The Chemicals We Buy in Our Everyday Products

About nine months ago at work, I was chatting it up with my co-worker, Dina in her office.  We were talking about our plans for the weekend when my manager Laurie walked in.  She joined the conversation, and as Dina began putting on hand lotion, Laurie asked what kind of lotion she was using and if it was organic and paraben-free. “Paraben-free? What are parabens?” I asked. Laurie quickly explained that parabens are in a lot of products and can causes problems in the reproductive system.  She said that she has avoided them for years, but now that she was done having children, she cheats sometimes and uses products containing parabens.  I left Dina’s office flustered. I had been unknowingly putting my ability to reproduce at risk.  I had been going through life buying any old product that was inexpensive and did the job.  When I got back to my desk, I immediately searched on-line to learn more about parabens.  Treehugger.com had an easy-to-understand definition (below) and I noticed there are even more ingredients that contain harmful chemicals found in the everyday products I use.

“Parabens (methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, or butylparaben), the most common class of preservatives used in underarm deodorants and cosmetics, provoke controversy because they are thought to mimic the hormone estrogen, which some studies show plays a role in the development of breast cancer and urogenital abnormalities.” www.planetgreen.com via http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/08/beyond-parabens.php.

While I understood that scholars don’t review the information on Treehugger and Planet Green, I generally accepted what I read and believed my co-workers. That was enough for me to seek out paraben-free products. 

The products I've purchased of the last nine months.
Many of them still half full.

Over the next few months, I focused on finding affordable paraben-free personal care products.  I remembered seeing other ingredients to avoid on the Treehugger site, but I didn’t want to spend the time researching those.  There were so many conflicting opinions on-line that I decided to only focus on parabens.  So, since spring, I’ve bought five different shampoos and conditioners and three different kinds of lotion.  The lotions really weren’t a problem. I found affordable paraben-free products that performed well.  The shampoos and conditioners, on the other hand, were not so easy.  The first four products I tried left my hair dry and brittle and my wallet $50 lighter.  I finally splurged at Whole Foods and bought Aubrey Organics shampoo and conditioner for a total of $22.  It’s been at least a month now and I’m very pleased with the product.  I’m living guilt-free and my hair looks as good as it ever has.

I’ve also been looking for an effective deodorant that doesn’t contain parabens or aluminum.  After weeks of getting poor results from a number of brands:

Old Spice for men

Tom’s

Herbal Clear

a friend recommended The Body Shop’s Deo-Dry.  It was about $7 and has proved to be worth every penny, or at least I thought (more on this later). 

I rarely wear make-up, so I haven’t bothered to research those products.  The only other product I use is Dove unscented bar soap.  I’m not willing to give it up just yet— this is the only soap I’ve found that doesn’t dry out my skin.  Up until about a week ago I never even looked at the ingredients.

I’ve been fairly satisfied with the products I’m currently using and feeling guilt-free. So guilt-free that I thought it was time to research the other ingredients that contain dangerous chemicals I read about months ago.  After going through many articles on this topic with drastic variations in opinion, I was skeptical about which sources to trust. I eventually found an article published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that was cited on NPR.  According to the article, below is a list of the products and ingredients to avoid:

• Anti-aging creams with lactic, glycolic, AHA and BHA acids.

• Hair relaxers, perms and dyes, especially dyes with ammonia, peroxide, PPD (phenylenediamine diaminobenzene), all dark permanent hair dyes. Hair relaxers contain estrogen from placenta and can lead to early puberty and breast cancer.

• Liquid hand soaps with triclosan.

• Nail polish and removers with formaldehyde.

• Skin lighteners with hydroquinone or mercury.

• Nano-technology -- Much touted, not regulated, no knowledge of long-term effects as products penetrate deeply into skin, even into organs.

• Lipstick -- An estimated 61 percent of lipsticks on the market contain lead, for which there are no safe levels.

• Parabens -- Used as a preservative, known to be toxic and can cause skin reactions, affect hormones and have been found in breast cancer tumors.

• Synthetic fragrances -- Among the most dangerous ingredients. A leading cause of cosmetic-related allergy and irritation, watery eyes, nausea, mood changes, depression, irritability, anger, memory lapse and more.

• DEAs (Diethanolamine) -- A wetting agent in shampoo that creates a rich lather and gives lotions a creamy consistency. Not harmful alone but can react with other chemicals to form a potent carcinogen called NDEA, linked to stomach, liver, esophagus and bladder cancer.

• Sodium Laurel or Laureth Sulphate -- a detergent used in shampoo to create foam, often described as "comes from coconut." Causes rashes and hair loss.

• PEG (Polyethylene Glycol) -- Potentially carcinogenic petroleum product used in cleansers to dissolve oil. Can also reduce skin's moisture factor and increase the appearance of aging.

• Phenoxyethanol -- An aromatic ether alcohol used as a preservative in cosmetics, ointments, toiletries and wipes. The manufacturer says "harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. May cause reproductive defects. Severe eye and skin irritant."

• Propylene Glycol -- A petroleum derivative used to maintain moisture in products, it can penetrate the skin to weaken protein and cell structure. Can also remove barnacles from boats. Can cause brain, liver and kidney abnormalities.

• PABA -- Used in sunscreens, can cause photo-allergic reactions including acne and painful, pus-filled blisters. Banned in many countries.

• Phthalates -- Found in PVC plastic such as shower caps and curtains, fragrances and some nail polish. Linked to birth defects, especially in male infants.

Source: Environmental Working Group

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10201/1073854-114.stm?cmpid=fashion.xml

This is a very complex topic that raises so many varying opinions. There are many chemicals that make up a single ingredient. How much of the chemicals affect human health? How much of these chemicals can build up in one’s body and be passed on to their children? There weren’t any clear-cut answers.  In a nutshell, the U.S. has very minimal regulations on cosmetics.  Experts contend that there just isn’t enough evidence showing these chemicals having negative effects on humans.  Conversely, the European Union has placed strict regulations on dangerous chemicals and feel the evidence found in many studies is enough.  Also, California and Washington have begun regulating certain harmful chemicals.  I struggled to decide which were reliable sources and which were not and to discern who had the best argument. I’ve only briefly touched on this topic. For more details, I’d recommend reading the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article as a starting point.

For many reasons, I have decided to side with the EU, California, and Washington. For one, I trust my manager’s judgment.  She has been employed in the “green” industry for over 15 years and has a Masters of Environmental Policy from Duke University.  Secondly, I read Rachel Carson’s 1962 book Silent Spring, which addresses the dangerous chemicals in the air, water, soil, animals and our own bodies.  These chemicals originated from the lack of good government regulations and carelessness.  I’ve grown to distrust the government’s level of regulatory scrutiny over pollution and chemicals, which includes how the government regulates the chemicals in the products we use. 

Just this week, I used a tool to help me determine which products to avoid.  The Environmental Working Group created an online database of products, companies, and chemicals. Each chemical and product is rated with a “hazard level,” ranging from 1 to 10.  The database also provides and explanation of the varying levels and the effects of the chemicals and products. I gave the tool a whirl and found that ALL of my cosmetic products have some harmful chemicals in them.  My $7 deodorant has one the worst hazard ratings out of all of them.  My guilt level has risen a bit, which means it’s off to find less harmful products!  When deciding which products to buy, I think it’s important to be reasonable about how much money to spend, how high of a rating is acceptable to you, and what are the potential effects on your body. 

Next week, I’ll blog about the Potomac River water we use each day.