Cosmetic Chemicals and Safer Alternatives- July 11th Preview

Vickie Balazs is the owner of Jaydancin- an all organic skin care option and the products are made right here in Sparta!!! Vickie is one of my guests on this weeks show- “Living Healthy in a Toxic World”. We have so much to talk about this week and we will cover everything from make up to cleaning products to reading food labels- plus give you a chance to take the toxic burden test yourself!!!! Join me beginning live on AM980.ca at 7am.

In the meantime, here is an interesting article Vickie found and I would like to share it with all of you! Let’s talk about it this weekend on “Saturday Mornings with Cheryl Weedmark”. Get your questions ready and call us at (519) 643-22-22.

From: Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients  |  Date: 2/1/2004  |  Author: Williams, Rose Marie

The cosmetic business is one of the nation’s largest and most profitable industries. Cosmetic companies spend more on TV advertising than any other group. Consumers and health care providers should be aware that many toxic synthetic chemicals are used in cosmetics and personal care products without full disclosure on package labeling. The average person is led to believe that product ingredients have been adequately tested and safe for public use. This is far from accurate. (1)

While it is tempting to blame the media and public relations industry for the widespread use of cosmetics in our society it seems that through the ages, women of means have used a variety of cosmetics, often containing highly toxic agents like lead. Ubiquitous product availability for every price range now makes it very easy for modern women, and increasingly, male consumers, to indulge in the use of cosmetics. The market for personal care products is all-inclusive. Males and females from infancy to old age use a variety of shampoos, body soaps, and skin creams.

During the hippie movement of the 1960s many young women eschewed “the establishment” and adopted a more natural look, without make-up of any kind, and simple, uncut, perm-free hairstyles pulled back like their grandmothers might have worn. This movement did not catch on, though we can thank the hippie movement for promoting healthier eating habits and increasing the market for organically raised foods. Our awareness of toxic chemicals in cosmetics remains extremely inadequate.

As long as cosmetics and personal care products are among the most heavily used consumer items in our culture, it would be prudent for consumers to avoid products that contain a host of toxic, even carcinogenic, ingredients, and instead choose products that are made with ingredients less likely to add to their body’s toxic burden of harmful chemicals. Such products do exist, and can be found by consumers who value their health as much as their appearance.

Cosmetics and Breast Cancer

Breast cancer has moved front and center among modern diseases. Breast cancer incidence continues to escalate despite 30 years and billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money spent looking for the elusive cure. Breast cancer has also become big business. More corporations are jumping on the bandwagon sponsoring races with company logos prominently displayed, wearing pink ribbons, and selling a variety of consumer products from which a small portion of the profits may be donated to “looking for the cure.” Not much is said about looking for the cause, or employing the “precautionary principle of safe avoidance.” That philosophy is not profit motivating.

Cosmetic companies eagerly give out free product kits to breast cancer patients to help them “look their best and to restore self-esteem” after patients lose their hair, their color, and their energy through repeated rounds of grueling toxic chemotherapy and/or radiation treatments. Is giving out free cosmetic kits a true act of benevolence, or simply good business? More importantly, are the chemicals in these products safe for breast cancer patients, or could they pose further risk of cancer recurrence? James W. Colman, PhD, associated with Louisville University, has been studying the impact of estrogenic chemicals in cosmetics and fragrances and their relationship to breast cancer.

