Supposedly Green Products Could Be Toxic: Carcinogenic Compound Found in Half

[Guest guest]

Poster's Comment: I have no connections with any product mentioned here. I

have MCS and use 'Kiss My Face' soap bar - there are at least 5 different

ones. The only one that I have found 'safe' is the one that has ONLY Olive Oil

..

The rest of their soap bars all have fragrances, among other things.

 

Supposedly " Green " Products Could Be Toxic: Carcinogenic Compound Found in

Half of Brands Tested

_http://www.thedaily green.com/ environmental- news/latest/ toxic-green-

products- 47031401_

(http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/toxic-green-products-470\

31401)

 

Nearly half the supposedly " natural " or " green " soaps shampoos and other

consumer products tested by the Organic Consumers Association have an ingredient

that could cause cancer, according to a new report.

The chemical, 1,4-dioxane, is derived from petrochemicals and is classified

as a " probable human carcinogen " by the Environmental Protection Agency, which

is about as close to a smoking gun as a government bureaucracy gets. Still,

no one knows exactly how much is enough to cause cancer, and the only studies

have involved laboratory animals in conditions that aren't directly

comparable to small exposure daily during, say, washing in the shower.

It's either a case of misleading labeling run amok, or buyer beware. In an

era when green is in, greenwashing of toxic or environmentally destructive

products is rampant. But it's also a reminder that toxicity is a tricky issue,

and ridding your daily life of all potential carcinogens is impossible.

The terms " green, " " natural, " and even " organic " (if not accompanied by the

USDA-certified seal) are unregulated, so manufacturers and marketers have free

rein in using them by their own definition. The OCA recommends reading the

label carefully, even (especially) on any product labeled to appeal to the

green consumer. You won't find 1,4-dioxane on any labels, but look for

polyethylene glycol or compounds with the syllables PEG, short for polyethylene

glycol, -eth or -oxynol-, according to the FDA.

" Many items that tested positive for the carcinogen are well-known brands,

including Kiss My Face, Alba, Seventh Generation and Nature's Gate products,

sold in retail stores across the nation, " according to the Los Angeles Times.

.... " The compound is not intentionally added to products; it is a byproduct

of a process used to soften harsh detergents. It is formed when foaming

agents, or surfactants, are processed with ethylene oxide or similar

petrochemicals. "

According to the Times several prominent brands, including Seventh

Generation and _Hain Celestial Group_ (http://www.thedailygreen.com/4877) , are

aware

of the chemical and trying to find ways to reduce its prevalence in their

products