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I was searching for baby product manufacturer’s coupons to post in my blog to share to everyone until I came across the news about toxins in baby products.  Unfortunately, most of the manufacturer’s coupons I gathered were from popular companies whose products contain
toxic chemicals when inhaled or penetrated through the skin. It halted my search and shocked me a little bit.  It helped me realize as well that once in a while, I use these toxin-containing
products for my baby.  Now I am throwing them away, probably switching to natural way of taking care of may baby.

Here’s the news:

Formaldehyde and 1,4 dioxane: two most common toxic chemicals contaminating baby products and other adult personal care products.   They are chemicals incidentally released by your lotion, shampoo, etc through listed ingredients in their labels.

Formaldehyde in liquid form is used to embalm human corpses to temporarily preserve them; and 1,4-dioxane is primarily used as solvent in manufacturing chemicals, also an important ingredient in fumigants and automotive cooling. 1,4-dioxane is carcinogenic and one of the significant ground water pollutants from industrial wastes. Continuous exposure of this chemical causes damage to the central nervous system, liver and kidneys.  The state of California under proposition 65 considers it as a carcinogen.  Studies have shown that this chemical is carcinogenic to animals that the IARC (International Agency or Research on Cancer) considers it as Group 2B Carcinogens.

Formaldehyde is used to kill bacteria and fungi, so this has also become an important ingredient for vaccines, and a very important chemical for embalming human corpse as it preserves the tissue. Formaldehyde is also an important ingredient in synthetic fertilizers such as urea, and is one of the ground water pollutants.  Further studies by IARC and WHO (World Health Organization) have shown
that formaldehyde is a probable carcinogen to humans causing but not limited to nasal sinus cancer and possibly leukemia.  The US EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) considers it a
probable carcinogen.  Formaldehyde can be taken by air we breathe (through indoor materials containing it), as well as outdoor.  The chemical is used in foam insulation inside the house in the 1970’s, few are using now (gotta ask what your home is made up of).

Formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane can be ingested through air, water, foods and the cosmetic products that we use.

Some Baby Products Contaminated with Formaldehyde and 1,4 Dioxane

Here is a report from an independent laboratory study initiated by CSC (Campaign for Safe Cosmetics) and author David Steinman, article released on March 12, 2009 showing percentage in dioxane and formaldehyde contaminated personal care products:

• 17 out of 28 products tested (61 percent) contained both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane. These included:
  • Johnson’s Baby Shampoo,
  • Sesame Street Bubble Bath,
  • Grins and Giggles Milk and Honey Baby Wash and
  • Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber and Green Tea Baby Wash

• 23 out of 28 products (82 percent) contained formaldehyde at levels ranging from 54 to 610 parts per million (ppm).

• • Baby Magic Baby Lotion had the highest levels of formaldehyde.

• 32 out of 48 products (67 percent) contained 1,4-dioxane at levels ranging from 0.27 to 35 ppm.
  • American Girl shower products had the highest levels of 1,4-dioxane.

Below are some of the details of their lab test results.  David Steinman, author of “Safe Trip to Eden” requested West Coast Analytical Service, an independent testing laboratory specializing in trace chemical analysis to test the following products for 1,4 dioxane contaminant:

Baby and Children’s Consumer Products	1,4-Dioxane concentration (ppm)
Disney Clean as Can Bee Hair & Body Wash (Water Jel Technologies)	8.8
Disney Pixar Cars Piston Cup Bubble Bath (MZB Personal Care)	2.2
Gerber Grins and Giggles Gentle and Mild Aloe Vera Baby Shampoo	8.4
Hello Kitty Bubble Bath (Kid Care)	12*
Huggies Baby Wash Shea Butter	4.0
Huggies Natural Care Baby Wash Extra Gentle and Tear Free	4.2
Johnson’s Head-to-Toe Baby Wash (Johnson & Johnson)	5.3 to 6.1
Johnson’s Kids Tigger Bath Bubbles (Johnson & Johnson)	5.6-7.9
Johnson’s Kids Shampoo Watermelon Explosion (Johnson and Johnson)	10*
Lil’ Bratz Mild Bubble Bath (Kid Care)	3.7
L’Oreal Kids Orange Mango Smoothie Shampoo	2.0
Mr. Bubble Bubble Bath Gentle Formula with Aloe	1.5
Rite-Aid Tearless Baby Shampoo	4.3
Scooby-Doo Mild Bubble Bath (Kid Care)	3.0
Sesame Street Wet Wild Watermelon Bubble Bath (The Village Company)	7.4
Adult Consumer Products
Clairol Herbal Essences Rainforest Flowers Shampoo	23*
Olay Complete Body Wash with Vitamins (normal skin)	23*
Suave Naturals Passion Flower	2.0

