Photographer A.L. Henderson of London Bridge
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Noxious Shampoos Revised Monday December 17, 2007 |
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Toxic Chemicals in Shampoos Just when you thought it was safe to shampoo... think again !!! Go get your shampoo bottle and look at the listed ingredients. You might find the following chemicals:
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Toxic Chemicals in Shampoos? Just briefly, the following is a general description of toxic chemicals found in shampoos:
Why do they put this stuff in shampoos? Because it's cheap... cheap... cheap !!! ...plus, because of all of that thick lather and smells, it looks like you're really getting your money's worth !!! Sodium Lauryl (Laureth) Sulfate ~ "SLS"
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS) is a foaming boaster (anionic surfactant) and a wetting agent, a common detergent found in shampoos. According to Journal of the American College of Toxicology, in the report on the safety of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, notes that this ingredient has a "degenerative effect on the cell membranes because of its protein denaturing properties." The journal adds, "high levels of skin penetration may occur at even low use concentration." Studies indicate eye health is also a concern. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate keeps young eyes from developing properly by possibly denaturing the proteins and not allowing for proper structural formation. (Denature means "to change the nature or natural qualities of") SLS comes from coconut oil (via commercial processing) and helps make substances foam or lather. It's a detergent. The same ingredient found in detergent soaps such as garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers. According to U.S. government, Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), Exposure to SLS can lead to a burning sensation, coughing, wheezing, laryngitis, headache, nausea, and vomiting, SLS can damage vital internal organs and wipe-out your immune system, and can result in blindness, such as cataract formation. See Wall Street Journal (January 11, 1988) If that doesn't sound bad, listen to this !!! By penetrating (via absorption) into the skin, SLS has been blamed for corroding the hair follicle causing premature hair loss. And... if your hair isn't falling out by now, this stuff (via corroding effect on the follicle) causes your hair to grow slower !!! SLS is found in 90% of commercial shampoos and conditioners. It's even found in our toothpaste. Of all places... toothpaste! Why would they put this stuff in toothpaste???
Okay, I got it! They figure our eating habits are sooooo bad they equate our foods with greasy engines and dirty garage floors. They figure we need that industrial strength SLS stuff to make our teeth feel really-really clean. Makes sense to me :-) SLS Overview A study done at the Medical College of Georgia has shown:
SLS builds up in the heart, liver, lungs and brain and can cause major problems in these areas SLS causes skin to flake and to separate and causes substantial roughness on the skin SLS causes dysfunction of the biological systems of the skin SLS is such a caustic cleanser that it actually corrodes the hair follicle and impairs its ability to grow hair. SLS is routinely used in clinical studies to deliberately irritate the skin so that the effects of other substances can be tested. (I don't know if both reports came from the same source or individual studies. I will find out! -webmaster) A report from the Journal of the American College of Toxicology; Vol. 2, No. 7, 1983 states:
Carcinogenic 1,4-Dioxane The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has conducted surveys of cosmetic raw materials and finished products for the presence of 1,4-Dioxane since 1979. According to the 2001 report from the FDA own researchers, "1,4-Dioxane was found at levels up to 279 ppm (parts per million) in cosmetic finished products." The researchers add, Levels of 1,4-Dioxane in excess of 85 ppm in children's shampoos indicate that continued monitoring of raw materials and finished products is warranted." According to the National Toxicology Program studies, the chemical 1,4-Dioxane has induced cancer in both sexes of rats and both sexes of mice. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the presence of 1,4-Dioxane, even a trace contaminant, is cause for concern. Carcinogenic DEA-based compounds According to a 1998 report from the federal National Toxicology Program, two DEA-based compounds, Cocamide DEA and Lauramide DEA, have been demonstrated to be cancer causing in at least one species of animal. (DEA is also known as Diethanolamine) Estrogenic preservative alkyl-hydroxy-benzoate Alkyl-hydroxy-benzoate, Alkyl-hydroxy-paraben, and Alpha-hydroxy-benzonate, Ethyl-paraben are used as a preservative in shampoos. The following prefixes are related to this preservative:
These compounds are allergenic and estrogenic. (Estrogenic means "relating to or caused by estrogen.") Researchers concluded that, "Given their use in a wide range of commercially available topical preparations, it is suggested that the safety in use of these chemicals should be reassessed..."
