So this morning I woke up right, and found this link on Regina's facebook page: Cosmetics Companies Sued For Mislabeling Organic ProductsAfter reading it, I decided to do more research into chemicals in cosmetics that are linked with cancer. What did I find? I found out that there are way more products that needed to be avoided than I originally knew, and if I didn't know, there's a likely chance that ya'll don't know either, so I'ma spread the word.
Firstly I'm aware that shampoos and hair conditioners usually contain chemicals, that's why I tend to over look them during purchase. THAT is a big no no, check the ingredients, and do your research. There are a handful of toxic chemicals that are found in cosmetic products which is damaging to your body, and you need to know what they are so you can avoid them.
To understand how these ingredients can cause cancer, you must first know what a Carcinogen is.
What is a Carcinogen?
A carcinogen is a substance that is capable of causing cancer in humans or animals. If a substance is known to promote or aggravate cancer, but not necessarily cause cancer, it may also be called a carcinogen. Though there are many things that are believed to cause cancer, a substance is only considered carcinogenic if there is significant evidence of its carcinogenicity.
Many substances have been identified as carcinogenic. Some commonly known carcinogens include asbestos, radon, certain pesticides, arsenic, and tobacco smoke. Smokeless tobacco is a known carcinogen as well.
It is important to note that carcinogens don’t lead to cancer after every exposure. Some cause cancerous changes following high-level, prolonged exposure, while others may cause damage at lower levels and shorter exposure periods. Furthermore, an individual’s unique genetic makeup may influence the body’s response to a carcinogen. So if your family has a history of cancer, then it puts you at an even higher risk.
So that being said, continue reading to find out more about the cosmetic ingredients linked with cancer.
What are the ingredients?
1. Diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA) MEA (monoethanolamine)
Surely a lot of you have seen the name in your products before, otherwise they usually follow after something else for example Cocomide DEA and Lauramide DEA. DEA and MEA are usually seen in shampoos because its a chemical used as a wetting agent in shampoos, that creates foaming, and TEA is usually seen in hair gels.
What do they do?
They don’t cause cancer by themselves, however you should avoid all products that contain them because DEA and TEA react with nitrites to form Nitrosamines (Nitrosodiethanolamine or NDEA.) NDEA is readily absorbed through the skin and has been linked with stomach, esophagus, liver and bladder cancers. The thing is though, nitrites can be present as a contaminant and not listed on the label. So there’s really no way of knowing whether or not a product with DEA, MEA or TEA ingredients is contaminated with the cancer causing Nitrosamines.
"According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), "There is sufficient evidence of a carcinogenic effect of N-nitrosodiethanolamine -- ." (1) IARC recommends that NDEA should be treated as if it were a carcinogen in humans. The National Toxicology Program similarly concluded: "There is sufficient evidence for the carcinogenicity of N-nitrosodiethanolamine in experimental animals.”(2) Of over 44 different species in which N-nitroso compounds have been tested, all have been susceptible.(3) Humans are most unlikely to be the only exception to this trend.
The cosmetics industry is the least regulated industry under the jurisdiction of the FDA. The FDA can make recommendations but it has very little power to enforce them. In 1979 the FDA ordered industry to eliminate NDEA from their products. In 1992, the FDA tested 12 products for NDEA contamination and found that 8 of them still contained this potent carcinogen. While levels have been reduced, there is still an avoidable risk of cancer when nitrosamine contaminated products are used. Even small amounts of this potent carcinogen can increase the risk of cancer." - http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/cosmetics/diethanolamine.htm
Manufacturers can put almost anything in their cosmetics without testing to see if the ingredients are harmful. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can only make suggestions or recommendations to manufacturers about cosmetic products or their ingredients, but the manufacturers don’t have to follow them.
