Personal Care Products
My husband and I just started brushing our son’s teeth (He
has 8 teeth, with his molars coming in) before we decided on which toothpaste
to use we thought we did our due diligence with researching safe products. He’s
using Orajel Training Toothpaste for Toddlers, the overall rating for this product
is a 5, which means it is moderately hazardous. This rating definitely surprised
me because I would expect children’s products to be low on the hazardous scale.
After seeing this score I’ve changed his toothpaste to Jack and Jill Natural
Toothpaste, which has an overall rating of 1-meaning is low on the hazardous
scale. The ingredient that alarmed me with
Orajel was Propylparaben-the concern with this product is that it is linked to
the following toxicities: Allergies/Immunotoxicity, Endocrine disruption,
Developmental/reproductive toxicity and Ecotoxicology. I would want everyone to
about the risks associated with this toothpaste because it’s dangerous to the
well being of children. As parents, we hope that the products we introduce to
our children is safe and to see such harmful ingredients in this product is alarming.
The second product that I use daily is Secret Outlast
Antiperspirant & Deodorant Clear Gel, Completely Clean, it scored an
overall rating of 4- meaning its moderately hazardous. For the most part most of the ingredients rate
between low-moderately hazardous, the only ingredient that ranks highly
hazardous is Fragrance at the rate of 8/10. This hazardous ingredient is linked
to the following toxicities: allergies/immunotoxicity, miscellaneous,
irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), organ system toxicity (non-reproductive and
ecotoxicity. Being that I use this product daily I will explore other deodorants
that are safer to my health and the environments. Everyone should be warned of
the risk associated with the use of this product because at the end of the day
what we utilize on ourselves and expose to the environment is in our hands, and
being an informed consumer is crucial for our well being.
Video Commentary
1-Safe Cosmetics 101
Women on average use 22 products per day, whereas men use half of that-meaning women are at increased risk to toxic chemicals. These justification for marketing and selling these products, it's a low rate of exposure. The problem with this exposure is that as these toxins accumulate over the years the effects are detrimental.
New facts that I learnt through this video:
- Johnsons baby shampoo had 1,4 Dioxane-which is toxic to babies and wasn't required to be listed as an ingredient on the label due to trademark laws. Public advocacy led to Johnson and Johnson getting these chemicals out of their products.
- Toxic Trio in nail polish- I learnt about them during my pregnancy and always product my own OPI products when I visited the nail salon.
- Triclosan in antibacterial hand soap is linked to hormone disruption of thyroid and reproductive system. Also linked to early puberty, reduced fertility and cancer. FDA discovered that this product doesn't have an efficacious need or value to antibacterial soaps, policy change led to this ingredient being banned and removed.
- Fragrance- I've seen and read that this ingredient is also known as a toxin but is it exactly, no one seems to know. What we do know about it is that it is linked to causing hormone disruption = increased risk of cancers (breast and prostate), reproductive toxicity and is associated with predisposition to metabolic disease.
What can be done?
Policy Reform-We need laws to protect everyone.
- Safe Cosmetics Act: pre-market safety assessments, mandatory product recalls, ingredient disclosure, companies disclose safety information.
2-Ken Cook from at Environmental Working Group
287 toxic chemicals detected in 10 people, that number is surprising. And to hear that 212 industrial chemicals and pesticides breakdown products that were banned over 30 years ago were present in these 10 individuals was horrifying. During the course of my own pregnancy I was extremely meticulous in researching the products I came in contact with because I knew about the lack blood brain barrier would my baby would have increased susceptibility to toxic chemicals. It's scary to see and know that Industrial Pollution begins in the womb, but knowing that I do have the ability to reduce this exposure is promising.
How do we live with this exposure?
- Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976 (TSCA) administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, that regulates the introduction of new or already existing chemicals. Unfortunately, since the advent of the law only 5 chemicals were banned or restricted-this law failed to protect people and public health.
- Kids-Safe Chemical Act 2008 (KSCA) requires that chemicals be safe for children and those who are sensitive before it can be allowed on the market.
Hi Claudia,
ReplyDeleteI'm always alarmed by the amount of hazardous ingredients found in baby products. As we are well aware, children are more vulnerable, considering they are still in the developmental phases of their life. I do not have children yet, but as I learn more and more about the hazards found in products that we use on a daily basis, I plan to make sure the products are up to MY standard, since very little regulation takes place otherwise. I'm glad to hear that you have taken steps to make sure your baby has safer products!
In addition, I highly recommend looking into Tom's deodorant if you plan to transition. Unfortunately, many of them also include fragrance, but they also have unscented options. Fragrance was also an 8 on my deodorant, but the balance between fragrance and the other ingredients made it a low hazard option.