doing its best to fight against its use, but this particular chemical is a specialist in masquerading with different names. It may appear on the label of your product under various names such as these:•Paraformaldehyde•Benzylhemiformal•2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1, 3-diol•5-bromo-5-nitro-1, 3-dioxane•Diazolidinyl urea•Quaternium-15•DMDM Hydantoin•Sodium hydroxymethyl•Glycinate•MethenamineA European Union Working Group on Cosmetics discovered that these formaldehyde releasers can off-gas a portion or even all of their formaldehyde content to the air. Formaldehyde as an ingredient in cosmetic products is restricted in Europe as well as in Canada.Research has revealed that even low levels of formaldehyde can have health effects. Low levels of contact may irritate the eyes, nose and throat; cause skin problems, severe breathing problems. OSHA regulates formaldehyde as a cancer-causing substance. Since this article is in regard to skin, these are the skin problems you may encounter when using a product with formaldehyde:•Skin blisters•Fingernails that may turn brown and soft•Skin that become red and cracked•Skin that may dry out•Irritations that deteriorate with heat and sweatFormaldehyde is used in nail treatments and polish, moisturizers, eye make-up, lip make-up, shaving products, shampoos and even a couple of baby shampoos. For more information, please check out these government web sites:Occupational Exposure to Hazardous MaterialsNew York Committee for Occupational Safety and HealthTriclosanYou’ll love this one! This is the most recent trend in the armory of antibacterial chemicals that is included in detergents dish washing fluids, soaps, deodorants, cosmetics, lotions, creams and toothpaste. The question is—is it safe?The EPA registers it as a pesticide, assigning it high scores as a risk to both human health and the environment.Peter Vikesland, assistant professor in civil and environmental engineering, has revealed in his research that when the chemical triclosan reacts with the chlorine in your tap water, chloroform is produced. If triclosan is a common ingredient in anti-bacterial soap and toothpaste and you wash and rinse your mouth with the tap water—then what? Did you know that many stores in Britain have been forced to pull the products that contain triclosan off their shelves? What is more, triclosan is stored in the body tissue and can accumulate to toxic levels, damaging the liver, kidneys and lungs.Boston based microbiologist Laura McMurray and her colleagues at the Tufts University School of Medicine say that, “triclosan is capable of forcing the emergence of ‘superbugs’ that it cannot kill. And experiments have shown that it may not be the all-out germ killer scientists thought it was”. Using triclosan on a daily basis in the home—in products ranging from children’s soaps to toothpaste to ‘germ-free’ cutting boards—may be unwise.If you are worried about bacteria, and want to use something that kills the bacteria bugs around your home, we recommend using things like— essential oils. There are several that have been used for centuries for exactly that purpose. Recent studies have actually shown essential oils to be highly effective against deadly bacteria such as E Coli and MRSA.For more information on the chemical triclosan, please use these links:Triclosan in Your ToothpasteBritain Banning Products That Contain TriclosanHealth Effects of Triclosanhttp://www.jashbotanicals.com/articles/top_ten_toxic_cosmetic_ingredients_3.htmlDEA (diethanolamine), MEA (monoethanolamine), TEA (triethanolamine)These two chemicals are often used in cosmetics to regulate the pH, and utilized with numerous fatty acids to change acid to salt (stearate), which then develops into the base for a cleaner. DEA is a chemical that functions as a wetting agent in shampoos, lotions, creams and other cosmetics. It is used mostly because it supplies a rich lather in shampoos and maintains a positive consistency in lotions and creams. By itself, DEA is not harmful, but while hanging around on a store shelf or in your bathroom cabinet at home, DEA may react with other ingredients in the cosmetic recipe to form a particularly potent carcinogen called nitrosodiethanolamine (NDEA). NDEA is promptly absorbed via the skin and has been connected with stomach, esophagus, liver, and bladder cancers. These chemicals have previously been restricted in Europe.According to Samuel S. Epstein, M.D., Chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition, acute inhalation exposure to DEA in humans may result in irritation of the nose and throat, and dermal exposure may result in irritation of the skin. He also stated that animal studies have shown that dermal exposure to DEA may burn skin, and eye contact with the chemical may impair vision. In addition, more animal studies have reported testicular degeneration and reduced sperm motility and count from oral exposure to DEA.According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), "There is sufficient evidence of a carcinogenic effect of N-nitrosodiethanolamine -- ." IARC recommends that NDEA should be treated as if it were a carcinogen in humans. The National Toxicology Program similarly concluded: "There is sufficient evidence for the carcinogenicity of N-nitrosodiethanolamine in experimental animals.”