Organic Makeup: Getting a Natural Look

Newsweek

June 19, 2006 issue - Anyone who has applied gooey black mascara will tell you that makeup seems the antithesis of natural. Conventional wisdom is that alfalfa is organic; eye shadow isn't. But now there's an array of "green" cosmetics on the market—available in all colors, of course. Retail sales of natural and organic personal-care products, like makeup and soap, reached $4.9 billion in 2005, up 22 percent from the previous year, says the Natural Marketing Institute. "The green movement is so huge now," says Jill Price Marshall, a spokeswoman for Dr. Hauschka, a German skin-care company that sells 100 percent organic cosmetics. "It's been catapulted by a younger generation that's concerned about the environment. We think it's going to keep growing."

Customers aren't just health-food-buying, organic-minded types either. More everyday consumers are trading in conventional makeup for brands that use natural ingredients—like organic berries, floral waxes and essential oils—because they're trendy (Jennifer Aniston's a fan of the Dr. Hauschka line), and because they're priced roughly the same and work just as well.

But beware. Ronnie Cummins, national director of the Organic Consumers Association, says products that are labeled organic or natural might not actually be. Organic groups are currently developing a system of certification for body care; if the project is accepted, true organic products will be rewarded with a special U.S. Department of Agriculture seal. That way you can make sure your lipstick is as natural as your granola.

—Alicia Barney

Comment: This will be a great direction to go for consumers but there are already certified organic skin care products that are certified to Food Grade Standards by the USDA and other international certification agencies. This is a way that you can ensure today that you are getting the purest organic products for your skin.

Body Care Products: How Can You Tell If They're Really Organic?

What's organic anyway?
There are no national guidelines to tell how natural a personal care product really is.

Story by LISA LIDDANE
The Orange County Register (California)

Lisa LaBarre has been filling up her shopping cart with organic food every week for more than two years. In the past six months, she has expanded the amount of organic products in her life, switching from regular skin-and body-care products to organic brands.

"I try to avoid chemicals, particularly those that are detrimental," said LaBarre, 33, a sales representative from Irvine, while browsing the body-care aisle at Whole Foods Market in Tustin. For LaBarre, going organic is all about maintaining health.

But not all organic products are created equal. Consumers such as LaBarre recently lost a tool to help determine which organic brands are what they claim ­ and which aren't.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture in late April issued a directive prohibiting manufacturers of personal care products from using the agency's organic program seal and claiming the products are certified by the National Organic Program. The policy goes into effect Oct. 21.

Here, questions and answers about this directive and the impact on consumers.

Q. Why is this latest development significant?

A. It's important because organic personal care products are one of the fastest-growing categories in the organic industry. They're becoming more mainstream, making their way from natural foods stores to chain drugstores, supermarkets and warehouse retailers such as Sam's Club.

Sales of organic personal care products grew 19 percent from 2002 to 2003 and totaled $170 million, according to a survey by the Organic Trade Association.

Q. Who is buying these products?

A. Those with skin allergies, sensitive skin, chronic medical conditions and those who want an "organic lifestyle" ­ one with less chemical exposure, organic-product retailers said.

Q. Why did the USDA issue this directive?

A. Because the agency does not have jurisdiction over cosmetics and body-care products, said Joan Shaffer, an FDA spokeswoman. "We don't have standards for personal care products."

The agency does not have guidelines on whether a personal care product can carry the kinds of labels used for organic food and drink.

Q. What does this mean for consumers?

A. It means there are no national guidelines governing what's organic and what's not for personal care products. It opens the door to fraudulent labeling or misbranding, said Craig Minowa, environmental scientist for the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), a nonprofit organization.

Q. Why are the USDA organic label and National Organic Program certification
important?

A. Because they give clarity for consumers and manufacturers, said Ronnie Cummins, national director for the OCA. The labels help consumers understand the subtle differences among products that claim to be organic. And they give organic food and drink manufacturers and distributors the ability to label their products according to specific categories.

Q. What were the labeling guidelines?

A. A product that contains organic ingredients can be labeled as follows:

100 percent organic: All ingredients are organic; can use the USDA organic
seal.

Organic: at least 95 percent of the ingredients are organic; can use the USDA organic seal.

Made with organic ingredients: 70 percent organic; cannot use the USDA organic seal or the word organic on the main label.

Q. How many personal care products actually complied with the highest category for organic labeling ­ 100 percent organic and with the USDA label?

A. Only a handful, Cummins said. But those manufacturers have worked hard to meet the USDA's certification standards at a cost of thousands of dollars, he added. "They've had the rug pulled from under them," Cummins said.

Q. How have those manufacturers responded?

A. The OCA and manufacturer Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps/Sun Dog's Magic filed a complaint in federal court June 14 to stop the new USDA policy from taking effect.

Q. Does California regulate organic personal products?

A. Yes. California has the nation's only organic program overseeing personal care products. This means that organic shampoos, lotions, deodorants and other related products made or sold in California have to meet the state's standards. According to the California Organic Products Act of 2003, "cosmetic products sold, labeled, or represented as organic shall contain at least 70 percent organically produced ingredients."

But California's program is controversial and some say not tough enough on anufacturers, because it allows them to list hydrosols ­ water used to extract essential oils ­ as an organic ingredient. The OCA does not agree with this rule.

Q. What do studies show about the health benefits of organic personal care
products?

A. There are no studies comparing health benefits of organic personal care products with those of nonorganic products. The perception of health benefits is based on studies showing that organic foods contain fewer pesticides and chemicals than nonorganic foods. However, there are more studies showing potential harm or strong associations between certain synthetic or chemical ingredients in personal care products and diseases or
medical conditions.

Q. What are my options if I want to buy organic personal care products?

A. You have several:

Take your chances, and trust manufacturers' claims, knowing that some may not hold up under careful scrutiny.

Purchase only at natural foods stores where buyers specialize in selecting products that have met those stores' internal quality standards. You'll need to call these stores and ask them about their criteria.

Do your own research, then read the ingredient list, usually found on the back of each product.

Q. Where can I go to get more information before I buy?

A. Some organic-product advocates cite the Environmental Working Group's 2004 report called "Skin Deep" as a source of information on ingredients in personal care products: www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep/.

The EWG is a consumer watchdog group specializing in environmental investigations. Another site is www.safecosmetics.org, a campaign by the environmental and consumer groups.

Q. Where can I get more information?

A. Go to:

* Organic Consumers Association: www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare
* Organic Trade Association: www.ota.com

Guidelines for reading labels

* Read all the labels. If the front label contains the words organic, organics or 70 percent organic, turn over the product and read the ingredient list.

* Note the order of ingredients. Ingredients should be listed in order of amounts, from greatest to least. Are organic ingredients listed first, in the middle or last?

* If there are certification organizations listed on the label, check out the Web sites of the organizations to learn more about their organic certification process.

* Know which chemical or synthetic ingredients may have the potential for harm or exacerbating skin allergies.

Sources: Suzanne Murray, beauty and fashion editor, Organic Style magazine; Jordonna Vargas, body-care manager, Mother's Market, Costa Mesa; Maren Giuliano, whole body coordinator, Whole Foods Market's Southern Pacific stores; Craig Minowa, environmental scientist for the Organic Consumers Association.
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Copyright 2005 The Orange County Register

Comment:

Some companies have decided on a new approach. This involves getting skin care products certified to food grade standards, thereby allowing the USDA organic seal to be applied to their Certified Organic Skin Care products. While this is not a perfect solution, since any item that cannot be considered a food (i.e. clays, minerals, etc.) cannot be certified organic, it seems to be the best solution currently.

How Toxic Are Your Household Cleaning Supplies?

THE PROBLEMS

Personal Health

When consumers buy commercial cleaning products, we expect them to do one thing: clean! We use a wide array of scents, soaps, detergents, bleaching agents, softeners, scourers, polishes, and specialized cleaners for bathrooms, glass, drains, and ovens to keep our homes sparkling and sweet-smelling. But while the chemicals in cleaners foam, bleach, and disinfect to make our dishes, bathtubs and countertops gleaming and germ-free, many also contribute to indoor air pollution, are poisonous if ingested, and can be harmful if inhaled or touched. In fact, some cleaners are among the most toxic products found in the home. In 2000, cleaning products were responsible for nearly 10% of all toxic exposures reported to U.S. Poison Control Centers, accounting for 206,636 calls. Of these, 120,434 exposures involved children under six, who can swallow or spill cleaners stored or left open inside the home.

Cleaning ingredients vary in the type of health hazard they pose. Some cause acute, or immediate, hazards such as skin or respiratory irritation, watery eyes, or chemical burns, while others are associated with chronic, or long-term, effects such as cancer.

The most acutely dangerous cleaning products are corrosive drain cleaners, oven cleaners, and acidic toilet bowl cleaners, according to Philip Dickey of the Washington Toxics Coalition. Corrosive chemicals can cause severe burns on eyes, skin and, if ingested, on the throat and esophagus. Ingredients with high acute toxicity include chlorine bleach and ammonia, which produce fumes that are highly irritating to eyes, nose, throat and lungs, and should not be used by people with asthma or lung or heart problems. These two chemicals pose an added threat in that they can react with each other or other chemicals to form lung-damaging gases. Combining products that contain chlorine and ammonia or ammonia and lye (in some oven cleaners) produces chloramine gases, while chlorine combined with acids (commonly used in toilet bowl cleaners) forms toxic chlorine gas.