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Material Data Safety Sheet (MSDS) According to United States Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at 29 CFR part 1910.1200, a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is a document obtained or developed for each hazardous chemical produced, imported or used by chemical manufacturers or importers. The MSDS informs workers and emergency personnel with the proper procedures for handling or working with a particular substance. Propylene Glycol ~ Antifreeze?
Propylene Glycol is another chemical commonly found in shampoos. Now get this... it's used in antifreeze !!! In fact, it's used as antifreeze !!! Yea, antifreeze... the same stuff used in your car's coolant. The same stuff used in airplane's deicing fluids !!! It's also used in...
Propylene Glycol is a clear odorless water-retaining liquid produced by the hydration of propylene oxide. Market use break-down for Propylene Glycol
Page 36, Chemical Business, November 1992
A surfactant is a "substance capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved." In other words- it's a detergent. Types of Surfactants (Comparative surfactant toxicity followed the general order 1-4):
The nitrate absorption occurs when SLS becomes contaminated with NDELA (N-nitrosodiethanolamine) during processing. This contamination comes about as a result of SLS coming into contact with any number of chemicals including Triethanolamine (TEA), which is a commonly used ingredient in shampoos. In other words, for example: SLS + TEA= NDELA NDELA is a nitrosamine and a recognized carcinogen !!! NITROSATING AGENTS
NITROSAMINES - Shampooing the hair with a product contaminated with this substance can lead to its absorption into the body at levels much higher than eating nitrite-contaminated foods. Avoid these chemicals. Reference: Wall Street Journal, Jan. 11, 1988
Artificial Fragrances Most fragrances are synthesized from petroleum products. They are artificial. They make you think your smelling something wonderful. When in fact, you are smelling a combination of synthetic, volatile chemicals or Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). These chemicals are "volatile" because they are actually releasing fumes. Fragrances (identified as 'Parfum' in the EU; 'Fragrance' in the USA) are the leading cause of allergies. Artificial fragrances can be made up of more than 600-800 individual ingredients, or any combination thereof, some which are very toxic, and others have never been adequately tested. The fragrance industry is self-regulated. Which means, tests do not reflect any damaging results. Reference Links Books
Bad stuff in skin care products...
Chemicals, such as these, can soak into the skin and accumulate over time, eventually causing health problems !!!
Source Documents "Bioassay of 1,4-Dioxane for possible carcinogenicity (CAS No. 123-91-1)." National Toxicology Program, TR-80. Bouillon, C. "Shampoos and hair conditioners." Clinics in Dermatology, 1988; 6(3): 83-92. Conry, T. Consumer's Guide to Cosmetics. Garden City, NY: Ancor Press / Doubleday, 1980, p. 74. "Final report on the safety assessment of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate." Journal of the American College of Toxicology; 1983; 2(7). Sixth Annual Report on Carcinogens, 1991. Summary. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, 1991, pp. 192-195. See Good News For Kids Who Hate Baths, Lab Notes by Jerry E. Bishop, Wall Street Journal (January 11, 1988) "Sodium Lauryl Sulfate ammonium lauryl sulfate."1996 CIR Compendium. Washington, D.C.: Cosmetic Ingredient Review, 1996, pp. 134-135. "Toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of coconut oil acid diethanolamine condensate (CAS NO. 68603-42-9) in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice (dermal studies)." National Toxicology Program, TR-479. "Toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of lauric acid diethanolamine condensate (CAS NO. 120-40-1) in F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice (dermal studies)." National Toxicology Program, TR-480. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate Published in the Journal of the American College of Toxicology, Volume 2, Number 7, pp. 127-181, 1983. Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Published in the Journal of the American College of Toxicology, Volume 2, Number 5, pp. 1-34, 1983. Journal of American Toxicology, Vol 2, #7, 1983, Mary Ann Leibert Inc., Publishers
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