Cosmetics contain synthetic chemical preservatives known as parabens, which can exert estrogenic activity on breast cells. Cosmetic ingredients are readily absorbed through skin where they can enter the bloodstream, reach breast cells, and lead to the development of malignant tumors. Paraben preservatives are not always listed as an ingredient on antiperspirant deodorant product labels. The manufacturer may hide it under “fragrance,” a collective term which covers over 2,000 different chemicals including carcinogens and other toxins. Parabens are found in many other personal care products including foaming cleansers, body mists, body lotions, lipsticks, skin creams, shower gels, hand lotions, moisturizers, and lip glosses. (2)

Several years ago a possible link between antiperspirant deodorants and breast cancer was raised. This was immediately debunked by the major breast cancer organizations with financial ties to the cosmetic industry. An attempt to study the antiperspirant deodorant issue resulted in a report which found no link between breast cancer and antiperspirants, as published in the Oct. 16, 2002 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Upon careful review of the study, James Colman declared the study to be “fatally flawed and wholly inadequate by any credible epidemiological standard.” The NCI reportedly received a multimillion-dollar grant from Avon, one of the earliest and highest profile corporations to jump on the breast cancer bandwagon. (2)

Dr. Colman is particularly concerned about the free giveaway and marketing of cosmetic products directly to breast cancer patients, who are acutely at risk of further exposure to estrogenic and mutagenic chemicals. He believes giving these free products in a hospital setting is contradictory to the Hippocratic Oath -”first do no harm.” (2)

Hair Dyes

Throughout North America, Europe, and Japan, more than one-in-three women over age 18, and one-in-ten men over age 40 use some type of hair coloring. Permanent hair dyes account for approximately 75% of this use. These products are of questionable safety. Studies indicate that women who use permanent hair dyes once a month are twice as likely to develop bladder cancer as non-users, and occupational exposure to hair dyes is associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. Hairdressers and barbers were found to have a five-fold increase in risk compared to individuals not exposed to dye chemicals. A positive association between the use of black hair dyes and fatal non-Hodgkins lymphoma and multiple myeloma has been found. Aminophenol, an amino-type permanent hair dye in use since 1883, has been linked to a variety of health problems including contact dermatitis, skin sensitization, restlessness, convulsions, and oxygen depletion in the blood. (1-3)

Aubrey Organics has been producing safe, healthy cosmetics and personal care products for over 35 years. One of their most popular products is their all-natural plant based, nontoxic, permanent hair colors that effectively cover gray. The product is called “Color Me Natural,” and is available in natural health centers nationwide. Individuals who prefer to have their hair done in a salon, may wish to ask about providing their own product. This offers a good opportunity to educate the professional about the benefits of using non-toxic products for their own health and the health of other customers. (3)

Fragrance & Perfumes

The use of fragrance has increased tenfold since the 1950s, and it’s not just perfumes. Industry’s use of fragrance materials used to scent consumer products doubled between 1980 and 1990. In addition to cosmetics, fragrance is added to toiletries, household products, pesticides, and many other products. “Fragrance-free” and “unscented” can be misleading. These products may still contain fragrance without listing it on the label. (4)

Eighty to 90% of fragrance components are derived from petroleum. Chemicals used in fragrance are volatile compounds that get into the air and linger, adding to indoor pollution. Modern formulations are designed to disperse quickly into the air and may linger on fabrics and surfaces for months. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes the health risks associated with poor air quality, but exercises little regulation or monitoring of the use of fragrance or the chemicals used in fragrance. Industry claims the formulas are trade secrets and it is not required to disclose to the public or regulatory agencies what chemicals are being used in a product. (4)

Chemicals used in fragrance can enter the body through airways, skin, ingestion, or via inhalation and go directly to the brain. An EPA sponsored literature review grouped fragrance, second-hand smoke, and formaldehyde as triggers for asthma. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists fragrance as the number one cause of skin allergic reaction to cosmetics. Fragrance may contain phthalates, suspected hormone disrupters. Fragrance chemicals have neurological effects that can alter blood pressure, pulse, mood, and have a sedative effect. (4)

