Toxins Hiding In Your Bathroom That Might Surprise You

Toxins Hiding In Your Bathroom That Might Surprise You

Personal Care products are surprisingly full of long lists of ingredients listed on the back of the bottle, most of which are unpronounceable and unrecognizable.  We know that many of these ingredients can disrupt our hormones and cause changes to our hormonal regulation in both men and in women, some are known carcinogens.  I am a huge proponent of natural cosmetics and I feel that because our skin is so sensitive and has the ability to absorb so much that we should only be using products on our skin that essentially would be perfectly safe to eat.  That being said, when I read the book “Slow Death By Rubber Duck” written by two Canadian scientists and I went through my cupboards looking for some of the ingredients they recommended to avoid I was shocked at what I found and needed to dispose of.  Is it time for you to have a look at the everyday products you use for personal care?

1.  Shampoo – Shampoos will often contain Parabens (specifically Propyl-, Isopropyl-, Butyl-, and Isobutyl- parabens): Parabens are estrogen-mimicking preservatives used widely in cosmetics. The CDC has detected parabens in virtually all Americans bodies. According to the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Products, longer chain parabens like propyl and butyl paraben and their branched counterparts, isopropyl and isobutyl parabens, may disrupt the endocrine system and cause reproductive and developmental disorders.
2. Moisturizer – Everyone should avoid an ingredient often labelled as “parfum” or as “fragrance” in any body care product.  This is often a code name for Phthalates.  Phthalates are hormone disruptors and affect women’s cycles, childrens sexual development and a growing number of studies indicate that chemical family damages the male reproductive system causing lowered sperm counts. Pregnant women should avoid nail polish containing dibutyl phthalate. Everyone should avoid products with “fragrance” indicating a chemical mixture that may contain phthalates.
3. Hand Sanitizers – Triclosan & Triclocarban: Antimicrobial pesticides in liquid soap (triclosan) or soap bars (triclocarban), very toxic to the aquatic environment. Often found as contaminants in people due to widespread use of antimicrobial cleaning products. Triclosan disrupts thyroid function and reproductive hormones. American Medical Association and the American Academy of Microbiology say that soap and water serves just as well to prevent spread of infections and reduce bacteria on the skin. Overuse may promote the development of bacterial resistance.
4. Cleaning supplies – Common cleaning ingredients can be laced with the carcinogenic impurity 1.4-dioxane. Independent tests have detected the presence of 1,4-dioxane in numerous name-brand cleaning supplies. Other products contain preservatives that release low levels of cancer-causing formaldehyde.

 

1. Find SAFE Cleaning supplies here http://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/content/top_products

 

Access the Environmental Working Group Skin Deep Data Base to find out if you are using Toxic products for Personal Care  http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/