Fragrances added to many cleaners, most notably laundry detergents and fabric softeners, may cause acute effects such as respiratory irritation, headache, sneezing, and watery eyes in sensitive individuals or allergy and asthma sufferers. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has found that one-third of the substances used in the fragrance industry are toxic. But because the chemical formulas of fragrances are considered trade secrets, companies aren't required to list their ingredients but merely label them as containing "fragrance."

Other ingredients in cleaners may have low acute toxicity but contribute to long-term health effects, such as cancer or hormone disruption. Some all-purpose cleaners contain the sudsing agents diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA). When these substances come into contact with nitrites, often present as undisclosed preservatives or contaminants, they react to form nitrosamines - carcinogens that readily penetrate the skin. 1,4-dioxane, another suspected carcinogen, may be present in cleaners made with ethoxylated alcohols. Butyl cellosolve (also known as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether), which may be neurotoxic (or cause damage to the brain and nervous system), is also present in some cleaners.

Chemicals that are so-called "hormone disruptors" can interfere with the body's natural chemical messages, either by blocking or mimicking the actions of hormones. Possible health effects include decreased sperm counts, increased rates of male birth defects such as cryptorchidism (undescended testicles) and hypospadias (where the urethra is on the underside of the penis), and increased rates of some kinds of cancers. The alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) used in some detergents and cleaners have been shown to mimic the hormone estrogen; one APE, p-nonylphenol, has caused estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cells to multiply in a test tube study.

Environmental

After bubbly cleaning liquids disappear down our drains, they are treated along with sewage and other waste water at municipal treatment plants, then discharged into nearby waterways. Most ingredients in chemical cleaners break down into harmless substances during treatment or soon afterward. Others, however, do not, threatening water quality or fish and other wildlife. In a May 2002 study of contaminants in stream water samples across the country, the U.S. Geological Survey found persistent detergent metabolites in 69% of streams tested. Sixty-six percent contained disinfectants.

The detergent metabolites the USGS detected were members of a class of chemicals called alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs). APEs, which include nonylphenol ethoxylates and octylphenol ethoxylates, are surfactants, or "surface active agents" that are key to detergents' effectiveness. They are added to some laundry detergents, disinfectants, laundry stain removers, and citrus cleaner/degreasers. When discharged in municipal waste water, nonylphenol ethoxylates and octylphenol ethoxylates break down into nonylphenol and octylphenol, which are more toxic and do not readily biodegrade in soil and water. APEs have been shown to mimic the hormone estrogen, and their presence in water may be harming the reproduction and survival of salmon and other fish. For example, in Britain, researcher John Sumpter discovered that male fish exposed to APEs in rivers were producing female egg-yolk proteins. APE pollution may be threatening fish in the U.S. as well, for octylphenol and nonylphenol were the detergent metabolites that the USGS detected in 69% of streams tested here. Such ubiquity may not bode well for humans, either: the APE p-nonylphenol has also caused estrogen-sensitive breast cancer cells to proliferate in test tubes.

Another famous water pollutant is phosphates, water-softening mineral additives that were once widely used in laundry detergents and other cleaners. When phosphates enter waterways, they act as a fertilizer, spawning overgrowth of algae. This overabundance of aquatic plant life eventually depletes the water's oxygen supply, killing off fish and other organisms. Although many states have banned phosphates from laundry detergents and some other cleaners, they are still used in automatic dishwasher detergents.

Another environmental concern with cleaning products is that many use chemicals that are petroleum-based, contributing to the depletion of this non-renewable resource and increasing our nation's dependence on imported oil.

The plastic bottles used to package cleaning products pose another environmental problem by contributing to the mounds of solid waste that must be landfilled, incinerated or, in not enough cases, recycled. Most cleaners are bottled in high-density polyethylene (HDPE, denoted by the #2 inside the recycling triangle) or polyethylene terephthalate (PETE, #1) which are accepted for recycling in a growing number of communities. However, some are bottled in polyvinyl chloride (PVC, #3). PVC, otherwise known as vinyl, is made from cancer-causing chemicals such as vinyl chloride, and it forms as a byproduct a potent carcinogen, dioxin, during production and incineration. As a final insult, most sanitation departments do not accept PVC for recycling; less than 1% of all PVC is recycled each year.

Household Cleaning Supplies

THE SOLUTIONS

What to look for

A few safe, simple ingredients like soap, water, baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice and borax, aided by a little elbow grease and a coarse sponge for scrubbing, can take care of most household cleaning needs. And they can save you lots of money wasted on unnecessary, specialized cleaners! For that reason, we've provided recipes for do-it-yourself cleaners under most product categories (See Product Comparisons).

However, when you need the convenience or the added power of pre-made, commercial cleaners, or for the basics like laundry and dishwashing detergents, here are some shopping guidelines to help you choose products with the lowest impact on your health and the environment:

1. Although most cleaners don't list ingredients, you can learn something about a product's hazards by reading its label. Most labels bear a signal word, such as Danger, Warning or Caution, that provides some indication of a product's toxicity. Products labeled Danger or Poison are typically most hazardous; those bearing a Warning label are moderately hazardous, and formulas with a Caution label are considered slightly toxic. If you find them, choose products that are nontoxic enough that they require none of the signal words above on their label. Beside the signal word is usually a phrase that describes the nature of the hazard, such as "may cause skin irritation," "flammable," "vapors harmful," or "may cause burns on contact." Look for instructions on how to use the product, which may help you avoid injury. Some labels do list active ingredients, which may assist you in detecting caustic or irritating ingredients you may wish to avoid, such as ammonia or sodium hypochlorite. A few manufacturers voluntarily list all ingredients.

2. When gauging ecological claims, look for specifics. For example, "biodegradable in 3 to 5 days" holds a lot more meaning than "biodegradable," as most substances will eventually break down if given enough time and the right ecological conditions. And claims like "no solvents," "no phosphates," or "plant-based" are more meaningful than vague terms like "ecologically-friendly" or "natural."'

3. When ingredients are listed, choose products made with plant-based, instead of petroleum-based, ingredients.

4. To reduce packaging waste: Choose cleaners in the largest container sizes available; especially seek out bulk sizes. Select products in bottles made with at least some recycled plastic. By doing so, you support companies that are providing a vital end-market for recycled plastic (without this market, recycling would not be possible). And choose concentrated formulas, which contain only 20% or less water. Because dilution with water is done at home, not at the factory, concentrated cleaners overall require less packaging and fuels for shipping.

What to look out for

Avoid cleaners marked "Danger" or "Poison" on the label, and look out for other tell-tale hazard warnings, such as "corrosive" or "may cause burns."

Avoid products that list active ingredients of chlorine or ammonia, which can cause respiratory and skin irritation and will create toxic fumes if accidentally mixed together.

Protect water quality and aquatic life by refusing to purchase detergents containing phosphates, which may cause algal blooms, or alkylphenol ethoxylates, including nonylphenol and octylphenol. Unfortunately, these ingredients are rarely, if ever, disclosed on labels; however, the brands recommended in this report are, to the best of our knowledge, phosphate- and APE-free.

Beware of unregulated "greenwash" claims on labels! Terms such as "natural" and "eco-friendly" shouldn't be equated with safety unless they're backed up with specific ingredient information, such as "solvent-free," "no petroleum-based ingredients," "no phosphates," etc. "Non-toxic" has no official definition, so unless a third party has verified this claim, it is not considered meaningful. And don't believe "organic" ingredients in cleaning and other chemical products are any safer than other substances. Although "organic" in the grocery store refers to foods grown without synthetic pesticides, in chemistry it refers to chemicals that are carbon-based, including some VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that release harmful fumes and may cause brain damage or cancer.Additionally, watch out for products labeled organic. Household cleaning products aren’t regulated by the Organic Foods Production Act, but some of their ingredients, such as plant oils, can be labeled “certified organic.” For more info, see ecolabels.org.

Be aware that some labels that may make a product appear eco-friendly are actually meaningless. For example, many aerosol spray cans are labeled "no CFCs" (or chlorofluorocarbons, which deplete the ozone layer), leading consumers to believe they are buying a more eco-friendly product by purchasing that brand. In reality, CFCs have been banned from aerosols since 1978, so none are permitted to contain CFCs. And think of all of the resources that would be saved if companies that advertise their packaging as "100% recyclable" actually switched to materials that are "100% recycled!"

Shopping Suggestions

ALL-PURPOSE CLEANERS:

Some all-purpose cleaners contain the sudsing agents diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA), which can react with nitrites (an often undisclosed preservative or contaminant) to form nitrosamines - carcinogens that readily penetrate the skin. Skin also easily absorbs nerve-damaging butyl cellosolve (also known as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether), present in some cleaners. Fumes from ammonia-containing cleaners may cause respiratory irritation. Sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite (bleach) are highly caustic, and sodium hypochlorite should never be mixed with any product containing ammonia or acids, or toxic gases will result. To prevent chemical accidents, it's best to simply avoid.