Perfumes contain approximately 80% alcohol and additional proprietary materials that are reported to cause breast cells to produce estrogen in excessive amounts. Perfumes also contain neurotoxins which have a causal link to central nervous system disorders, allergic reactions, skin and eye irritations, double vision, sneezing, nasal congestion, sinusitis, tinnitus, ear pain, dizziness, vertigo, coughing, bronchitis, breathing and swallowing difficulty, anaphylaxis, headaches, seizures, fatigue, confusion, disorientation, short-term memory loss, impaired concentration, nausea, lethargy, anxiety, irritability, depression, mood swings, restlessness, rashes, hives, eczema, facial flushing, muscle and joint pain, irregular heart beat, hypertension, swollen lymph glands, and more. Health problems associated with secondhand perfume exposure, similar to secondhand smoke, are causing some high schools, workplaces, and public buildings to adopt policies banning the wearing of perfumes. (2)

Common Chemical Encounters

Acetone is a colorless volatile liquid used in astringents, nail polish, nail polish removers, in preservatives, and more. It is used in cosmetics as a solvent to dissolve and remove whatever debris may be on the surface of the skin or nail. It can even dissolve many plastics. Acetone is extremely toxic and may be fatal if swallowed. It is an eye and lung irritant, and may cause central nervous system disorders. (1)

Aluminum chemicals are used in a variety of cosmetics and personal care products. Aluminum chlorohydrate is used in deodorants as an antiperspirant. Cholinergic nerves release acetylcholine which induces perspiration to cool the body and promote the detoxification process. Interference may cause toxic reserves to collect in the glands causing rashes and irritation. Aluminum fluoride is added to every major brand of toothpaste and many “health” brands as well. Warning labels now advise consumers against swallowing, letting children use toothpaste unsupervised or from using more than a “pea-sized” amount, and to rinse thoroughly. Consumers ingesting more than this should call a Poison Control Center. Avoiding aluminum cookware is highly recommended, but there is little discussion about transdermal contamination from aluminum in cosmetic products. These chemicals are toxic and capable of causing a variety of allergic reactions. (1)

A relationship of aluminum to Alzheimer’s disease has been suspected for some time. Alzheimer’s victims appear to be deficient in acetylcholine. Chemicals or drugs that interfere with acetylcholine affect intellectual functions and may cause dementia-like symptoms. The escalation of Alzheimer’s disease among the American population and the widespread exposure to aluminum chemicals needs serous review. (1)

It is possible to avoid aluminum in toothpaste and deodorants. Health food stores carry several brands that are “fluoride-free.” Deodorant stones are natural crystals that deactivate the bacteria responsible for producing offensive perspiration odor, without inhibiting the perspiration process. Read labels to find other products that are aluminum free.

Ammonia, a strong smelling irritating compound is used in a wide range of personal care products, including shampoos, hair dyes, and permanent wave solutions. Ammonia is very toxic and should be avoided. Inhaling ammonia can be fatal. Topical exposure can cause serious skin problems and can be absorbed into the body. Ammonia’s use in shampoos has caused a variety of problems including dry hair, scalp lesions, hair loss, and the absorption of nitrate into the bloodstream. Ammonia is used in the manufacture of nitrate, a recognized carcinogen. Recognizing ammonia on ingredient labels is tricky since ammonia is included under the names of other chemical compounds. Avoid cosmetics that contain synthetic chemicals or nitro or nitroso-compounds, as well as sulfates or sulfites. Sodium alkyl sulfate on a label refers to ammonium salts. Alkyl laurel sulfate is an ammonium-derived synthetic detergent found in shampoos, dishwashing liquids, laundry detergents and soaps. (1)

Artificial colors are included in nearly every cosmetic product on the market. Many coal tar derivatives, once considered safe, are now suspected carcinogens. Most artificial colorants have not yet been tested for cancer risk. It is advisable to avoid products with artificial colors whenever possible. (5)

There are 76 D&C color pigments and about 19 FD&C colors used in food and toiletries. D&C refers to chemicals approved for use in drugs and cosmetics, while FD&C refers to chemicals approved for use in food as well. Six FDA “certified” colors are suspected carcinogens. Certification in regard to coal tar pigments is meant to regulate the amount of metallic impurities, such as lead and arsenic, rather than protect the public from toxic synthetic chemicals. (1)

