Coal-Tar Dyes
Carcinogens! Blue No. 1 and Green No. 3 to name two. According to Dr. Epstein "...these carcinogenic dyes are often contaminated with arsenic and lead". Check your toothpaste label! These artificial dyes are in many other products as well.
Aluminium
Skin Irritant. Has been linked to Alzheimer's Disease. Commonly found in anti-perspirants. There is now evidence to suggest a link between breast cancer and the use of anti-perspirants.
Isopropyl Alcohol
Has been implicated in mouth, tongue and throat cancers. Produced by the fermentation of yeasts and carbohydrates. Alcohol may cause body tissues to be more vulnerable to carcinogens. Symptoms include flushing, dizziness, depression, nausea, headaches and coma.
Formaldehyde
Used as a preservative, germicide and fungicide. It is found in cosmetics and personal care products because other ingredients release formaldehyde when they break down. Highly suspected as a powerful carcinogenic and mutagenic; damages and inhibits repair of DNA. Banned in Sweden and Japan.
Fluoride
Possible carcinogen. Dr. Epstein states: "...There have been several studies incriminating fluoride in bone cancer. The public have been given no information about this and the fluoride in toothpaste is particularly dangerous because kids swallow a significant amount of fluoride, especially when the toothpaste contains saccharin".
Quaternium -15
This is a formaldehyde donor. It is used as a preservative and anti-microbial and is also a severe cause of dermatitis.
Talc
Carcinogen. Dr. Epstein says "…....There are at least three clear cut studies which have been published in the scientific literature that show routine application of talc in the genital area is associated with up to 3 to 4 fold increase in the development of ovarian cancer."
Triclosan
The latest rage in the arsenal of antibacterial chemicals. Triclosan is included in deodorants, cosmetics, lotions, creams, and toothpastes. It is registered as a pesticide. Triclosan is a chlorophenol; a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer in humans. Externally it can cause skin irritations. It is stored in the body fat and can accumulate to toxic levels, damaging the liver, kidneys and lungs.
Above is a small sample of potentially toxic ingredients in personal care products.
This information has been taken from the following sources in good faith and is based on the opinions and research of the various authors which we believe to be correct, but in no way can we be held responsible or liable for its accuracy :
Samuel S Epstein, MD, Professor emeritus, environmental and occupational medicine, University of Illinois School of Public Health, Chicago, and Chairman, Cancer Prevention Coalition.
"Beauty to Die For, the Cosmetic Consequences" by Judi Vance.
"Cosmetics Unmasked" by Dr. Stephen and Gina Antczak.
"Dangerous Beauty; Cosmetics and Personal Care" by P. Dingle and T. Brown, 1999.
"Diethanolamine and Cosmetic Products" FDA office of Cosmetics fact sheet, Dec 9, 1999
"Drop-Dead Gorgeous" by Kim Erickson
"A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients" by Ruth Winter.
