The world we now live in more chemically polluted than ever before - and is getting worse. Since the Second World War over 5000 chemicals have entered our daily lives, many of them found in the products we use every day to clean and beautify are bodies and our homes. Scientists are becoming increasingly concerned that long-term low-level exposure to these chemicals have the potential to create a variety of health risks and they also worry that we do not yet know the full implications of living with this cocktail of chemicals found in household air and dust.
The following is aimed to provide a list of some of the more prevalent and dangerous chemicals that we expose ourselves to day in and day out:
Bronopol: full name 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol this chemical may break down in products into formaldehyde and also cause the formation of carcinogenic nitrosamines under certain conditions. It is found in many cosmetic products, cleansers, creams, hair products and washing detergents.
Diethanolamine (DEA), Monoethanolamine (MEA) & Triethanolamine (TEA): these are synthetic compounds made from ammonia and ethylene oxide. They are hormone-disrupting chemicals that can form cancer-causing nitrates and nitrosamines. The National Toxicology Program (NTP) found that repeated application to a mouse of DEA or it's fatty acid derivative Cocamide-DEA, induced liver and kidney cancer. It also emphasised that DEA is readily absorbed through the skin and accumulates in organs such as the brain where it may induce chronic toxic effects. DEA, MEA and TEA can also cause severe facial dermatitis and contact dermatitis. Although their use is restricted in Europe it may be found in hand and body lotions, shaving creams, soaps, shampoos and bath powders.
Nitrosamines: the presence of nitrosamines in personal care products is a major concern within the cosmetics industry. Nitrosamines are formed as pollutant by-products in a number of cosmetic raw materials. They may also be formed within the cosmetic itself after it is made. As a group, nitrosamines are toxic and carcinogenic. They are commonly found in association with ingredients such as the foam boosters lauramide DEA, cocamide DEA and the amine oxides, and the hair detangler stearalkonium chloride.
Polyethylene Glycol: this is a potentially carcinogenic petroleum ingredient that can alter and reduce the skin's natural moisture factor. This could not only increase the appearance of aging but also leave you more vulnerable to bacteria. It is often used in cleansers to dissolve oil and grease and is also used in caustic spray-on oven cleaners!
Propylene Glycol (PG) & Butyl Glycol: these are gaseous hydrocarbons which in their liquid state act as 'surfactants' (wetting agents and solvents). They easily penetrate the skin and have been shown to weaken protein and cellular structure. They are commonly used in for example, cleansers, moisturisers, body lotions and foundations. They are used in industrial anti-freeze and hydraulic brake fluid. Because PG penetrates the skin so quickly, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns against skin contact to prevent consequences such as brain, liver and kidney abnormalities. But there isn't even a warnings label on products such as stick deodorants where the concentration is greater than in most industrial applications!
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES): these are industrial detergents and surfactants that pose serious health threats. Because they are cheap they are used in an abundance of foaming personal care products including toothpaste, bubble bath, shampoo, bath and shower gel, facial cleansers and hand wash. Bu they are also found in car washes, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers. A small amount generates a large amount of foam, and when salt is added, it thickens to give the illusion of being thick and concentrated. Animals exposed to SLS experience eye damage, depression, laboured breathing, diarrhoea, severe skin irritation and even death. Young eyes may not develop properly if exposed to SLS because proteins are dissolved. SLS may also damage the skin immune system by causing layers to separate and inflame. When combined with other chemicals, SLS can be transformed into nitrosamines, a potent class of carcinogens. Your body may retain the SLS for up to five days, during which time it may enter and maintain residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs and the brain.
x