Most household cleaning needs can be met safely and inexpensively with a sturdy scrubber sponge and simple ingredients like water, liquid castile soap (such as Dr. Bronner's, below), vinegar, lemon juice, or baking soda for scrubbing grease and grime.

Listed below are a number of all-purpose cleaners that are gentler on human health and the environment. While eco-friendlier cleaners are becoming more widely available in conventional grocery and home stores, most can be found only at natural foods stores or must be ordered by mail.

AFM SafeChoice Super Clean, www.afmsafecoat.com, 800/239-0321

Aubrey Organics Earth Aware, www.aubreyorganics.com, 800/282-7394

BioShield Vinegar Cleaner, www.bioshieldpaint.com, 800/621-2591

Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile (Liquid) Soaps, www.drbronner.com, 760/743-2211

Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds, www.drbronner.com, 760/743-2211

Ecover All-Purpose Cleaner, www.ecover.com, 800/449-4925

Ecover Multi-Surface Cleaner, www.ecover.com, 800/449-4925

1st EnviroSafety Cleaner/Degreaser, www.1stenvirosafety.com, 888/578-9600

Naturally Yours Gentle Soap, 888/801-7347

Our House Works Sanitizing Surface Cleaner, www.ourhouseworks.com, 877/236-8750

Seventh Generation All Purpose Cleaner, www.seventhgeneration.com

Shaklee Basic H, , 800/SHAKLEE

Vermont Soapworks Liquid Sunshine, www.vermontsoap.com, 866/SOAP4U2

BATHROOM and TOILET BOWL CLEANERS:

Corrosive ingredients in toilet bowl cleaners are severe eye, skin and respiratory irritants. Some toilet bowl cleaners contain sulfates, which may trigger asthma attacks in those with asthma. And bathroom cleaners containing sodium hydroxide, sodium hypochlorite (bleach), or phosphoric acid can irritate lungs and burn eyes, skin and, if ingested, internal organs. Mixing acid-containing toilet bowl cleaners with cleaners that contain chlorine will form lung-damaging chlorine gas. Your safest best is to avoid both ingredients.

Soap and water, or baking soda for scrubbing soap scum and toilet bowls, work for most bathroom cleaning needs. Scrubbing shower tiles with a toothbrush of baking soda-water paste will help remove mildew and its stains. For tougher toilet jobs, pour one cup of borax and 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar or lemon juice into the bowl. Let sit for a few hours, then scrub with a toilet brush and flush. Or look for these safer, plant-based bathroom, shower and toilet cleaners at natural foods stores. Some are only available by mail order.

AFM SafeChoice Safety Clean, www.afmsafecoat.com, 800/239-0321

BioShield Toilet Bowl Cleaner, , 800/621-2591

Bon Ami Cleaning Powder, www.bonami.com

Earth Friendly Shower Kleener, www.ecos.com, 800/335-ECOS

Earth Friendly Toilet Bowl Cleaner, www.ecos.com, 800/335-ECOS

Ecover Toilet Cleaner, www.ecover.com, 800/449-4925

Naturally Yours Basin, Tub and Tile Cleaner, 888/801-7347

Seventh Generation Toilet Bowl Cleaner, www.seventhgeneration.com

Seventh Generation Bathroom Cleaner, www.seventhgeneration.com

Seventh Generation Shower Cleaner,

ENZYME CLEANERS:

Enzymes are naturally occurring proteins produced by all living organisms to speed up chemical reactions. Enzyme cleaners make use of these naturally occurring enzymes to break down the proteins in specific targets: Protease enzymes work on protein stains, lipolases fat or lipid stains, and amylases starch- or other carbohydrate-based stains. Allergy sufferers should avoid using enzyme cleaners on carpets, as the enzymes remain in the carpet fibers after cleaning and subsequent vacuuming can lead to prolonged exposure. Some enzyme cleaners still contain the same harsh surfactants, chemicals and preservatives found in standard cleaners, so be sure to read the label carefully.
Bi-OKleen’s Bac-Out Stain & Odor Eliminator ($8.39/32-oz. bottle, drugstore.com).

GLASS CLEANERS:

Some window cleaners contain nerve-damaging butyl cellosolve. Many contain ammonia, which may irritate airways and will release toxic chloramine gases if accidentally mixed with chlorine-containing cleaners.

Plain water is just as effective as some commercial glass cleaners. Or fill your own spray bottle with water and either 1one-quarter cup white vinegar or 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to help wipe away greasy fingerprints and other harder-to-remove spots. The safer glass cleaners below may be found at natural foods stores or ordered by mail.

Aubrey Organics Liquid Sparkle, www.aubreyorganics.com, 800/282-7394

BioShield Glass Cleaner, www.bioshieldpaint.com, 800/621-2591

Earth Friendly Window Kleener, www.ecos.com, 800/335-ECOS

Naturally Yours Glass & Window Cleaner, 888/801-7347

Our House Works Shiny Surface Cleaner, www.ourhouseworks.com, 877/236-8750

Seventh Generation Glass & Surface Cleaner, www.seventhgeneration.com

DRAIN CLEANERS:

Chemical drain cleaners are among the most dangerous of all cleaning products. Most contain corrosive ingredients such as sodium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite (bleach) that can permanently burn eyes and skin. Some can be fatal if ingested.

Prevent drains from becoming blocked in the first place by capturing hair and other drain-clogging particles with inexpensive metal or plastic drain screens, available at home improvement and hardware stores. Regularly collect and dispose of hair that collects around shower or sink drains, and do not allow large food scraps to wash down the kitchen sink.

When clogs occur, use a "snake" plumbing tool to manually remove blockage, or try suction removal with a plunger. If you purchase a chemical drain cleaner, choose one of the two below that use enzymes, rather than caustic chemicals, to eat away gunk. Earth Friendly is available in natural foods stores; Naturally Yours must be ordered by mail. Like chemical cleaners, these are most effective on drains that are only partly clogged.

Earth Friendly Earth Enzymes Drain Opener, www.ecos.com, 800/335-ECOS

Naturally Yours Enz-Away, 888/801-7347

OVEN CLEANERS:

Lye and sodium hydroxide, which are corrosive and can burn skin and eyes, are ingredients in many oven cleaners. Aerosol spray oven cleaners are easily inhaled into lung tissue.

Prevent spills from being baked onto the oven floor by lining it with aluminum foil, and by cleaning them up before they have had time to dry and cook. To remove grease and charred food residues without resorting to caustic chemicals, try soaking oven surfaces overnight in a mixture of water, baking soda, and soap, then scrubbing off with baking soda and a soapy sponge. Or a paste of washing soda and water may do the trick, but be sure to wear gloves when working with washing soda.

If you choose to buy a commercial cleaner, try any of the scouring powders and creams we recommend on the next page.

SCOURING POWDERS and CREAMS:

Some scouring powders contain silica, which is harmful when inhaled, as the abrasive scrubbing agent. And some are made with chlorine bleach, which may irritate skin and airways and will form hazardous gases if mixed with ammonia or acidic cleaners.

Baking soda effectively scours away most grime on tubs, showers, toilets, and countertops. For cleaning up grease, cleaning expert Annie Berthold-Bond recommends applying a mixture of 1/2 teaspoon of washing soda, 2 tablespoons of distilled white vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon liquid soap, and 2 cups of hot water with a spray bottle. Wear gloves when working with washing soda, though. Or try the brands below. Bon Ami can be found in grocery stores; look for the others at natural foods stores.

Bon Ami Cleaning Cake, www.bonami.com

Bon Ami Cleaning Powder, www.bonami.com

Earth Friendly Cream Cleanser, www.ecos.com, 800/335-ECOS

Ecover Cream Cleaner, www.ecover.com, 800/449-4925

Seventh Generation Cream Cleaner, www.seventhgeneration.com

FURNITURE POLISHES:

Skin contact with furniture polishes can cause irritation, and many brands contain nerve-damaging petroleum distillates, which are flammable and dangerous if swallowed. Some formulations may contain formaldehyde, a suspected carcinogen. Aerosol spray furniture polishes are easily inhaled into lung tissue.

For dusting and polishing, combine a mix of 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1 teaspoon olive oil (or less, if this ratio leaves your wood furniture too oily). Or look for solvent-free products that use plant oils as the active polish. Look for Earth Friendly at natural foods stores, or order by mail.

Earth Friendly Furniture Polish, www.ecos.com, 800/335-ECOS

METAL POLISHES:

Metal polishes may contain nerve-damaging petroleum distillates or lung-irritating ammonia, potentially irritating eyes, skin or airways during use.

Instead, try scrubbing silver with toothpaste to remove tarnish. For copper, dissolve salt in white vinegar or lemon juice and rub on with a cloth; rinse with water. Unlacquered brass may be scrubbed clean with a paste of 1 teaspoon salt, 1 cup white vinegar, and 1 cup flour. Or try these less-toxic brands below, which may be found at hardware, home improvement or grocery stores.