The following cosmetic ingredients are among those contaminated with DEA:
Cocamide DEA or Cocamide Diethanolamine
DEA Lauryl Sulfate or Diethanolamine Lauryl Sulfate
Lauramide DEA or Lauramide Diethanolamine
Linoleamide DEA or Linoleamide Diethanolamine
Oleamide DEA or Oleamide Diethanolamine
Any product containing TEA or Triethanolamine
DEA Lauryl Sulfate or Diethanolamine Lauryl Sulfate
Lauramide DEA or Lauramide Diethanolamine
Linoleamide DEA or Linoleamide Diethanolamine
Oleamide DEA or Oleamide Diethanolamine
Any product containing TEA or Triethanolamine
2. Talcum
Talc is toxic. Talc particles cause tumors in human ovaries and lungs. Numerous studies have shown a strong link between frequent use of talc in the female genital area and ovarian cancer. Talc particles are able to move through the reproductive system and become imbedded in the lining of the ovary. Researchers have found talc particles in ovarian tumors and have found that women with ovarian cancer have used talcum powder in their genital area more frequently than healthy women.
Talc poses a health risk when exposed to the lungs. Talc miners have shown higher rates of lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses from exposure to industrial grade talc, which contains dangerous silica and asbestos. The common household hazard posed by talc is inhalation of baby powder by infants. Since the early 1980s, records show that several thousand infants each year have died or become seriously ill following accidental inhalation of baby powder. So tell your mama to stop using it on your baby sister/brother!
3. FD&C Color Pigments (Artificial Colours)
Don't be fooled. Just because it looks pretty doesn't mean it is. The only purpose color pigments serve is to make the product look attractive. It serves absolutely no beneficial purpose for your skin. These color pigments are actually synthetic colors made from coal tar, containing heavy metal salts that deposit toxins onto the skin, causing skin sensitivity and irritation. Animal studies have shown almost all of them to be carcinogenic. These are often labeled on a product with a number following, such as FD&C Blue No. 1.
4. Preservatives
Many preservatives contain or release formaldehyde which is a carcinogen, neurotoxin, irritant and sensitizer. These include DMDM hydantoin, Imidazolidinyl urea, Diazolidinyl urea, quaternium 15, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate and bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol). Other preservatives that may also cause reactions include the parabens, methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone. They are known to cause joint pain, skin reactions, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and loss of sleep.
5. Fragrances
Again, don't be fooled. Just because it smells good, doesn't mean it is. Often one of the first things a consumer does when trying a personal care product is to smell it. If the product smells good the consumer is much more likely to want the product. Often the label on the product will give the illusion that the scent is natural. A picture of a flower or fruit leads the consumer to think that the jasmine scent must be from real jasmine. More often than not, this is simply not the case. Most fragrances are of synthetic origin. Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to four thousand separate ingredients, many toxic or carcinogenic (causing or contributing to cancer). Manufacturers are not required to disclose the individual ingredients as they are considered "trade secrets."
6. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
You will find these ingredients in almost all cleansers that foam. These chemicals are even used in car washes, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers. Research indicates that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate causes inflammation of the skin and can weaken the immune system. Young eyes may not develop properly if exposed to SLS because proteins are dissolved. Be especially alert for these ingredients in Baby Shampoo.
Polysorbate 60 or 80, polyoxyethylene, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, PEG, anything ending in “-eth,” such as sodium laureth sulfate. These ingredients may be contaminated with cancer-causing 1,4-dioxane, which is easily absorbed through the skin. Again, manufacturers are not required to tell you about the contaminants.
7.Triclosan
The EPA registers Triclosan as a pesticide and is classified as a chlorophenol, a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer in humans. Triclosan is so toxic it is measured in parts per trillion. To illustrate-one drop of Triclosan in 300 Olympic-sized swimming pools can cause hormonal disruption! This chemical is a synthetic "antibacterial" ingredient and is therefore found in most antibacterial soaps, lotions, and toothpaste.
