1,4-DIOXANE

1,4-dioxane, a carcinogen linked to organ toxicity, may be found in as

many as 22 percent of the more than 25,000 cosmetics products in
the Skin Deep database [1], but you won’t find it on ingredient labels.
That’s because 1,4-dioxane is a contaminant created when common
ingredients react to form the compound when mixed together.
FOUND IN: Products that create suds (such as shampoo, liquid
soap, bubble bath), hair relaxers, others
WHAT TO LOOK FOR ON THE LABEL: Sodium laureth sulfate,
PEG compounds, chemicals that include the clauses xynol, ceteareth
and oleth
WHAT IS 1,4 DIOXANE?
1,4-dioxane is generated through a process called ethoxylation, in
which ethylene oxide, a known breast carcinogen, is added to other
chemicals to make them less harsh. MORE...
This process creates 1,4-dioxane. For example, sodium laurel
sulfate, a chemical that is harsh on the skin, is often converted to the
less-harsh chemical sodium laureth sulfate (the “eth” denotes
ethoxylation). The conversion process can lead to contamination of
this ingredient with 1,4-dioxane. Other common ingredients that may
be contaminated by 1,4-dioxane include PEG compounds and
chemicals that include the clauses “xynol,” “ceteareth” and “oleth”.
Most commonly, 1,4-dioxane is found in products that create suds,
like shampoo, liquid soap and bubble bath. Environmental Working
Group’s analysis suggests that 97 percent of hair relaxers, 57
percent of baby soaps and 22 percent of all products in Skin Deep
may be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane [1]. Independent lab tests co-
released by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics in 2007 showed that
popular brands of children’s bubble bath and body wash contained
1,4-dioxane.
HEALTH CONCERNS: Cancer MORE...
Cancer: Research shows that 1,4-dioxane readily penetrates the skin
[2]. 1,4-dioxane is considered a probable human carcinogen by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [3] and is listed as an animal
carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program [4]. It is included on
California’s Proposition 65 list of chemicals known or suspected to
cause cancer or birth defects [5].
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS: Pregnant women, infants,
teenagers
REGULATIONS: Banned/found unsafe for use in cosmetics in
Canada
HOW TO AVOID: The FDA does not require 1,4-dioxane to be listed
as an ingredient on product labels because the chemical is a
contaminant produced during manufacturing. Without labeling, there
is no way to know for certain whether a product contains 1,4,-
dioxane, making it difficult for consumers to avoid it.
Alternative processes to ethoxylation do exist, but many companies
don’t take advantage of them. Vacuum-stripping can remove 1,4-
dioxane from an ethoxylated product, or manufacturers can skip
ethoxylation entirely by using less-harsh ingredients to begin with [6].
Organic standards do not allow ethoxylation at all, and some
conventional companies, such as Johnson & Johnson, have agreed
to alter the process that results in this contamination.
A study by the Organic Consumers Association [7] shows that 1,4-
dioxane is nonexistent in a variety of cosmetics certified under the
USDA National Organic Program. Therefore a good way to avoid
exposure to this chemical is to buy products that have been certified
under this program. Additionally, consumers can avoid products that
contain sodium laureth sulfate, PEG compounds, and chemicals that
include the clauses xynol, ceteareth and oleth.
- See more at: http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-
concern/14-dioxane/#sthash.dtz9Fq9M.dpuf

COAL TAR
Coal tar is a known carcinogen derived from burning coal. It is a
complex mixture of hundreds of compounds, many of which are
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) [1,2]. Coal tar is used in
food, textiles, cosmetics and personal care products. Experimental
studies have found that application of and exposure to coal tar
produce skin tumors and neurological damage.
FOUND IN: Shampoos and scalp treatments, soaps, hair dyes, and
lotions
WHAT IS COAL TAR? Coal tar is a brown-black material and thick
liquid generated during the incomplete combustion (burning) of coal
[3,6]. MORE...
It is considered a known carcinogen by the National Toxicology
Program and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Coal
tar is a complex chemical mixture that also includes a number of
suspected and known carcinogens, such as benzene, toluene,
naphthalene, anthracene, xylene, creosote oils and benzo[a]pyrene,
which is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). PAHs are a large
class of chemical that are reasonably anticipated to cause cancer
[7,8].
WHAT TO LOOK FOR ON THE LABEL: Coal tar solution, tar, coal,
carbo-cort, coal tar solution, coal tar solution USP, crude coal tar,
estar, impervotar, KC 261, lavatar, picis carbonis, naphtha, high
solvent naphtha, naphtha distillate, benzin B70, petroleum benzin
[3,4]
HEALTH CONCERNS: Cancer, organ system toxicity MORE...
Cancer: Experimental studies have found that exposure to and
application of coal tar produce skin tumors. Coal tar has also been
associated with cancer of the lung, bladder, kidney and digestive
tract [5,9]. Benzo[a]pyrene, a constituent of coal tar, has been found
to be carcinogenic through skin exposure [8,9]. There have been
many reports of skin cancer among patients using therapeutic coal-
tar preparations [5].
Organ System Toxicity: Pyridine, a coal tar constituent, has been
linked to neurological damage. Effects include emotional and sleep
disturbances, as well as loss of coordination [10,11].
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS: All
REGULATIONS: According to the FDA, any drug products
containing coal tar at levels of 0.5% to 5% (the level deemed
effective and safe) must specify on a label the concentration of coal
tar. Hair dye and certain skin products must display a warning label if
they contain coal tar and must indicate specific precautions for that
product [5]
HOW TO AVOID:
Read labels and avoid cosmetics and personal care products
containing coal tar or synonyms. Be especially vigilant about hair
dyes.
- See more at: http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-
concern/coal-tar/#sthash.XUm8VSJW.dpuf