Our House Works Minerals and Metals Cleaner, www.ourhouseworks.com, 877/236-8750

Twinkle Copper Polish, www.twinklepolish.com, 800/253-2526

Twinkle Silver Polish, www.twinklepolish.com, 800/253-2526

One old-fashioned method of polishing silver involves placing tarnished items in warm water with aluminum foil, salt, and baking soda. However, in Buy Smart, Buy Safe, Philip Dickey of the Washington Toxics Coalition warns that this mixture gives off hydrogen sulfide gas, low levels of which can cause eye and throat irritation, coughing and shortness of breath.

DISH SOAPS:

Most mainstream dishwashing detergents are petroleum-based, contributing to the depletion of this non-renewable resource and to our nation's dependence on imported oil. Look for plant-based detergents instead. Opt for colorless liquids: Dyes can be contaminated with heavy metals such as arsenic and lead, and may penetrate the skin during washing and leave impurities on dishes.

Powdered detergents for automatic dishwashers can contain phosphates, which overnutrify rivers and streams, causing excessive algae growth that deprives fish of oxygen. Those made with chlorine can release steamy chlorinated chemicals into the air when the dishwasher is opened at the end of the wash cycle.

These eco-friendlier brands below can be found at natural foods stores or ordered by mail.

Bio Pac Dishwashing Powder, www.bio-pac.com, 800/225-2855

BioShield Dishwasher Concentrate, www.bioshieldpaint.com, 800/621-2591

Cal Ben Seafoam Destain, www.calbenpuresoap.com, 800/340-7091

Cal Ben Seafoam Dish Glow, , 800/340-7091

Earth Friendly Dishmate, www.ecos.com, 800/335-ECOS

Ecover Dish Liquid, www.ecover.com, 800/449-4925

Ecover Washing-Up Liquids, www.ecover.com, 800/449-4925

Ecover Dishwasher Tablets, www.ecover.com, 800/449-4925

Naturally Yours Gentle Soap, 888/801-7347

Naturally Yours Dishwashing Detergent, 888/801-7347

Our House Works Dishwasher Complete, www.ourhouseworks.com, 877/236-8750

Seventh Generation Dish Liquids, www.seventhgeneration.com

Seventh Generation Automatic Dishwashing Powder, www.seventhgeneration.com

Seventh Generation Automatic Dishwashing Gel, www.seventhgeneration.com

Shaklee Basic-D Automatic Dishwashing Concentrate, www.shaklee.com, 800/SHAKLEE

DISINFECTANTS and ANTIBACTERIALS:

Disinfectants are EPA-regulated pesticides that kill bacteria. Although they temporarily kill germs on surfaces, they cannot kill germs in the air, and they do not provide long-lasting disinfection. Some disinfectant cleaners were found to contain alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs) in tests conducted in 1997 by the Washington Toxics Coalition. APEs are suspected hormone disruptors that don't readily biodegrade, threatening fish and wildlife when they go down your drain. And triclosan, the active ingredient in most antibacterial soaps, was detected in 57.6% of stream water samples from across the U.S., according to a May 2002 study by the U.S. Geological Survey.

It's sensible to try to eradicate some food-poisoning bacteria, such as Salmonella and E.coli, but society's sometimes excessive fear of germs is leading to serious global consequences. Coupled with overuse and misuse of antibiotics in medicine and in livestock, rampant use of antibacterial soaps and other germ-killing products is contributing to a rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to a 2000 World Health Organization report. As a result, physicians are losing one of their most important tools in fighting infectious diseases, as bacteria that cause illnesses such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, ear infections, meningitis, and Staph infections grow increasingly resistant to antibiotic treatment. (See "Who's to Blame When Antibiotics Don't Work?" from The Green Guide #71)

Unless you have a compromised immune system or illness that may make you especially vulnerable to infection from microbes and bacteria, you probably don't need a disinfectant for most household needs. Household surfaces can be adequately cleaned using hot, soapy water and a little elbow grease. To avoid food-borne illness: Wash all foods thoroughly before preparation, and be sure to soak leafy greens, rinsing at least three times. Cook meat and eggs thoroughly (no rare beef or over-easy scrambles). Eat only fresh fish, and thaw frozen meats in the refrigerator. Wash all cutting boards, dishes, knives and other surfaces that touch raw meat or eggs in hot, soapy water before using on other foods that will not be cooked. Refrigerate foods within two hours of cooking.

Earth Power's Power Herbal Disinfectant is hospital-grade and EPA-registered and contains only herbal extracts, deionized water, and denatured alcohol. However, it does not kill all food-borne pathogens.

Power Herbal Disinfectant, www.earthpower.com, 712/647-2755

AIR FRESHENERS:

Because they can trigger allergies and potentially cause other health problems, we recommend against the use of synthetically fragranced air fresheners, particularly from aerosol spray bottles. Aerosol sprays produce tiny droplets that are easily inhaled and absorbed into the body, and their propellants, usually butane and propane, are flammable. Fragrances can provoke asthmatic or allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. But aerosol air fresheners may also be linked to other, less obvious health effects. In a September 1999 study in New Scientist, researchers at Bristol University recommended caution in using aerosols and air fresheners, after finding that they might be making pregnant women and children sick. In their survey of 14,000 pregnant women, they found that in homes where aerosols and air fresheners were used frequently, mothers suffered from 25% more headaches and 19% more depression, and infants under six months had 30% more ear infections and 22% higher incidence of diarrhea. Another worry is that small children might be tempted to taste air fresheners that smell like fruit or candy. In 2000, 9,887 of the 11,935 reports of hazardous exposures to air fresheners received by U.S. Poison Control Centers involved children under six.

To clear out odors, improve ventilation by opening windows and using fans. Baking soda is good at removing odors, and spritzes of lemon or any citrus fruit freshen air. Wooden cedar blocks, pure essential oils, or sachets of natural dried flowers or herbs (such as aromatic roses, lavender, and lemon verbena) provide gentler fragrance. Read labels: Look out for potpourri that lists "fragrance" as an ingredient, and especially avoid deodorizer blocks that contain paradichlorobenzene, a carcinogen, as a moth repellent.

Aroma Naturals essential oil aromatic room mists, www.aromanaturals.com, 800-462-7662.

EcoDaySpa Natural palm wax candles, www.ecodayspa.com, 626-969-3707.

Greenridge Herbals' aromatherapy soy candles, www.greenridgeherbals.com, 866-250-HERB.

Lavender Green, www.lavendergreen.com, 703-684-4433.

Molly's Herbals, fiascofarm.com/herbs/

The Scented Room Provence Potpourri, www.scentedroom.com, 208-342-8504).

Vermont Soy Candles, www.vermontsoycandles.com, 888-727-1903.

SWIFFER CLOTHS:

Swiffer dry cloths are made of polyester and polypropylene and work well to pick up dust and grime from most household surfaces. Swiffer wet cloths, however are treated with propylene glycol n-propyl ether and may irritate skin and aggravate known skin conditions.
Swiffer Dusters, www.swiffer.com

From Organic Consumers Association

Up close & personal: organic shampoo defined

10/1/2003
Better Nutrition

Stroll through the personal care section of any small natural foods retail store or even a nationally known super-market, and you'll see the word "organic" everywhere. Here, bottles of a shampoo that you've used for years suddenly bear stickers claiming to be "70 percent organic." There, all manner of eye creams may be labeled "82 percent organic." Everything from deodorant to tooth paste has gone organic, and if you're confused about what those labels mean, get in line.

How can you, the consumer, make informed decisions about the products that carry organic labels? Are there laws governing label accuracy? Does the word "organic" on, say, a cherry-flavored lip gloss or banana-scented sunscreen carry the same weight as the government-sanctioned "organic" label that appears on real cherries and bananas?

Not yet--which is what makes shopping for personal care products these days so baffling. The organic label approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in October 2002 established national standards for organic claims on all foods, removing a great deal of inconsistency and confusion. But the law applies only to food--or more specifically, to the processes by which food is grown and handled.

The law does not govern ingredients in persona/care products, however, except in a few cases. When a product contains at least 95 percent organic foods--and most personal care products do not--it, too, can carry the USDA organic seal. Recognizing that it is difficult for personal care products to meet this standard, California--the only state that has issued organic standards for toiletries and cosmetics--enacted an organic-products law in January 2003, allowing products containing at least 70 percent certified organic ingredients to carry a state-approved organic seal.

But because the federal law does not apply to personal care products, manufacturers whose products may contain some organically grown ingredients choose to call these products organic, though the percentages of organic ingredients in them may vary widely--and wildly.

There may be companies who throw in one or two organic ingredients among petrochemicals and then label the whole product organic, says Samuel Epstein, MD, chairman of the Chicago-based Cancer Prevention Coalition and professor emeritus of environmental and occupational medicine the University of Illinois School of Public Health.

Conversely, some companies follow their own strict guidelines. For example, Avalon Natural Products uses only plants that farmers have grown organically according to the National Organic Program, says Brand Manager Tint Schaeffer.

But the inconsistency with which companies label their product organic has led to a robust debate inside the personal care product industry. Until the debate is settled and product manufacturers voluntarily agree to standards, or until they must abide by laws that establish standards, consumers will have to base their shopping decisions on trust in the manufacturers or in the, stores that sell their products, which is not always a bad thing.