8. Propylene Glycol (PG) & Butylene Glycol
These are petroleum plastics that easily penetrate the skin and can weaken protein and cellular structure. PG is a solvent so powerful it dissolves through a stainless steel tank in 48 hours so it has to be stored in plastic drums. The EPA considers PG so toxic that it requires workers to wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles. However, Propylene Glycol is used in some products in concentrations of up to 20%. It is also the main ingredient in certain types of Antifreeze. How's that for good skin care?
9. Silica
By itself, silica is not harmful, but it’s often contaminated with crystalline silica which causes cancer. Manufacturers are not required to list contaminants so you’ll never see it on the label.
How big of a threat are contaminants to you and your family? From 1978 to 1980, the FDA analyzed 300 cosmetic samples for carcinogenic contamination. Forty percent of the samples analyzed contained carcinogens. Things actually got worse the next time they analyzed cosmetic samples. In 1991-92, they found that 65% of the cosmetic products sampled contained carcinogenic contaminants. More Recently, in 2004, the Environmental Working Group evaluated the ingredients in 7,500 personal care products for safety. They found that "nearly 70% of all products contain ingredients that can be contaminated with impurities linked to cancer and other health problems."
10. Parabens
Parabens include:
Butylparaben
Methylparaben
Propylparaben
Isobutylparaben
Isopropylparaben
Ethylparaben
Benzylparaben
Why are parabens so bad?
One of the problems of using parabens on our skin is that they are readily absorbed into our skin and blood, and can be detected in our blood shortly after use. Parabens are estrogen mimickers, with the potency of the agonistic response being related to the chemical structure. They can bind to the cellular estrogen receptor, and also increase the expression of many genes that are usually regulated by estradiol and cause human breast tumor cells to grow and proliferate in vitro. See if the level of estrogen in the body is too high, it puts one at a higher risk to develop cancer. Because estrogen interacts with the breast cells signaling them to divide. The more they divide, the more likely it is for them to get mutations to their DNA, causing them to lose control and keep on dividing. Which stimulates changes over time and some cells can slowly turn from normal breast cells to tumor cells.
This process can take 10-30 years to occur, which is why it is even scarier, because the cosmetics containing parabens and other cancer causing agents can be at work stimulating these changes without one realising. With the long term effects being very serious. Women, breast cancer is no joke.
British researchers have found traces of chemicals called parabens in tissue taken from women with breast cancer. Dr Philippa Darbre and colleagues at the University of Reading carried out tests on samples of 20 different human breast tumours.
Writing in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, they say they found traces of parabens in every sample. Their tests suggested the chemicals had seeped into the tissue after being applied to the skin.
'Health-Report Comment:
Well here we go again. We have been warning people about the potential toxic effects of parabens for ages and how the increase in breast cancer and all cancers could be directly attributed to chemicals in the body. (This includes of course the shocking revelations that HRT was directly responsible for another 20,000 women to contract cancer recently.) Not just from using underarm deodorants either. Virtually all so-called "skin Care" products have dangerous chemicals in them. Parabens are just one of a large bunch of toxic chemicals that no-one has any idea of what the long term effects are if you use them every day on your skin.
The hollow platitudes of reassurance from the chemical industry are starting to sound like a stuck record as more and more damning evidence is mounting against them and their toxic assault on the human species. Despite what they say, the studies have never been done on the long-term effects of any of these chemicals let alone the effects of perhaps ten or twenty or 100 chemicals interacting in the body.'
There are a lot more out there that we probably don't know about, but make sure you ALWAYS read the ingredients of ANY product you buy, and also do your research, it's not useful to read them and not know what they do. Ya dig?
Need some advice for cosmetic alternatives? See the next article Gee, thanks for the information...but now what do I do?
Links/Sources-
http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/research/endocrine/videos/plastics.cfm
http://www.breastcancerfund.org/clear-science/chemicals-glossary/parabens.html
http://www.preventcancer.com/consumers/cosmetics/diethanolamine.html
http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Maldonado1.html
http://www.healthyeatingadvisor.com/cancer-causing-ingredients.html
-Rouge