*Product was at or above FDA maximum

Dioxane Tested in Organic Products

Dioxane is also found in a number of organic cosmetic products.  A test performed in 2007 and 2008 initiated by the Organic Consumers Association and Environmental Health Consumer Advocate David Steinman showed 46 out of 98 organic products (47%) are contaminated with dioxane. The highest is Citrus Magic 100% Natural Dish Liquid with 97.1 ppm, which exceeded almost 5 times more than the
allowable dioxane exposure limit by ACGIH and OSHA (20 and 25 ppm,
respectively). Click here to view details on organic products tested with dioxane contaminants.

Exposure Limit For Formaldehyde and Dioxane to Humans

To minimize or halt the effect of dioxane and formaldehyde to humans, some government agencies proposed an exposure limit of these chemicals to workers.   The exposure limit is a threshold where human health is unharmed at certain exposure to the said chemicals.

1,4 Dioxane. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) sets an exposure limit of 1,4 dioxane to no more than 20 ppm.  They also confirmed this chemical to be carcinogenic to animals but with no known relevance to humans.  OSHA has currently proposed a 25 ppm exposure limit of dioxane in an 8-hour day of work, 40 hours per day.

Formaldehyde. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Standards)’s regulation for Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals specifically formaldehyde set a permissible limit of formaldehyde exposure (airborne) to workers at no more than 0.75 ppm in 8 hour per day work total of 40 hours per week; also it shall not exceed 2 ppm in a short term exposure at 15 minutes.

If you are using any of the dioxane and formaldehyde contaminated products mentioned above, refer to the proposed exposure limit set by government agencies.  This will give you an idea on how much you and or your baby are exposed to these chemicals.

Why are these chemicals not listed on the products?

Formaldehyde and dioxane are not direct ingredients of the said products, but they are released in the product container by some of the added toxic chemicals used to preserve the products.

Formaldehyde is released by use of common preservatives, and occurs overtime in the container.   These formaldehyde-producing ingredients include:

• quaternium-15,
• DMDM hydantoin,
• imidazolidinyl urea and
• diazolidinyl urea that are commonly mixed in shampoos.

1,4 dioxane, on one hand is released through ethyloxyation process involving the use of ethyl oxide (classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer) the manufacturers used to convert certain chemicals to be less harsh. Sodium laureth sulfate a common ingredient found in your shampoo, for example is a harsh chemical that needed to be processed with ethylene dioxide (called the ethyoxilation process) in order for it to be gentler when mixed with cosmetic products.  It is through this process that 1,4 dioxane is released.  The less harsh sodium laureth sulfate is commonly used by the manufacturers as an important cleaning agent (removes oil stains and residues) and is mixed in toothpastes, shampoos and shaving foams.  It is usually present in bubble baths for its lather and thickening effect.  Below are ingredients that cause dioxane contamination:

• sodium myreth sulfate,
• PEG compounds chemicals that include the clauses “xynol,” “ceteareth” and “oleth.”

Synonyms of dioxane: Diethylene dioxide; diethylene ether; 1,4-dioxacyclohexane; diethylene oxide; dioxyethylene ether; glycol ethylene ether; p-dioxane; 1,4-dioxane.

The US Food and Drug Administration is aware of these carcinogens in consumer products and encourages manufacturers to remove dioxane in their products, however there is no regulation implemented by the US federal law.

Japan and Sweden have banned products contaminated with formaldehyde, while the European Union banned products with dioxane, including the use of ethylene oxide contained in pesticides for crop protection.

What You Can Do

To prevent these toxic chemicals in attacking your health, check your cosmetic’s ingredient.

Carcinogenic chemicals contained in consumer products are usually waylower than its harmful amount.  However, repeated use of these products, added to our unpreventable exposure of these chemicals through air and water, and food we consume piles up and this is where health concern arises.  They are perceived to affect pregnancy, infancy and puberty.