The rapport you develop with the proprietor of your local health food store can often be as valuable as the information on any label--and obviously more personal. Knowledgeable retailers, having tried many of their items they sell can make distinctions among all the products that compete for you attention and money, and then they can make recommendations.

The Debate Rages

These products are made by manufacturers small and large who operate in regulated business environments. And many companies belong to professional association that represent their interests, often in opposition to the interests of others. These varied interest groups are now debating the standards by which the organic integrity of personal care products should he evaluated.

One such group is the Little Marais, Minnesota-based Organic Consumers Association (OCA). The OCA is convinced that some manufacturers are labeling their products organic when the majority of their ingredients are synthetically produced or contain petrochemicals. Therefore, the OCA is lobbying for a label that minors the label used on USDA-certified foods. It's a standard many in the industry consider unrealistically rigid.

Water, Water Everywhere

Such a standard would be too difficult for many products to meet, says Steve Byckiewicz, owner and co-founder of Kiss My Face, the Gardiner, New York-based manufacturer of the Obsessively Organic skin care line and Sudz natural soaps. One reason this standard is too high, Byckiewicz believes, is that shampoos, water-based lotions and some other personal care products are mainly liquids, and the USDA does not count water when calculating the percentage of a product organic ingredients. Another reason is that shampoos must contain lathering ingredients, and effective foaming agents are synthetics.

Because of these factors, the only personal care line to carry the USDA seal is Aubrey Organic' Natural Spa Sea Wonders, which consists mainly of oils. Concentrated oil--or wax-based products can qualify under the USDA's National Organic Program because they are made mainly of ingredients extracted from organically grown plants--which, at this time, is a problem for lathering shampoos.

Although the USDA does not consider water an ingredient in personal care products, California does count floral waters. Also known as hydrosols, floral waters are the condensation that is collected after plants are steamed to extract their essential oils. If the plants are organic, the hydrosols are considered organic, and their use, therefore, enables some personal care product manufacturers to claim a higher percentage of organic ingredients. Because of this, the OCA, in another controversial move, has asked California to reconsider its ruling on hydrosols.

Many personal care products consist mainly of floral waters, the OCA contends, implying that this policy gives such products an advantage in the marketplace. "Consumers deserve answers about the percentage of floral waters," says OCA National Director Ronnie Cummins, contending that some floral waters are made from ordinary tap water. "Floral waters that may contain some amount of organic plant water can be counted under existing National Organic Program food standards as organic when added to another product, but only if that content can be determined. But if this is too impractical, then floral waters should not count at all."

"Hydrosols are not the only organic ingredients that we use," says Jeffrey Light, founder and chairman of Jason Natural Cosmetics. "We also use organic aloe vera gel, sunflower oil, jojoba oil and tea tree oil, to name a few." Byckiewicz adds that hydrosols are made with the saint amount of raw plant material as many other organic personal care ingredients.

Equally active in the debate is the Greenfield, Massachusetts-based Organic Trade Association (OTA), formed in 1985, which advised the USDA in the development of its National Organic Program.

Manufacturers that make up OTA's 25-member personal care standards task force are split on the hydrosols issue, says Tom Hutcheson. OTA's associate policy director, If hydrosols are allowed, Hutcheson says, "estimates range from 20 percent to 100 percent of the water in a hydrosol would be from the plant." The task force, which includes representatives from Aubrey Organics, Aveda, Avalon and Jason, has been meeting for 2 years without agreeing on organic standards for personal care products, and OTA Executive Director Katherine DiMatteo says it may take several more years before the group can come to an agreement.

Shelf Life

Another area of difficulty for personal care products is the use of preservatives. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the acceptable levels of preservatives in personal care products, but many manufacturers otherwise committed to using organic ingredients have had a hard time finding organic alternatives to synthetic preservatives.

The most popular synthetic preservatives are methyl-, propyl--or butylparaben, which are combinations of alcohol and parahydroxybenzoic acid. At excessive levels, these preservatives have been known to carry health risk. Results of a 1998 study conducted by the Department of Biology and Biochemistry at England's Brunel University and published in Pure Applied Chemistry found that parabens can produce small amounts of estrogen that are absorbed through the skin.

Because excess estrogen has been linked to breast cancer, some personal care products manufacturers are reluctant to use parabens. However, some believe that the synthetic preservatives are unavoidable because a water-based product with no preservatives, or one with all-natural preservatives, would have a very short shelf life, or it would need to be refrigerated. To avoid parabens, Jason Natural Cosmetics has switched from methylparaben to a natural preservative that has the same shelf life--2-3 years--as the paraben-based preservative. In January 2003, for its Shaman Earthly Organics line, Jason debuted a preservative that consists of sodium benzoate (salt crystals), potassium sorbate (powder from mountain ash trees combined with potassium salt) and grapefruit-seed extract. "Now our preservative systems are food grade, which adds to the purity level of our products," Light says.

Aubrey Organics solved the preservative puzzle with a mixture of grapefruit-seed extract and vitamins A, C and E, which inhibits micro-bacterial growth and helps retard the ingredients' decay. All of the company's 250 personal care products are made with this natural preservative, says Aubrey representative Sandie Coretti, and have shelf lives of 18 months to 3 years--considerably shorter than products made with synthetic preservatives, which can last 5-8 years, Coretti says.

The Obsessively Organic line by Kiss My Face uses a blend of all-natural preservatives, Byckiewicz says. This blend assures the products have a shelf life of up to 2 years.

As companies seek alternatives to synthetic preservatives, the industry as a whole is moving forward on issues that are just as challenging. What OCA. OTA and virtually everybody else in the industry agrees on is that the higher the level of organic ingredients in a personal care product, the safer it is for the consumer. How quickly they can agree on standards that they can support is another matter. Until then, consumers will have to educate themselves about label claims--and rely on their local retailers for help.

Why Organic Ingredients Matter

Why does it matter whether your personal care products are made with organic ingredients or not? Because those that aren't can be harmful, says Samuel Epstein, MD, chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition in Chicago and professor emeritus of environmental and occupational medicine at the University of Illinois School of Public Health. "Mainstream industry products are highly dangerous," Epstein says. "Consumers have got to be fully aware of the fact that mainstream industry products carry a wide range of ingredients that are carcinogenic or allergenic."

Shampoos, skin creams and other products applied directly to the skin can be especially troublesome. Any product "absorbed by the skin is directly absorbed," says Elizabeth Smith, MD, a researcher with the Ovarian Cyst Education Web site. "In other words, anything absorbed through the skin may be as high as 10 times the concentration of an oral dose." That's why you must be careful with products containing synthetic ingredients--especially on children.

"Infants are highly vulnerable to toxic and carcinogenic effects," says Epstein, citing studies performed on mice in 1972 and 1986 and published in Cancer Research and the Journal of Carcinogenesis, respectively. Both studies show that an application of carcinogen in the first few days of life can be 50-100 times more toxic than it is for adults.

Natural products manufacturers say that organic ingredients can perform the same functions as synthetic ingredients but without the health risks, Jeffrey Light, Jason Natural Cosmetics' founder and chairman, says his company uses essential oils such as lavender and lemon to replace synthetic fragrances. And the company uses aloe vera gel and sea algae to replace animal-derived lanolin. Jason's toothpastes contain menthol to soothe sensitive teeth instead of potassium nitrate, a skin irritant, which some other manufacturers use.

Epstein says consumers should watch for petroleum-based ingredients and harsh detergents in personal care products because they can damage the skin, making the absorption of toxic ingredients easier. "Any ingredient ending in 'eth,' like sodium laureth and steareth," he says, "carries very powerful irritant detergents."

Aubrey Hampton, founder of Aubrey Organics, cautions against personal care products that are made with urea preservatives, which can cause skin inflammation. He also cautions against hair sprays that contain polyvinylpyrrolidone copolymer, which can cause lung damage and breathing problems.

Comment:

There are now some alternatives to consumers who are too confused with all this organic "hype". Using certified organic skin care products that have been certified to food grade standards is the most effective way to ensure that you are not putting any unwanted toxins onto your skin. Once again, the best solution is to become an educated consumer and sort out the facts from the hype. As more and more consumers vote with their wallet to purchase certified organic skin care products, this type of product will become more widely available. As of this writing, there are only a couple of companies that have invested in getting fully certified, but certainly more will follow suit.

The Ugly Side of Cosmetics

Make-up and body care products have been linked to allergic reactions, birth defects, and even cancer. Here's what you need to know.

Suzanne Anich of Minneapolis, MN, has a morning routine similar to that of many women. She shampoos and conditions her hair with products that contain “natural ingredients,” according to the labels. She brushes her teeth, then washes her face with an upscale facial wash with the word “purity” emblazoned across the jar. Then, she applies an anti-aging moisturizer and what she calls a “low-maintenance” selection of makeup.

Safe Cosmetics Illustration

Suzanne was surprised to find out that nearly all of the personal care products she uses on her face and body contain ingredients suspected of causing cancer; potential neuro-, liver-, and immunotoxins; and suspected hormone disruptors that could cause birth defects in any children she might bear in the future.

