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    Fact Sheet: Potentially Toxic Chemicals in Personal Care Products

    By NCVC Staff | Published on Sep 20, 2023

    On a daily basis, as Americans go about their routines, they unknowingly expose themselves to a multitude of chemicals lurking in the products they use. It’s alarming to realize that very few of these chemicals have been adequately tested for their effects on health. The evidence is mounting – even the smallest doses of certain chemicals can have harmful effects. This includes the chemicals found in everyday products such as cosmetics, personal care items, cleaning products, and even children’s products.

    The Dark Side of Everyday Products

    It’s time to shed light on the potentially toxic chemicals hiding in our personal care products. To raise awareness, we have compiled a comprehensive fact sheet that lists the most common culprits. This invaluable resource will help you make informed choices and protect yourself and your loved ones.

    A Growing Body of Scientific Evidence

    Scientific research is steadily uncovering the dangers of these chemicals. The fact sheet we provide is supported by a wealth of references, ensuring the information is reliable and credible. Studies conducted by esteemed organizations like the Environmental Working Group, the European Commission, and the S. Department of Health and Human Services have highlighted the risks associated with various substances found in cosmetics and personal care products.

    Empowering Consumers with Knowledge

    Knowledge is power, and by arming yourself with information, you can take control of your health and well-being. Our fact sheet delivers a comprehensive list of potentially toxic chemicals commonly found in everyday products. From parabens that could disrupt hormones to formaldehyde-releasing hair smoothing products, this resource covers a range of dangers lurking in the cosmetics aisle. We provide references from reputable sources such as the California Department of Public Health and the Government of Canada, ensuring the information is accurate and up-to-date.

    Protecting Your Health and the Environment

    These toxic chemicals not only pose risks to our health but also to the environment. By raising awareness and making informed choices, we can collectively reduce our exposure to these harmful substances and help protect our planet. The fact sheet serves as a valuable tool, equipping you with the knowledge needed to make safer choices when it comes to personal care products.

    Take Action Now

    It’s time to take a stand against potentially toxic chemicals in our personal care products. Download our fact sheet and become an advocate for your own health and the well-being of those around you. Together, we can create a safer and healthier future.

    Full List of References

    1. Environmental Working Group, “Why this matters – Cosmetics and your health,” source
    2. Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, “The Big Multinational’s Policies on the Use of Chemicals of Concern in Cosmetics,” source
    3. European Commission, “CMR Substances,” source
    4. Government of Canada, “Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist: Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients,” source
    5. California Department of Public Health, “California Safe Cosmetics Program Product Database,” source
    6. California Department of Toxic Substances Control, “Safer Consumer Products,” source
    7. S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Toxicology Program, “Report on Carcinogens: Fourteenth Edition,” 2016, source
    8. Masui, T., Hirose, M., Imaida, K., et al. (1986). Sequential changes of the forestomach of F344 rats, Syrian golden hamsters, and B6C3F1 mice treated with butylated hydroxyanisole. Jpn J Cancer Res 77(11): 1083-1090.
    9. Park, E.H., Chang, H.H., Cha, Y.N. (1990). Induction of hepatic tumors with butylated hydroxyanisole in the self-fertilizing hermaphroditic fish Rivulus ocellatus marmoratus. Jpn J Cancer Res 81(8): 738-741.
    10. S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “Hair Smoothing Products That Could Release Formaldehyde,” 2011, source
    11. Environmental Protection Agency, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, “Toxicological Profile for 1,4-dioxane,” source
    12. Kasai, T., Kano, H., Umeda, Y., et al. (2009). Two-year inhalation study of carcinogenicity and chronic toxicity of 1,4-dioxane in male. Inhal Toxicol 21:889-897. doi:10.1080/08958370802629610
    13. Boberg, J., Taxvig, C., Christiansen, S., Hass, U. (2010), Possible endocrine disrupting effects of parabens and their metabolites. Reprod Toxicol. 2010 Sep;30(2):301-12. Epub 2010 Apr 8.
    14. Harvell, J., M. Bason and H. Maibach (1994). Contact Urticaria and its Mechanisms. Food Chemistry and Toxicology 32(2): 103-112. (Table 2: Substances identified as capable of causing contact urticaria).
    15. Khanna S., Dash P. R. and Darbre P. D. (2014), Exposure to parabens at the concentration of maximal proliferative response increases migratory and invasive activity of human breast cancer cells in vitro, J. Appl. Toxicol., 34, pages 1051-1059. doi: 10.1002/jat.3003
    16. Jurewicz, J., PhD, Radwan, M., PhD, Wielgomas, B., PhD, et al. (2017). Human Semen Quality, Sperm DNA Damage, and the Level of Reproductive Hormones in Relation to Urinary Concentrations of Parabens [Abstract]. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 59(11), 1034-1040. doi:10.1970
    17. Swan, S.H., Main, K.M., Liu, F., et al. (2005). Decrease in Anogenital Distance among Male Infants with Prenatal Phthalate Exposure. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2005;113(8):1056-1061. doi:10.1289/ehp.8100.
    18. Engel, S.M., Miodovnik, A., Canfield, R.L., et al. (2010). Prenatal Phthalate Exposure Is Associated with Childhood Behavior and Executive Functioning. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2010;118(4):565-571. doi:10.1289/ehp.0901470.
    19. Hauser, R., Meeker, J.D., Singh, N.P., Silva, M.J., Ryan, L., Duty, S., Calafat, A.M. (2007). DNA damage in human sperm is related to urinary levels of phthalate monoester and oxidative metabolites, Human Reproduction, 2007 22(3), 688-695, doi:10.1093
    20. Lin, B., Ou, M., Chung, S., Pang, C., & Chen, H. (2009). Adolescent toluene exposure produces enduring social and cognitive deficits in mice: An animal model of solvent-induced psychosis. The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, 11(6), 792-802. doi:10.3109/15622970903406234
    21. Environmental Protection Agency, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, “Medical Management Guidelines for Toluene,” source
    22. Clayton, E. M., Todd, M., Dowd, J. B., & Aiello, A. E. (2010). The Impact of Bisphenol A and Triclosan on Immune Parameters in the U.S. Population, NHANES 2003-2006. Environmental Health Perspectives, 119(3), 390-396. doi:10.1289/ehp.1002883
    23. Ruderman, J. (2010). Faculty of 1000 evaluation for Triclosan exposure modulates estrogen-dependent responses in the female wistar rat. F1000 – Post-publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature. doi:10.3410/f.4315956.4133054
    24. Shim, Y., Choi, J., Ahn, H., & Kwon, J. (2012). Effect of sodium lauryl sulfate on recurrent aphthous stomatitis: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Oral Diseases, 18(7), 655-660. doi:10.1111/j.1601-0825.2012.01920.x
    25. Black, R.E., Hurley, F.J, & Havery, D.C (2001). Occurrence of 1,4-Dioxane in Cosmetic Raw Materials and Finished Cosmetic Products. Journal Of AOAC International 84(3). PMID: 11417628
    26. CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review). 2006. CIR Compendium, containing abstracts, discussions, and conclusions of CIR cosmetic ingredient safety assessments. Washington DC.

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