SCIENCE / HEALTH - LOOKING GLASS NEWS | |
How toxic is your bathroom? |
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by Pat Thomas The Independent Entered into the database on Monday, October 24th, 2005 @ 14:03:41 MST |
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Be warned: your daily beauty regime could be taking years off your
life. Pat Thomas reports on the chemical timebomb in your cosmetics
cabinet Earlier this year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did something amazing.
It issued an unprecedented warning to the cosmetics industry that it was time
to inform consumers that most personal care products have not been safety tested. Where the US goes, the UK inevitably follows. If the FDA starts the ball rolling
by flexing its muscles, it is possible that in the not too distant future 99
per cent of personal care products could be required to carry a caution on the
label: "Warning: The safety of this product has not been determined." What concerns scientists at the FDA and at environmental health organisations
throughout the world is the "cocktail effect" - the daily mixing of
many different types of toxins in and on the body - and how this might damage
health over the longer term. On average, we each use nine personal care products a day containing 126 different
ingredients. Such "safety" testing as exists looks for reactions,
such as skin redness, rashes or stinging, but does not investigate potential
long-term problems for either humans or the environment. Yet the chemicals that
go into products such as shampoos and hand creams are not trace contaminants.
They are the basic ingredients. Absorbed into the body, they can be stored in fatty tissue or organs
such as the liver, kidney, reproductive organs and brain. Cosmetics companies
complain of unfounded hysteria, but scientists are finding industrial plasticisers
such as phthalates in urine, preservatives known as parabens in breast-tumour
tissue, and antibacterials such as Triclosan and fragrance chemicals like the
hormone-disrupting musk xylene in human breast milk. Medical research is proving
that fragrances can trigger asthma; that the detergents in shampoos can damage
eye tissue; and that hair-dye chemicals can cause bladder cancer and lymphoma.
An even greater number of substances in personal care products are suspected
to present potential risks to human health from this known effect on animals. If these problems had been linked to pharmaceutical drugs, the products would
have been taken off the market. At the very least, money would have been spent
on safety studies. But because the cosmetics industry is largely self-governing,
and because we all want to believe in the often hollow promises of better skin
and whiter teeth, products containing potentially harmful substances remain
in use and on sale. Think it can't be that bad? Consider what goes into some
of the UK's most popular toiletries. OLAY REGENERIST What they claim: Instantly improves the appearance of fine
lines and wrinkles. But watch out: To work, the product needs to be well absorbed,
so Regenerist contains penetration enhancers like disodium EDTA. But these also
drive toxins deeper into the skin. Watch out for hormone disrupters such as
ethylparaben, methylparaben and propylparaben and potential carcinogens such
as polyacrylamide, triethanolamine (which can form cancer-causing nitrosamines),
and the artificial colours CI 16035, CI 19140 and PTFE (Teflon). Regenerist
contains the sunscreens butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (B-MDM) and ethylhexyl
salicylate; not enough for an SPF rating, but potentially enough to irritate
skin. CLAIROL HERBAL ESSENCES SHAMPOO DRY/DAMAGED HAIR What they claim: A totally organic experience. But watch out: It looks and smells appealing because it is
coloured using four potentially cancer-causing dyes (CI 17200, CI 15510, CI
42053, CI 60730) and perfumed with synthetic fragrances that are known neurotoxins
and skin irritants. Among its detergents, sodium lauryl sulphate can irritate
skin and permanently damage eye tissue, and sodium laureth sulphate and cocamide
MEA can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a hormone disrupter associated with
breast cancer. Cocamidopropyl betaine, another detergent, is a penetration enhancer,
as is the solvent propyelel glycol and the preservative tetrasodium EDTA; all
allow other chemicals to pene- trate more deeply into skin and bloodstream. JOHNSON'S BABY SOFTWASH What they claim: Best for baby, best for you. But watch out: Children's skin is thinner and more absorbent
than adults', so is a less effective barrier to chemical toxins. The rates of
eczema and allergies among children are on the rise and the early introduction
of toiletries on to sensitive skin may be a factor. When soap does the job,
why expose your child to skin and eye irritants such as sorbitan laurate, cocamidopropyl
betaine and acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, or PEG-150 distearate,
PEG-80, PEG-14M and sodium laureth sulphate that can be contaminated with the
carcinogens 1,4 dioxane and ethylene oxide, or hormone disrupters such as parabens?
In addition, there's nothing here that naturally moisturises the skin - only
synthetic polymers (plastic-like substances) like polyquaternium-7 and polypropylene
terephthalate that coat it, merely giving the impression of smoothness. CALVIN KLEIN'S ETERNITY What they claim: What the world needs now is love. But watch out: Perfumes are made from the same neurotoxic
solvents found in glues and adhesives and volatile chemicals common in garages
and factories, albeit in much smaller concentrations. Eternity contains a staggering
41 ingredients, about 80 per cent of which have never been tested for safety
in humans. The rest are known neurotoxins, allergens, irritants and/or hormone
disrupters. Still think perfume is sexy? LYNX DRY What they claim: Spray more, get more. But watch out: Lynx Dry contains three types of neurotoxins:
solvents such as PPG-14 butyl ether; the propellants butane, isobutane and propane;
and synthetic fragrance chemicals. It contains a preservative BHT (butylated
hydroxytoluene), which has been linked with cancer, and PEG-8 distearate, which
can be contaminated with the hormone-disrupting carcinogens ethylene oxide and
1,4-dioxane as well as polycyclic aromatic compounds such as benzene and benz(a)pyrene.
Aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrex GLY and aluminium chlorohydrate work by
clogging pores, but long exposure to aluminium-containing deodorants raises
the risk of diseases such as Alzheimer's. COLGATE TOTAL What they claim: 12-hour fresh breath and antibacterial protection. But watch out: Conventional toothpastes often contain irritating
detergents like sodium lauryl sulphate, which can cause sore gums and mouth
ulcers, and abrasives like hydrated silica, which can erode tooth enamel. Total
contains a glue-like substance, PVM/MA copolymer, that sticks the active ingredients
to teeth. Saccharin, a known carcinogen in animals, is also found. The colouring
CI 42090 (banned in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Norway, Switzerland and
Sweden) causes cancer in animals. Total contains Triclosan, an antibacterial
agent that can in certain circumstances combine with chlorine in tap water to
produce chloroform gas, which is easily absorbed into the skin or inhaled and
can cause depression, liver problems and cancer. GILLETTE MACH 3 SHAVING GEL What they claim: The best a man can get. But watch out: Helped by a global advertising campaign featuring
David Beckham, Gillette shaving products have carved their way into the male
psyche. If he thought about the ingredients, would the "epitome of the
well groomed man" be so keen to promote the product? Mach 3 gel contains
skin irritants such as triethanolamine, palmitic acid glyceryl oleate, three
potential carcinogens (polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon), BHT, CI 42090) and
three central nervous system toxins or pollutants (isopentane, parfum and isobutane). CLAIROL NICE 'N EASY What they claim: Natural-looking colour with complete grey
coverage. But watch out: All hair dye sold in the EU containing phenylenediamines,
resorcinol and/or 1-naphthol must carry a warning: "Can cause an allergic
reaction. Do not use to colour eyelashes or eyebrows." Other hair dye ingredients
- including coal tar dyes, 4-chloro-m-phenylenediamine, 2,4-toluenediamine,
2-nitro-p-phenylenediamine and 4-amino-2-nitrophenol - have proven carcinogenic
in at least one animal species. In humans, intensive longer-term use of permanent
hair dye is associated with breast, ovarian and bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma, multiple meyeloma and rheumatoid arthritis. RADOX BUBBLE BATH What they claim: Soothes emotions, cleanses the body. But watch out: Soaking in hot water increases skin permeability
and helps vaporise chemicals in products, making them more easily inhaled. Radox
Relax contains potential skin irritants (sodium laureth sulphate, cocamidopropyl
betaine) potential carcinogens such as the preservative combo methylchloro-isothiazolinone
and methylisothiazolinone and synthetic dyes, and hormone-disrupting ethylhexyl
methoxycinnamate. It contains perfume ingredients that are capable of irritating
(coumarin, benzyl salicylate, limonene) and disrupting the central nervous system
(butylphenyl methylpropional, alpha-isomethyl ionone, linalool). NIVEA BODY What they claim: Feel the essential care. But watch out: Along with semi-synthetic fatty acids and waxes,
Nivea Body contains denatured alcohol and glycerine, which can dry skin with
repeated use. It also contains several estrogenic preservatives (methylparaben,
butylparaben, ethylparaben, isobutylparaben, propylparaben), contact allergens
(phenoxy-ethanol, linalool, citronellol, hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carcoxaldehyde)
and a potential carcinogen (limonene). Film-formers like dimethicone keep undesirable
ingredients next to the skin longer. About one-third of the listed ingredients
are fragrances that are known irritants and sensitisers of human skin; chemicals
that, with repeated exposure, can trigger allergic reactions. CLEARASIL 3-IN-1 DEEP CLEANING WASH What they claim: Clinically proven to help fight spots. But watch out: A mix of strong detergents and surfactants
(sodium lauryl sulfate, cetyl betaine, distearyl-dimonium chloride and steareth-21),
chemical exfoliants (salicylic acid) and solvents (glycerin, alcohol, menthol)
that are capable of removing the skin's natural oils, and synthetic skin conditioners
for repairing some of the damage inflicted by the other ingredients. It contains
two potential carcinogens (BHT and disodium EDTA) and fragrance ingredients
among the most commonly reported contact allergens in the EU (behenyl alcohol,
limonene benzyl salicylate, linalool and hexyl cinnamal). These so consistently
lead to skin problems that they must now be listed separately on labels within
the EU. LISTERINE TEETH AND GUM DEFENCE What they claim: Kills the germs that cause plaque and bad
breath. But watch out: This mouthwash is 21.6 per cent alcohol. Alcohol
dries and changes the pH of the mouth and throat and long-term use of alcohol-containing
mouthwashes increases the risk of mouth and throat cancers. Listerine also contains
a mild detergent, poloxamer 407, that is soluble in liquids at low temperatures
but turns to a gel at higher temperatures (ie, body temperature). That makes
it a film-former, "glueing" other ingredients on to the surfaces of
the mouth for longer. Fluoride in quantity is poisonous if swallowed, and the
sweetener saccharin causes bladder cancer in animals. Finally, synthetic colours,
aromas and flavours are made from volatile solvents that can alter the basic
flora of the mouth and may cause dermatitis. |