OT: Shampoo/Lotion Can Be Risk to Unborn Babies

[Guest guest]

Heard this on the news yesterday and found the article:

 

Shampoo 'risk' to unborn babies

 

James Meikle, health correspondent

Monday December 6, 2004

The Guardian

 

Unborn children may be at risk from the shampoos and hand lotions

used by their pregnant mothers, it was claimed yesterday.

A chemical commonly used in these toiletries can affect the growth of

structures in the immature nerve cells of rats, according to

researchers at Pittsburgh University in the United States.

 

Methylisothiazoline (Mit) could also harm the developing nervous

systems of humans. The compound is used as a preservative in personal

care products and, because it kills harmful bacteria growing near

water, is used in water cooling systems and in factories using water

in manufacturing.

 

Elias Aizenman, professor of neurobiology at Pittsburg, conceded that

more work was needed but suggested that Mit inhibited the development

of structures that were essential for transmitting signals between

cells.

 

" This chemical is being used more and more extensively, yet there

have been no neurotoxicity studies in humans to indicate what kind

and at what level exposure is safe ... Based on our data, there very

well could be neuro-developmental consequences from Mit. "

 

Dr Aizenman said: " I would be particularly concerned about

occupational exposure in pregnant women and the possibility of risk

to the foetus. "

 

The Cosmetics, Toiletries and Perfumery Association said Mit had

passed numerous safety tests.

 

" People use these products every day. There is no cause for concern, "

its director general, Chris Flower, said. The EU commission had been

advised that it was safe.

 

I respond: Unless they can test it somehow on humans, I don't think

we'll know for sure. The Cosmetic, Toiletries and Perfumery Assoc.

doesn't mention what type of safety tests they conducted either.

This is what I find so annoying. They scare people, but don't really

offer any concrete evidence to back it up. If you're going to

perform a test, perform the right tests that offer strong results.

Also test the amounts used in the lotion and/or shampoo and not just

give large doses of only that product to a rat. If you'd use less

than 1% to preserve a lotion, then they should test that on the rat.

Basically, the conclusion is they don't know and people take this

information and run with it spreading all sorts of hysteria.

 

Michele Robles