Q: What are the two most menacing toxins found in bath and body care products?
A: Petroleum-based preservatives & petrochemical surfactants.
Petroleum-based preservatives, most commonly manufactured in the form of “parabens,”
can befound in a wide range of products from cosmetics to detergents to your everyday
bar soap.In fact,parabens in their many forms (methylparaben, propylparaben and
butylparaben) exist inmost“organic” andnon-organic personal-care products today.
Parabens, which are used aspreservatives to inhibit bacteria, yeast and mold growth,
havebeen known to cause harm to theliver, the very organ werely onto detoxify our body.
Studieshave also shown correlations between parabens and breast cancer. Petrochemical
surfactants,or petrochemicals, are chemicals that arederived from petroleum or naturalgas.
Three popularpetrochemicals used by most “natural” and“organic” body-care manufacturers
are:Cocamidopropyl Betaine (aka Coco Betaine), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Propylene Glycol.
Q: Why do manufacturers use petrochemical surfactants?
A: Petrochemicals are used as foaming or wetting agents to create lather.
Although many “natural” and “organic” products state that the Cocamidopropyl Betaine they
use is derived from coconut oil, which it is, they fail to delineate that the process used to create
Coco Betaine from coconut oil requires the use of petrochemicals.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), commonly used as a degreasing agent in industrial cleaning
products,such as, floor cleaners and engine degreasers, is widely known to cause eye
impairment, intestinaldamage, breathing problems, skin spots and cysts! According to the
Journal of the American College of Toxicology, SLS, which is often used in shampoos, is
known to damage hair follicles and cause hair loss. Dr. Joseph Sigland from the Medical
College of Ohio determined that chronic exposure to de-greasing agents, such as SLS, can
cause low energy, irritability, mood changes, chronic headaches and even memory loss.
The Journal of Pharmacological Science claims that SLS can remain in the body for up to
seven days after exposure. What this means for you and your customers is that if you are
using products containing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, it is likely that your bodies are storing
it – mainly in fatty places like the breasts!
Propylene Glycol is the petrochemical not only found in products such as “natural” and
“organic”shower gels or body lotions, but also found in anti-freeze and de-icing solutions, and
often times is used as a solvent in paints, plastics, lacquers and adhesives. "It has been shown,”
stated the American Academy of Dermatologists, “that propylene glycol has severe adverse
health effects and has been found to cause contact dermatitis, kidney damage, and liver abnormalities….inhibits skingrowth…damages cell membranes causing skin rashes, dry
skin, and surface damage” (January 1991).
Q: What can be done?
A: Petrochemicals, such as those mentioned above, have remained in supply for
morethan half a century. The only thing that will break the petrochemical
supply anddemand chain is for the demand to drop.
Personal-care products can be made without the use of such chemicals; however, the
U.S. Foodand Drug Administration (FDA) currently has no set of standards or guidelines for
personal-careproducts or cosmetics. Therefore, it is up to consumers and store buyers alike to
be more proactiveabout the products they choose to support. If we, as a whole, continue to
purchase products thatcontain toxic chemicals, we are not only putting our personal health in
jeopardy, but we are alsojeopardizing the health and sustainability of our planet and generations
yet to come. You can join usin signing a petition at: www.safecosmetics.org.