“I’m shocked that the US government allows these products to be put on store shelves,” Suzanne says. “I’ll be throwing out most of my make-up and starting over. It’s too bad, because the stuff I used seemed to work well—too bad the people who make them don’t seem to care about their customers’ well-being.”

Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to find products that won’t endanger your health—and companies that do care about their customers’ well-being. Here’s what you need to know about the personal care products you may be using and what your alternatives are.

Regulated or Not?

Like Suzanne, many consumers may be surprised to learn that the US federal government doesn’t require health studies or pre-market testing on personal care products. Manufacturers are free to put just about anything they want into cosmetics—a far-reaching category used by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to include everything from make-up and deodorant to lotions and mouthwashes.

Instead, the safety (or not) of the ingredients in these products is looked into almost exclusively by a manufacturer-controlled safety committee called the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) panel. Consequently, “89 percent of 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have not been evaluated for safety by the CIR, the FDA, nor any other publicly accountable institution,” says the nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG). “The absence of government oversight for this $35 billion industry leads to companies routinely marketing products with ingredients that are poorly studied, not studied at all, or worse, known to pose potentially serious health risks.”

For example, EWG found ingredients certified by the US government as “known or probable carcinogens” in one of every 120 cosmetic products on the market, including shampoos, lotions, make up foundations, and lip balm. What this adds up to, says the group, is that “one of every 13 women
and one of every 23 men are exposed to ingredients that are known or probable human carcinogens every day through their use of personal care products.”

Also of particular concern are the inclusion of phthalates—a group of industrial chemicals linked to birth defects that are used in many cosmetic products, from nail polish to deodorant. Phthalates are not listed as ingredients on product labels; they can only be detected through laboratory analysis. In April of this year, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC)—a coalition of environmental, social justice, and consumer groups—learned that the FDA has completed a study on the safety of phthalates in cosmetics but is refusing to release its findings. According to preliminary information uncovered by the CSC, two-thirds of health and beauty products analyzed by the FDA late last year contained phthalates. Two of the most toxic phthalates, DBP and DEHP, have been banned from cosmetics products sold in the European Union (EU) but remain unregulated in the US. In response to the FDA’s refusal to publicly release this information, Friends of the Earth, a founding member of the CSC, has filed a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain the study.

Another class of chemicals that’s gotten some press recently is parabens, short for “para hydroxybenzoate.” These preservatives are widely used in cosmetics, particularly nail polish. Recent studies have implicated parabens as being associated with breast cancer, though more testing is needed.

Though there isn’t always definitive evidence that a given chemical can cause adverse health affects, the fact that so few have been studied for safety is of significant concern. Plus, there’s the effect over time of all these chemicals we’re applying to our bodies to consider. The average person’s morning routine puts him/her into contact with over 100 chemicals before breakfast, according to Aubrey Hampton and Susan Hussey, founder and vice-president of marketing, respectively, of Aubrey Organics. The cumulative effect of all of the chemicals in these products can add up over time, and no one truly knows what the results are.

Signs of Hope

There are signs of hope that the cosmetics industry could be poised for a major overhaul, however:

Major Companies Phase Out Phthalates: Under pressure from the CSC, top cosmetics companies L’Oréal, Revlon, and Unilever recently said they have voluntarily removed phthalates DBP and DEHP from products sold in the US. Avon, Procter & Gamble, and Estée Lauder agreed to remove phthalates from their products in 2004.

FDA Gets Tough: By law, companies are required to post a warning label on products that have not been assessed for safety. In the past, most companies haven’t adhered to this law. But last February, the FDA issued an unprecedented warning to the cosmetics industry stating that it will be taking steps to enforce the label law. “Such an enforcement action could ultimately require companies to issue consumer warnings for the more than 99 percent of personal care products on the market that have not been publicly assessed for safety,” says the EWG.

The EU Gets Tougher: This past September, an amendment to the EU’s Cosmetics Directive took hold, which requires companies doing business in Europe to eliminate chemicals in their cosmetics that are known or strongly suspected of being carcinogens, mutagens, or reproductive toxins. Of the thousands of questionable chemicals in these products, the directive targets about 450. (Compare that to the nine chemicals the FDA has banned or restricted in personal care products.)

California Follows the EU’s Lead: Hoping to emulate the EU’s efforts, California state senator Carole Migden (D-San Francisco) has introduced the California Safe Cosmetic Act of 2005. This bill would require manufacturers peddling cosmetic products in California to provide the state Department of Health Services with a list of their products and to identify products that contain chemicals identified as carcinogens or reproductive toxins. And another recent bill (AB 908), introduced by Assemblywoman Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park), would ban phthalates DBP and DEHP from cosmetics sold in the state.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: Thc CSC is calling on all cosmetics companies to phase the chemicals banned from the EU out of products sold in the US. Visit www.safecosmetics.org to help the CSC call on companies to be responsible. “Consumers have real power they’re not
exercising,” Janet Nudelman of the CSC told Dragonfly Media. “We need to let cosmetics companies know we’re not going to buy their products unless they make a strong commitment to safety.”

What to Look For

Here’s how to find the safest personal care products for you and your family:

Be Suspicious of Labels: Though words like “natural” or “hypoallergenic” look reassuring, on some products, they’re basically meaningless. The FDA has no control over these labels. Products labeled “natural,” for example, may contain some natural ingredients, but they may also include synthetic dyes and fragrances. “Hypoallergenic” merely means that the most common irritants are left out, but other potentially problematic chemicals may still be in the mix. “Fragrance-free” means a product has no perceptible odor—synthetic ingredients may still be added to mask odors.

Scrutinize Ingredients: The EWG recently launched its Skin Deep online database, making it easier than ever to check the safety of over 7,500 personal care products, from OPI nail polish to Aveda shampoo to Johnson’s Baby Oil. Visit www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep. If your product of choice isn’t yet listed on Skin Deep, you can enter suspicious-looking ingredients into Environmental Defense’s chemical database, Scorecard.org. Scorecard lets you know about known and suspected health effects caused by hundreds of chemicals, along with the sources (often government agencies) that have questioned each chemical.

Go Organic: Cosmetics that contain certified organic ingredients generally contain mainly
natural ingredients, including those that have been grown without the use of toxic pesticides. Unfortunately, organic doesn’t necessarily mean problem-free. Even organic companies need to keep their products from rotting away on store shelves, in warehouses, and in your medicine cabinet. Some may turn to synthetic chemicals to keep their products fresh and useful. Be sure to check the ingredients list on your favorite organic products.

The Compact for Safe Cosmetics: To date, 87 companies have signed the CSC’s “Compact for Safe Cosmetics,” pledging to phase the 450 chemicals banned by the EU out of all of their products. The vast majority of them are organic and natural products companies—including members of Co-op America’s Business Network, who are screened for their commitment to going the extra mile to protect their workers, consumers, communities, and the environment. In addition, cosmetics giants L’Oréal and Revlon say their cosmetics now comply with European law, though they haven’t signed the compact. You can find a list of the companies who have signed at www.safecosmetics.org/companies/signers.cfm.

The very best option is to find a cosmetics company that has signed the CSC’s compact and uses certified organic and natural ingredients. Those companies are listed in the box on this page, and many have products that are readily available at natural products and food stores,
as well as online or by mail order.

One such company is EcoColors, which sells “almost all-natural” commercial and home hair dye kits made with organic ingredients. “When I became pregnant with my son in 1990, I was a hairdresser doing five colors a day in the salon and teaching hair color at night,” says Lisa Saul, president of EcoColors. “I started getting rashes on my wrists and having sinus issues, and I thought, ‘If these chemicals are doing this to me, what are they doing to my child?’”

That question led her to found her company, and it also takes her to the lab on a regular basis, where she works on pinpointing problematic hair dye ingredients and making her company’s products as safe as possible.

“I’ve known so many people who’ve gotten hurt by the chemicals in different products,” she says. “So I’m committed to making sure hairdressers and my customers are using things that are healthy for them.”

—Tracy Fernandez Rysavy

Comment

The safest way to ensure you families health is to use Certified Organic Skin Care products that have been certified by international third party agencies. As organics become more and more mainstream, this will become increasingly important to ensure quality products.

Skincare that doesn’t care

By: Staff
7DAYS (United Arab Emirates)
April 28, 2006

If somebody handed you a fistful of harmful chemicals and asked you to rub them all over your face, you would outright refuse – yet you do so every single day, unknowingly.

Most skincare products available off the shelf are bumper full with perfumes, synthetic dyes, detergents, emulsifiers and the likes of paraben - a petroleum-derived substance used as a preservative in cosmetics and bodycare.

So be warned, as you could be exposing yourself everyday to harmful industrial chemicals that are known to cause cancer and birth defects.

Industry research suggests that on average a consumer may use up to 25 different cosmetic and personal care products containing more than 200 different chemical per day.

What is equally as alarming is that it is perfectly legal for companies to sell these products, because governments leave safety assessments for makeup and other personal-hygiene products to an industry-funded panel.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a non-profit US-based group specialising in product analysis.