PARABENS
Parabens are preservatives used in a wide variety of personal care
products and foods to prevent the growth of microbes. These
endocrine-disrupting chemicals can be absorbed through skin, blood
and the digestive system.[1]
FOUND IN: Shampoos, conditioners, lotions, facial and shower
cleansers and scrubs
WHAT TO LOOK FOR ON THE LABEL: Ethylparaben,
butylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben,
isopropylparaben, other ingredients ending in –paraben
WHAT ARE PARABENS? Parabens are actually several distinct
chemicals with a similar molecular structure. Several are common in
a wide array cosmetic and personal care products: ethylparaben,
butylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, methylparaben
and propylparaben.MORE...
Methylparaben and propylparaben are the most common of these.
Parabens are most common in personal care products that contain
significant amounts of water such as shampoos, conditioners, lotions
and facial and shower cleansers and scrubs because they
discourage the growth of microbes. While the Cosmetic Ingredient
Review [link to regulation section] recommends concentration limits
for single (up to 0.4%) and total paraben concentrations (up to 0.8%)
in a single product, these recommendations do not account for
exposure to parabens from several products by a single individual.[3]
Parabens are found in nearly all urine samples from U.S. adults
regardless of ethnic, socioeconomic or geographic
backgrounds.[4] In one biomonitoring study, adolescents and adult
females had higher levels of methylparaben and propylparaben in
their urine than did males of similar ages.[5]
A 2004 UK study detected traces of five parabens in the breast
tumors of 19 out of 20 women studied.[6] This small study does not
prove a causal relationship between parabens and breast cancer, but
it is important because it detected the presence of intact parabens—
unaltered by the body’s metabolism—which is an indication of the
chemical’s ability to penetrate skin and remain in breast tissue. A
more recent study found higher levels of one paraben, n-
propylparaben, in the axilla quadrant of the breast (the area nearest
the underarm).[7] This is the region in which the highest proportion of
breast tumors is found, although paraben concentration in the tissue
samples was not related to location of breast tumors in individual
women.
Parabens are not water soluble and can penetrate the skin. As a
result, repeated application of a product or multiple products
containing parabens could mean almost continuous exposure.[8] The
ubiquity of parabens in personal care products makes this a
reasonable scenario.
HEALTH CONCERNS: Endocrine disruption, cancer, developmental
and reproductive toxicity MORE...
Endocrine disruption: Parabens are potential endocrine disruptors
due to their ability to mimic estrogen.[9] In cell studies, parabens
have been found to weakly bind to estrogen receptors.[10] Studies
demonstrate that at sufficient concentrations, parabens can increase
cell proliferation in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, which are often
used as a sensitive measure of estrogenic activity.[11] In MCF-7
cells, isopropyl- and isobutyl parabens have the most potent of
proliferative potency, but they are around 170,000 times lower than
estradiol.[12],[13]
The so-called “long chain” parabens[14] (butylparaben and its
alternative form, isobutylparaben and isopropylparaben and
propylparaben) have the strongest estrogenic activity among those
widely used in personal care products. A study of prenatal
isobutylparaben exposure in rats demonstrated increased uterus
weight and uterine sensitivity to estrogen in the
offspring.[15]Ethylparaben showed lower levels of estrogenic activity
and methylparaben shows almost no estrogen activity.[16] In addition
to direct estrogenic effects, parabens can block androgens (for
example, testosterone)[17] and inhibit enzymes that metabolize
estrogen.[18]
The Endocrine Disruption Exchange includes
methylparaben,[19] ethylparaben,[20] propylparaben,[21] butylparab
en,[22] isopropylparaben,[23] isobutylparaben[24] as endocrine
disruptors due the multiple endocrine effects described above.
Skin Cancer: Applying personal care product containing parabens—
especially methylparaben—can lead to UV-induced damage of skin
cells and disruption of cell proliferation (cell growth
rate).[25],[26] Daily application, in particular, can lead to increased
concentrations of methylparaben because it is not completely
metabolized.[27] Parabens combined with other estrogenic
chemicals may potentially influence the development of malignant
melanoma, one form of skin cancer, through their estrogenic and
genotoxic activites.[28]
Developmental and Reproductive toxicity: Propyl and butyl
parabens appear to reduce sperm production[29],[30] and lead to
reduced testosterone levels,[31] while methyl- and ethyl-parabens do
not affect sperm production. These effects appear to be dose-
dependent.[32] In addition, one study found that maternal exposure
to butylparaben during gestation and lactation alters the development
of the reproductive organs and sperm production.[33] In general,
propyl- and butylparabens, specifically, appear disrupt male
reproductive system and affect the reproductive organs.[34],[35] This
is consistent with their estrogenic activity noted above.
Laboratory evidence suggests that maternal exposure to
isobutylparaben during gestation can lead to anxiety and behavioral
changes in offspring.[36],[37]
VULNERABLE POPULATIONS: Pregnant women and young
children
REGULATIONS: Some forms of parabens are banned in Denmark
(propyl and butyl paraben, their isoforms and their salts) in cosmetics
products for children up to 3 years.[2]
HOW TO AVOID: Look for products labeled “paraben-free” and read
ingredient lists on labels to avoid products with parabens. Many
natural and organic cosmetics manufacturers have found effective
alternatives to parabens to prevent microbial growth in personal care
products. Some companies have created preservative-free products
that have shorter shelf lives than conventional products (six months
to a year).
- See more at: http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-
concern/parabens/#sthash.DG1UtX1f.dpuf