Formaldehyde is a colorless, pungent, irritating substance used in many preservatives, known as the “hydantoins,” and as a disinfectant. Prolonged inhalation of formaldehyde may be carcinogenic. Formaldehyde is also considered mutagenic and is associated with chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow. Formalin and Formal are trade names for formaldehyde. (1)

Imidazolidinyl Urea is another synthetic preservative frequently used in shampoos. It can release formaldehyde into the product. Other chemicals with the same formaldehyde-releasing properties include; 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1, 3-diol; diazolidinyl urea; DMDM hydantoin; Quaternium-15. Natural alternatives include: grapefruit seed extract (citrus seed extract) and vitamins A, C, and E. (6)

Lanolin, a fatty secretion from sheep’s wool is found in many ointments and cosmetics. While a natural product, the danger is that lanolin is often contaminated with DDT and other neurotoxic and carcinogenic pesticides. Topical application of lanolin could cause toxic pesticides to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Safer alternatives include: “pesticide-free” lanolin, pure essential oils such as jojoba or white camellia. (6)

Mineral Oil is a cheap petroleum derivative found in myriad personal care products and cosmetics. It is heavy and greasy and interferes with the body’s natural cleansing process by clogging pores. It may cause severe allergic reactions. A natural alternative is jojoba oil. (6)

Phthalates are a family of industrial chemicals used as plastic softeners or solvents in a wide array of products including food packaging, wallpaper, car seats, IV bags, nail polish, perfume, deodorants, hair spray, hair gel, and hair mousse. (7)

Propylene Glycol is a cheap synthetic petrochemical used as a creamy base in a variety of body lotions and cosmetics. Propylene glycol is also used in antifreeze and hydraulic brake fluid. Dr. Sherry Rogers points out the irony of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “Material Safety Data Sheet” warning consumers to avoid skin contact, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows it to be used in hundreds of skincare products with no warning on the labels. Like mineral oil, it gives a temporary moisturizing effect, but in the long run will make the skin dry. It can also cause allergic reaction. (1), (6), (8)

PVP-VA/Copolymers are widely used in hairsprays and styling gels. These are actually plastics that coat the hair and make it look dull, and can cause respiratory problems when minute particles are inhaled into the lungs. Natural alternatives include: herbal gums, such as acacia and tragacanth gums, as well as larch gums (Larex). (6)

Silica is used in creams and lotions and in powdered cosmetics. Silica can cause fibrosis of the lung and other respiratory disorders. Natural alternatives include psyllium husks powder and lecithin. (6)

Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) is used as a detergent, emulsifier, and surfactant in industry and as an ingredient in thousands of cosmetics and personal care products, including toothpaste and shampoo. The “sulfate” in sodium laurel sulfate may be contaminated with nitrosamines that are believed to cause cancer. Greater amounts of these carcinogens are absorbed through skin than by eating foods containing nitrites and nitrates (bacon, ham, hotdogs, etc). SLS is a degreaser, drying to skin and hair. It is very penetrating and has been found in brain, liver, and other tissue. SLS has a degenerative effect on cell membranes, proteins, and genes. It accumulates in eye tissue and has been linked to cataracts. (1), (8)

Talc, powdered soapstone, is used as a base in baby powder, makeup, and as a filler in creams. Some talc powders have been found to be contaminated with asbestos. Talc has been linked to ovarian cancer, allergic reaction, and as a known carcinogen when inhaled into the lungs. Safer alternatives include: cornstarch powder, silk and rice starch. (1), (6)

Toluene, a petroleum derived solvent resembling benzene, is a known carcinogen. It is a common ingredient in nail polish, cosmetics, dyes, pharmaceuticals, and as a blending agent for gasoline. Toluene is toxic and narcotic in high concentrations. (1)

Triethanolamine (TEA) is widely used throughout the cosmetic industry. It is frequently used in “natural” products as an emulsifier, pH adjuster, and preservative. Triethanolamine is a synthetic chemical made from ammonia and ethylene oxide and may be contaminated with nitrosamines, recognized potent carcinogens. (1)

How Natural is “All-Natural”?

