What Makes Us Sick?

The FDA [Food and Drug Administration] classifies cosmetics and personal care products, but does not regulate them. In 1938, the FDA granted self-regulation to the Cosmetics, Toiletries and Fragrance Association [CTFA], the self-appointed industry organization. With The exception of color additives and a few prohibited ingredients, a cosmetic manufacturer may use almost any raw material as a cosmetic ingredient and market the product without an approval from FDA ["Prohibited Ingredients", FDA Office of Cosmetics Fact Sheet, Dec. 19, 1994]. What this means is that the industry does not have to account to anyone, not even the FDA. The direct result of industry self-regulation is that all products on the market today that we use constantly--and worse, products that we UNKNOWINGLY use on our children and even babies in the womb -- are TOXIC. Wayne Stevenson of the FDA Cosmetics Registration Section says that "The cosmetic manufacturers aren't required to submit safety data to the FDA, so we don't really know what sorts of tests they run. When they run tests, they keep the results in their own files."

Some commonly used ingredients found in household products and their impact on the human body are as follows:

Alcohol: adult drink, acts as a solvent. Found in mouthwash [which may have higher alcohol content than beer or wine], astringents and facial cleansers, some toothpastes

1. Implicated in mouth, tongue and throat cancers [women have 90% higher risk; men have 60% higher risk than non-mouthwash users]
2. On skin, strips away natural protecting oils [takes skin 24 hours to repair itself]
3. When ingested, makes body tissues vulnerable to carcinogens

Alkyl-Phenol Ethoxylades: Found in shampoos, bubble bath

1. Reduces sperm count· estrogen mimic

Alpha Hydroxy Acid: [said to reverse aging and renew skin] Found in skin products

1. Removes outer layer of skin and prematurely exposes new skin to damaging effects of the environment
2. Inflames skin [and so wrinkles seem to disappear]
3. Destroys skin cells; long term use results in skin cancer

Aluminum: Found in antiperspirants, some cosmetics, cans and household utensils

1. Causes Central Nervous System dysfunctions [such as Alzheimer's disease]

Bentonite: [micro-fine clay used to suffocate forest fires] Found in foundations, soaps, and other cosmetics

1. Suffocates the skin [does not allow CO2 out or O2 in; traps toxins in]
2. Scratches the skins surface

Benzoic / Benzyl / Benzene: [preservative] Found in bubble bath, shampoos, shower gels

1. Carcinogens and endocrine disruptor
2. Cause birth defects

Bronopol: [2-bromo-2-nitropropane]

1. Severely carcinogenic

Coal Tar Dye: [esp. D&C Blue #1, Green #3, Yellow#5, Yellow #6, Red #33, phenylenediamine] Found in shampoos, especially dandruff shampoos, bubble bath, toothpastes, hair dyes

1. Cause severe allergic reactions, asthma attacks, headaches, nausea, fatigue, nervousness, lack of concentration
2. Increased risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma and Hodgkin's disease

Note - The 1938 Act created a specific exemption for coal-tar dyes. The FDA cannot now ban them, even though their carcinogenicity has been recently proven.

Collagen: [makes skin feel artificially smooth] Found in creams and lotions

1. Molecules too large to penetrate skin; suffocate skin

DEA [Diethanolamine], TEA [Tea, triethanolamine], MEA Cocamide DEA; Laurimide DEA; Linoleamide DEA, Oleamide DEA: [solvent, emulsifier, wetting agent] Found in most things--shampoos, conditioners, lotions, shaving gels, bubble bath, skin creams, etc.