The EWG recently spent six months investigating more than 10,000 ingredients found in 7,500 personal-care products in 25 categories, including products for eyes, hair, skin, teeth, babies and beauty.

According to the report, titled “Skin Deep”, 89 per cent of 10,500 ingredients haven’t been tested by a publicly accountable institution.

Therefore, one of each 100 products sampled - including shampoos, lotions, makeup foundations and lip balms - was found to contain ingredients ironically certified by authorities as known or probable human carcinogens.

“When I heard about how many chemicals were in your average skincare product, I decided to investigate further,” says Laura Johnson.

“I was shocked to find that my ‘natural’ hand cream in my bag contained petroleum chemicals, sodium sulphates and formaldehyde - a cheap preservative actually banned in Japan and Sweden. I was horrified.”

Fortunately, there are pure organic skincare products available - produced to strict standards and void of all the nasty chemicals popular in most mainstream beauty products.
However always read the label carefully, because a lot of packaging hints at organic or natural, but is in fact not. Organic healthcare brands can be found at Organic Foods and Café, Dubai.

As more large companies jump on the organic bandwagon, I think it will become much more important for consumers to be well educated on the matter of organic skin care products. There are very few regulations on placing the label organic on a product. To ensure a quality product, look for certified organic skin care products that carry third party certification such as USDA, IFOAM, etc.

The Truth about Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Are Foam and Bubbles Worth the risk?

Do you enjoy a shampoo with a rich lather? A shaving cream that really foams? How about relaxing in a tub full of bubbles? These may seem like some of life’s simple, innocent pleasures…until you look at WHAT is causing all that foam and lather. Once you find out, you may decide it’s not so simple or pleasurable after all.

Check the labels of your shampoo, soap, facial cleanser, shaving cream, body wash, or shower gel: Do you see either Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) listed? Or one of their cousins: Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Myreth Sulfate, etc.? Most manufacturers use these anionic detergents because they produce a lot of foam very inexpensively. But SLS is so strong that it’s also used to scrub garage floors. Worse, it has been proven to cause cancer in the long run. And the American College of Toxicology says SLS stays in the body up to five days. Other studies show it easily penetrates the skin and enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, the lungs, and the brain. Yet SLS is found in most cleansing, foaming products—even in some toothpastes! (Note: SLS may be disguised in pseudo-natural cosmetics with the parenthetical explanation "comes from coconut." Let's save the coconut from defamation of character!)

One woman who examined labels found that all the shampoos she checked had SLS—even health food store brands. Many listed Sodium Laureth Sulfate as the first ingredient on the label, meaning it’s the single most prevalent ingredient. So this lady called one company to complain that their product contains a substance that will cause people to have cancer. Their response was, "Yeah, we knew about it, but there’s nothing we can do about it because we need that substance to produce foam."

Try contacting some manufacturers yourself: The typical responses might be:

(1) Denial: "It’s completely safe."

(2) Avoidance: "You'll have to talk to someone else" or "We can't talk
about that."

(3) Ignorance: "I've never heard about that."

Most people selling products with this and other harmful ingredients really just don't know. The FDA has a GRAS list (Generally Regarded As Safe), and almost everything is on there, so most people selling these products just focus on the marketing hype and what the product is supposed to do for skin (clean it, make it feel soft, etc.). Sadly, of the 7000 ingredients used on the skin, only 5-6 have been tested for LONG-TERM safety, and none have been tested TOGETHER. Currently, 125 are strongly suspected carcinogens, 20 cause adverse nervous system reactions, and 25 are connected to birth defects.

So why exactly is SLS so bad?

Here are what tests show about Sodium Lauryl Sulfate:

(1) SLS PENETRATES EYES AND TISSUES. Tests show that SLS can penetrate into the eyes as well as systemic tissues (brain, heart, liver, etc.) and shows long-term retention in those tissues. Especially when used in soaps and shampoos, there is an immediate concern relating to the penetration of SLS into the eyes and other tissues. This is especially important in infants, where considerable growth is occurring, because a much greater uptake occurs by tissues of younger eyes, and SLS changes the amounts of some proteins in cells from eye tissues. Tissues of young eyes may be more susceptible to alteration by SLS[1]

(2) SLS FORMS NITRATES: When SLS is used in shampoos and cleansers containing nitrogen-based ingredients, it can form carcinogenic nitrates that can enter the blood stream in large numbers. They can cause eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, scalp scurf similar to dandruff, and allergic reactions.[2]

(3) SLS PRODUCES NITROSAMINES (potent carcinogens that cause the body to absorb nitrates at higher levels than eating nitrate-contaminated food like hot dogs or lunch meat): Dr. David H. Fine, the chemist who uncovered NDELA contamination in cosmetics, estimates that a person would be applying 50 to 100 micrograms of nitrosamine to the skin each time he or she used a nitrosamine-contaminated cosmetic. By comparison, a person consuming sodium nitrate-preserved bacon is exposed to less than one microgram of nitrosamine. [3]

(4) SLS STRIPS MOISTURE AND OIL FROM THE SKIN. According to the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, SLS produced skin and hair damage, including cracking and severe inflammation of the derma-epidermal tissue. Skin layers may separate and inflame due to its protein-denaturing properties.[4]

(5) SLS IRRITATES SCALP AND MAY PROMOTE HAIR LOSS[5]

(6) SLS CAN DAMAGE DNA IN CELLS—according to Japanese studies.[6]

CONCLUSION:

SLS and all its cousins are very harsh detergents that strip the skin's moisture barrier (which is linked to immunity and skin health) and causes serious health problems during testing on animals. It is linked to harming children's eyes, denaturing protein (thereby possibly contributing to hair loss or thinning), and combines with DEA, MEA and TEA (often found in the same shampoo) to form nitrosamines, a potent carcinogen. Since it is only included in products because of its potent foaming action, the question you must consider is:

What’s more important: the foam or your health?

You CAN choose healthful alternatives:
Dare To Care What Touches Your Skin and Hair!

References for above information:

[1] Green, Dr. Keith. Detergent Penetration into Young and Adult Eyes. Department of Ophthalmology Medical College of GA, Augusta GA
[2] Hampton, Aubrey. Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients. Organica Press Metarasso, or Hampton, Aubrey. Natural Organic Hair and Skin Care. Organica Press, Tampa FL
[3] ibid.
[4] Journal of Invest. Dermatology, 32-581, 1959 "Denaturation of Epidermal Keratin by Surface Active Agents"
[5]Wright, Camille S. Shampoo Report. Images International, Inc. 1989
[6]Vance, Judi. Beauty to Die For. Promotion Publishing, San Diego, CA 1998. Page 23.

Go Organics Comments:

In my search for safe alternatives for my family, I began to purchase "natural" and "organic" products at my local health food store. I was dismayed to lean later that many companies marketing these products use what they refer to as "safe" chemicals such as SLS. I have decided I do not want to make my family guinea pigs for "safe" chemicals. I have started using a line of Certified Organic Skin Care products that have been certified to FOOD GRADE STANDARDS, this way if one of my kids decides to taste something, I don't need to worry about calling the local poison control center.

Detoxification and your skin

Learn to help your body glow from the inside out. Nourish it with foods that are pure and natural. Remove harmful substances from your diet and you will notice a difference in the way you look and feel.

What is detoxification?

Detoxification is the process of removing toxins or poisons. We all know that toxins are harmful and cause damage, potentially even death if taken in certain levels. Living cells, whether in plants or in the body, are constantly in the process of bringing nutrients and fresh substrates in while eliminating by-products and waste that is not useful to the organism. Therefore, detoxification is a natural, ongoing process in our bodies.

Keeping your body healthy requires maintaining all of its systems in good working order. Minimizing the amount of toxins you take into your system is one way that we can detoxify our bodies. Benefits of detoxification may include increased energy and improved health, better breath, reduced allergies, and potentially fewer aches and pains.

Wastes leave the body in the form of gases, solids, and liquids. Carbon dioxide is the gas that we exhale. We excrete other waste from the body after it accumulates in the bladder and in the bowels.

Other organs that play a major role in detoxification include the:

- skin

- liver

- kidneys

- lungs

Blood also plays a critical role in the detoxification process. It carries dissolved gases like carbon dioxide to the lungs, and then it is traded for oxygen through respiration. Both the liver and kidneys help to detoxify the blood by removing wastes and sending them to the urine. In the form of stool, unused solids are carried away.

Benefits for your skin via detoxification

Your skin is a barrier but it is not impermeable. Just as products that you use on your skin are able to enter your body through this physical barrier, toxins are also able to leave your body through the skin. Free radicals and UV light in the environment also damage the skin which over time cause it to show signs of premature aging.

How can detoxification help your skin? By minimizing the number of chemicals in your body, you help you body to function more efficiently. Eating well is one way to maintain healthy skin with a smooth texture, elasticity, and a proper level of moisturization. Skin complexions troubled by acne and imperfections can also benefit from the inside out with detoxification methods. For example, vitamin A reduces the amount of sebum produced by the skin cells and therefore pores are less likely to become blocked.