As consumers began to purchase more “organic” foods over the past two decades the non-organic food industry wanted a share of the market. They prevailed upon government to take over the “organic” labeling process and make it more industry friendly, often to the detriment of the small organic growers. The cosmetics industry is also quick to jump on the “all-natural” bandwagon with several new cosmetics companies entering the market over the past decade claiming their products are “carcinogen-free” and contain “all-natural” ingredients. Dr. James Colman indicates “some of the most toxic and potent carcinogens are derived from natural sources,” and that other “ingredients are harmless singly, but from carcinogens when combined with other chemicals in the body.” Like their traditional counterparts, some of the new cosmetic companies do not make full disclosure of their ingredients on product labels. He advises women to “be aware of the advertisement hype.” (2)

While preparing this article I became a more enlightened consumer myself. Carefully reading the ingredients on my 62% “organic” hand cream I discovered methyl/propyl paraben was included at the end of the list of ingredients. Shocked by this discovery, I noted the ingredients list was printed in very small type over a dark colored design making it exceedingly difficult to read. There was plenty of blank space on the label permitting larger type if the company had chosen to do so. Needless to say, after this experience I will have to take my own advice and become an even more vigilant consumer.

Safer Choices

According to Kerri Bodner, editor of Women’s Health Letter, the following is a list of brands offering the safest skin lotions: Aubrey, Cure, Desert Essence, Ecco Bella, Jason, Logana, Nature’s Gate, and Trader Joe’s.

Safest shampoo and conditioners are offered by: Aubrey, Logana, Mera, Paul Penders, Urtekram, and Nature’s Gate.

Safest soaps are available from: Aura Cacia, Boraxo, Cashmere Bouquet, Clearly Natural Glycerine Bar, Chica Bella, Dr. Bronner’s, Kiss My Face, Logana, Nature De France, Pure Approach, and Weleda. (5)

The N.E.E.D.S. Company of Syracuse, New York (1-800-634-1380 www.needs.com) provides a host of products for the chemically sensitive. They carry a wide variety of personal care and household products, air and water purifiers, and much more. They also have a staff of friendly qualified professionals to help answer questions.

Report Adverse Effects

Individuals who suffer or suspect adverse effects associated with a cosmetic should report it to the FDA, Office of Cosmetics and Colors (HFS-100) 200 C Street, SW Washington, DC, 20204 (1-202-401-9725).

Adverse effects from non-cosmetic products should be reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (1-800-638-2722) or www.cpsc.gov/incident.html.

References

(1.) Hampton, A., Natural Hair and Skin Care, Organic Press, Tampa, FL, 1987.

(2.) Colman, J., Ph.D., Cosmetics and fragrance products pose high risk for breast cancer and other illness, www.cancerresearchamerica.org/

(3.) The Doctor’s Prescription for Healthy Living, New Aubrey Organics Hair Coloring Products Save Women from Hair Dye Cancer Risks, Vol. 6, No. 10, Nov 2002.

(4.) Bridges, B., N.E.E.D.S. newsletter, (1-800-634-1380), Nov 2003.

(5.) Bodner, K, Worst and Best Personal Care, Women’s Health Letter, Vol. IX, No. 4, Apr 2000.

(6.) Co-op America’s Real Money, www.realmoney.org/articles/bodycare2.htm, Nov. 28, 2003.

(7.) Prevention is the Cure, Cancer Risk Reduction, Breast Cancer Options, Inc., www.breastcanceroptions.org (845-657-8222).

(8.) Rogers, S., MD, Total Wellness, Prestige Pub., Mar 2000 (1-800-846-6687).

by Rose Marie Williams, MA

156 Sparkling Ridge Road * New Paltz, New York 12561 USA

845-255-0836 * Fax 845-255-5101 * jwill52739@aol.com