1. Severely carcinogenic

Dioforms: Found in tooth whiteners

1. Damages teeth enamel
2. Weakens protective shell of teeth

Elastin: [promoted as beneficial to skin] Found in creams and lotions

1. Suffocates skin, cannot be absorbed by skin [molecules too large]
2. Cannot restore tone to skin
3. Holds moisture in/out

Fluoride: [Sodium fluoride] Found in toothpaste

1. Environmental pollutant
2. May contain lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, radionucleides
3. Accumulates in body, destroying organs
4. Contributes to bone disease [American Medical Association, December, 1993]
5. Carcinogen [known since 1990: shown to not reduce cavities]

Dr. Dean Burk of National Cancer Institute: "Fluoride causes more human cancer death, and causes it faster than any other chemical"

Formaldehyde: [preservative, fixative, disinfectant] Found in shampoo, nail care, cosmetics, baby shampoo, bubble bath, deodorants, perfume, cologne, hair dye, mouthwash, toothpaste, hair spray, and many other personal care items.

1. Carcinogen
2. Neurotoxin

Note - The following information is taken from a Material Safety Data Sheet [MSDS] which, by law, must be supplied to anyone who uses any chemical product in the workplace. The MSDS for formaldehyde warns: "Suspected carcinogen; May be fatal if inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through skin; causes burns; inhalation can cause spasms, edema [fluid buildup] of the larynx and bronchi, and chemical pneumonitis; extremely destructive to tissue of the mucous membrane."

Fragrances: Synthetic fragrances are made up of hundreds of chemicals. Some, such as methylene chloride, are carcinogenic; others can cause brain damage. A scientific analysis of one very popular perfume showed it to contain a very potent neurotoxin.

Kaolin: [micro-fine clay used to suffocate forest fires] Found in facial powders and other cosmetics

1. Suffocates and weakens skin, like bentonite

Lacquer: [stops things from running] Found in mascara

1. Causes eyelashes to fall out

Lye: Found in bar soaps

1. Corrodes or dries out skin

Methyl Methacrylate: Found in sculptured artificial nails

1. May cause inflammation of fingers and nails

Mineral Oil: [makes skin feel soft and smooth] Found in liquid foundations, blush, skin creams and baby oil; derivative of petroleum

1. Suffocates and dries out skin
2. Inhibits oils you produce naturally and so increases dehydration
3. Clogs pores; locks in toxins and wastes

Phthalates: [plastic softener, solvents] Found in lipstick, hair spray, deodorant, nail polish, hair gel, mousse, hand lotion, body lotion, and perfume, as well as children's toys and PVC plastic. Usually NOT found on label of ingredients. 52 of 72 products tested contained unlabelled phthalates in concentrations up to 3%.

1. Shown to damage the liver, kidneys, lungs and reproductive system, especially the developing testes
2. Accumulates in organs; women 20-50 have the highest levels in their bodies
3. Phthalates ingested as a result of lipstick use lead to breast cancer

Propylene Glycol: [humectant--prevents things from drying out] Found in deodorants, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, shaving gels

1. Implicated in contact dermatitis, kidney damage and liver abnormalities
2. Inhibits skin cell growth
3. Damages cell membranes causing rashes, dry skin and surface damage

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: [detergent] Found in toothpaste, shampoo, dish soap, liquid hand soap, bubble bath

1. Corrodes hair follicles and impairs ability to grow hair, may cause hair to fall out
2. Builds up in the heart, liver, lungs and brain from skin contact causing organ atrophy
3. Denatures protein--impairs proper structural formation of young eyes
4. Damages immune system

Talc: [dry lubricant] Found in baby powders, feminine powders, lubricant on condoms, found in blush

1. Carcinogen when inhaled
2. Use on condoms may result in fallopian tube fibrosis [leads to infertility]
3. Linked to post-operative granulomatous peritonitis and fibrous adhesions
4. 60% increase risk of ovarian cancer when used in genital areas
5. 90% increase risk of ovarian cancer when used in feminine deodorant sprays

Toluene: Found in nail polish

1. Endocrine disruptor
2. Carcinogen
3. Causes birth defects
4. Irritates respiratory tract
5. Causes liver damage

Tyrosine: [darkens the skin] Found in tanning accelerators

1. Carcinogen

Zinc Stearate: Found in blush, powder foundations

1. Carcinogen