Other Carcinogenic Ingredient in Personal Care Products:

Parabens. Formaldehyde and dioxane are not the only carcinogenic chemicals found in these cosmetics.  There is also this group of parabens, which includes the most commonly used methylparaben (E number E218), ethylparaben (E214), propylparaben (E216) and butylparaben, and the less occurring ones isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, benzylparaben and their sodium salts.  Parabens are commonly used as preservative for cosmetics, food products and pharmaceutical drugs.  It prevents the growth of bacteria thus lengthening the shelf life of the product.  It is also a low-cost form of preservative, and accordingly, it is excreted rapidly out from the body.  However, the latter contradicts the resulting scientific study conducted showing paraben compounds found in breast tumor.  This alerted the scientific community to conduct more study relating to the effect of parabens in breast cancer, which as of this time no conclusive results had been reported.

To use or not to use paraben-containing product is a personal choice.  I personally choose not to ever since a cyst in my breast was surgically removed (thanks it was benign).  It is hereditary to us, however I think that should I expose myself with more parabens, I might build up more of it in my system that would be unhealthy in my later life.

BHA and BHT.  Another form of carcinogenic preservatives is BHA and BHT both added in cosmetic and food products.  Repeated studies with BHA and BHT conducted by IARC showed increase risk in cancer, liver enlargement, and retards cell development.

No Escape! What Can I Do?

So I read all these carcinogenic additives and found it in all of the chemicals we use in our home from personal care to home cleaning agent. There seems to be no escape.  We live with a little bit of poison around. And I feel a little bit disappointed.  Here is what I did:

• Research products without chemicals that cause the release of formaldehyde and 1,4 dioxane and paraben free

• Use of natural resources and be creative with it.
  Now that I threw away those harmful lotions, I found myself using grape seed oil or olive oil mixed with lavender oil to scent it.  It actually gives me a more supple and well moisturized skin.  It also works with my little girl and she loves the smell of lavender.  Olive oil in my skin, in fact has given a more effective result in moisturizing my skin, living it with no scales after 3 hours or so.  This impresses me, as even expensive lotions will make my skin stay moisturized for less than 3 hours, even if they promise it with 24-hour moisturizing effect. Don’t be worried about using oil in your body and think it will stain your furniture.  It does stain if it is spilled over your furniture.  It’s about the quantity spilled over that makes it stain.  You would not like to put too much oil in your skin (you don’t want it to be too oily and live marks).  Just a little bit, enough for it to get absorbed by your skin.  Most of the best lotions you found in grocery stores contain oils and do live marks in glasses.  It does the same with using olive body oils.

• Carefully choose products that claim they are natural and organic.  As I said, there is no escape (it seems) for us to avoid using products with toxic ingredients.  If you cannot avoid it, minimize its usage.

• Homemade it.  The primary reason why these toxic chemicals are important to manufacturers in mixing with their products is to preserve them, and we love its accessibility and ease of use.  If you choose to avoid it, make a research on homemade recipes for personal care.  These homemade products (you can do) may not last as long as the commercial ones, but you will have the safer, healthier, most natural one.

Like salt, all the chemicals noted here, and all other toxins not remarked here might be hazardous to health at certain quantity.  They all exist both synthetically and by nature.   Having them absorbed to our body is inescapable. The only way to keep ourselves healthier is minimize their usage if we can’t avoid them.  The good news is our body is designed to wash them out, bad news is some of them stay in our body that may make us unhealthy in later life.

From the first comment below (by Danielle), here’s how you could get well informed with safer products:

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
http://www.safecosmetics.org/

References:
Formaldehyde and Cancer Risk.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/formaldehyde

Formaldehyde

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formaldehyde

1,4-Dioxane

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1,4-Dioxane

Regulations (Standards – 29 CFR):  Formaldehyde. – 1910.1048c

http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_id=10075&p_table=STANDARDS

DIOXANE

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pel88/123-91.html

1,4-Dioxane (1,4-Diethyleneoxide)

http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/dioxane.html

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH GUIDELINE FOR DIOXANE

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/healthguidelines/dioxane/recognition.html

An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/formalde.html

Children’s Bath Products Contaminated with Formaldehyde, 1,4-Dioxane

http://www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=425

Results Of Testing For 1,4-Dioxane

http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/DioxaneResults08.cfm