Ways to detoxify your body

Some of the best ways to detoxify include:

- eating a balanced diet

- juicing organic fruits and vegetables

- exercising regularly

- exfoliation

- using organic products for personal hygiene

Before trying any detox method always be sure to check with your doctor. People with serious medical conditions should also consult a doctor as these methods are not recommended. Pregnant women should not try these methods.

Eating a balanced diet

Nutrients in foods contain many elements that can help your body and especially your skin to remain in good condition. When your body is 'happy' and 'efficient', through detoxification, it will show on the outside.

Your skin needs:

- essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6) found in oily fish and flax seeds

- antioxidants vitamins C, E, and beta-carotene to retaliate against the damaging effects of UV light and free-radicals

- minerals zinc and selenium to build tissues and heal wounds. Find these minerals in foods like seafood, nuts, grains, and vegetables

- vitamin B6 to balance hormone levels, particularly for women that have pre-menstrual break-outs

- vitamin A to help reduce sebum levels on the skin

- potassium to help maintain elasticity, water to maintain hydration and flush toxins from the body

- water to maintain hydration and flush toxins from the body

Juicing organic fruits and vegetables

Have you ever tried freshly squeezed juice? It is delicious and nutritious. You get a truckload of vitamins, enzymes, and minerals. The enzymes contained in vegetables and fruits help to digest your food so try drinking these natural cocktails with meals.

One important thing to remember is that you should always start with organic fruits or vegetables. Because most fruits and vegetables are sprayed with pesticides, using non-organic products means that you will be ingesting harmful pesticides too. Keep these toxic chemicals away from your cells in order to maintain their proper functioning.

Exercising regularly

Oxygen is vital to life. Incorporating exercise into your lifestyle brings this element into your body and skin. Studies at the University of Wisconsin have shown that oxygen reduces the effects of free radical damage and premature aging.

Sweating encourages the release of toxins from the skin. Working up a good sweat during your exercise program will help in the detoxification process. You could also try saunas and steambaths to encourage the excretion of toxins.

If you are not currently exercising choose something that you enjoy doing. Walking is a great way to increase your heart rate and pump oxygen through your lungs. Other ideas include yoga, swimming, cycling, and running. Whatever you do, choose an activity that you will be motivated to do on a regular basis.

Exfoliation

Shedding skin cells is a continual process. Dead skin cells sit on the uppermost level of the epidermis and they make the skin look dull and less healthy. Our clothes play a big part in helping to remove cells on a daily basis. By sloughing off dead skin cells from time to time, you can stimulate the skin renewal process. Try any of the following methods once a week to naturally exfoliate your skin:

- briskly towel off after a shower

- use an organic scrub during your shower

- use a washcloth during your shower

- use a loofah (Important: keep it dry when it's not in use to minimize bacterial count)

Using organic products for personal hygiene

Decreasing the number of synthetic chemicals entering your body through your food and personal products is yet another way to help detoxify. Modern research at the Herb Research Foundation found that the skin absorbs up to 60% of the chemicals in products that it comes into contact with directly into the bloodstream. This means that chemicals, some of which are known carcinogens, are entering your body and potentially causing unnecessary harm.

The next time you need to stock up on personal hygiene products, look for alternatives to the chemically items offered in most stores. Using organic products decreases the number of preservatives and chemical additives your skin comes into contact with and therefore, that may enter your body.

References:

- www.meriam-webster.com, accessed October 26, 2004.

- www.detox.org/skin.aspl, accessed October 26, 2004

- www.saga.co.uk/health_news/article/D2164785-92E3-11D6-B8AC-00508BAEC55C.asp?bhcp=1, accessed Oct. 26, 2004.

- Farley, Josephine. Organic beauty: look and feel gorgeous the natural way. Dorling Kindersley, London, 2001, page 66.

- http://www.naturalcosmetics.ca

Lori Stryker
Organic Make-up Company

Antiperspirants Linked to Breast Cancer

READING, England, March 1
Underarm antiperspirants may contribute to the risk of breast cancer because they contain aluminum salts with metal ions that mimic the effect of estrogen.

Until recently, it was thought that such estrogen-mimicking substances were uniformly organic -- either phenolic or carbon ring structures -- but evidence is mounting that some metals can also binding to estrogen receptors, said Philippa Darbre, Ph.D., of the University of Reading.

The underarm connection arises from the fact that aluminum -- which, as aluminum salts, comprises up to 25% of some antiperspirants -- appears to be one of those estrogen-mimicking metals, Dr. Darbre noted in an online review article in the Journal of Applied Toxicology.

It joins a growing list of so-called "metalloestrogens," including antimony, arsenite, barium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenite, tin, and vanadate.

Aluminum salts "form a major source of aluminum exposure in humans," Dr. Darbre said, but "the effects of widespread, long-term and increasing use of these cosmetics remain unknown."

Reasons for concern, she said, are:

The cosmetics are applied near the breast.

Aluminum salts are left on the skin, allowing continuous exposure and possible
migration through the skin into underlying tissue.

The practice of shaving the armpits may damage the stratum corneum of the skin,
allowing direct chemical access to underlying tissue.

Several studies in the past decade, she noted, have shown that aluminum salts
can pass through intact mouse skin and human armpit skin.

"It is reasonable to question whether this aluminum could then influence breast cancer," Dr. Darbre said.

Other substances that mimic estrogen include:

Phytoestrogens, found in nature as organic components of plants.

Natural and synthetic steroidal estrogens used in contraceptive pills and
hormone replacement therapy.

Xenoestrogens, man-made non-steroidal organic chemicals used in agricultural
spraying, industrial processes, urban waste or consumer products. They include
organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, bisphenol A, phthalates,
alkylphenols and parabens.

Many of those substances -- including parabens and phthalates, among others -- are already being used in bodycare cosmetics, Dr. Darbre said. "Now the aluminum salts can be added to the list," she said.

Also on the danger list is cadmium, which is known to accumulate in the body from low-level environmental exposure. It's also introduced into the body through cigarette smoking, she noted -- perhaps one reason why smoking is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

Dr. Darbre called for more research to see what happens when many of these chemicals act together, noting that most studies have looked at single agents, which alone may not reach high enough levels to have a measurable effect in a living person.

"Each of these agents on their own may not have a powerful effect, but we need to see what happens when a number of them act together," she said. "It could be that this would have a significant effect on diseases like breast cancer."

By Michael Smith, MedPage Today Staff Writer
Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
March 01, 2006
Also covered by: CBS News

CNN

Go Organics Comments:

Every year we find out about yet another ingredient that is being used in our skin care products that has adverse health implications. I think it is time for us to start practicing the precautionary principle instead of playing guinea pigs for these chemicals. The precautionary principle errs on the side of caution and says if something is potentially hazardous to our health, let us wait until safety studies and research is done before slathering it all over our largest organ, our skin. This is yet another reason why I choose to use Organic Skin Care Products whenever possible and make sure I know everything in the ingredient list before it goes on my or my children's bodies.

Chemicals in your cosmetics

Florida - You probably check your food labels to see what you're eating.

But when it comes to popular products, like shampoo, hairspray and cosmetics you use every day... you may be surprised how many contain toxic chemicals.

In this 10 News Extra, we show you how harsh chemicals banned in Europe, are still being used here.... and an easy way to find safer, everyday products for your family.

As 18-year-old Taylor Traviesa gets ready for a graduation party, she goes through a beauty routine she's been following for years.

Taylor Traviesa, St. Petersburg Teenager
“I use around 12 to 15 products if I want to know that I look somewhat good. That's from the lotion to hairspray to shampoo to all my make-up.”

It's not easy understanding what's in them...

Taylor Traviesa, St. Petersburg Teenager
“Octala… half of them I can't even pronounce.”

or how chemicals in those different products might impact her body.

Taylor Traviesa, St. Petersburg Teenager
“If you can buy it at a drugstore, I would assume it's safe.”

You might think the Food & Drug Administration requires hairspray, nail polish and cosmetic companies to do extensive safety testing before their products hit the store shelves, but that's not the case.

On the FDA's website, it states “Cosmetics and their ingredients are not required to undergo approval before they are sold. Manufacturers can use any ingredient, except for 10 prohibited substances, without government review.

But in Europe, the laws are much tougher. Nearly 1200 toxic chemicals are banned from cosmetics.

Here at home, chemicals such as some phthalates may soon require cosmetic warning labels in California, but not in any other states.

Dr. Steven Masley, Medical Director Carillon Executive Health Program at St. Anthony's Hospital:
“The phthalates we know are associated with reproductive problems, cancer risk, metabolism issues. Phthalates, which are very common in cosmetics, are a significant known risk and they're still sold here everyday.”

They're sold in the U.S. in products such as OPI nail polish to make it flexible and chip resistant.

But when the polish is sold in Europe, the tougher standards mean the company has to remove the phthalate.

Dr. Steven Masley, Medical Director Carillon Executive Health Program at St. Anthony's Hospital:
“If you're going to put a chemical compound on your skin and it's in contact with your skin, you're likely to absorb it.”

Dr. Steven Masley with Carillon Executive Health says even at low exposure, a daily dose of different chemicals can add up over a lifetime.

Dr. Steven Masley, Medical Director Carillon Executive Health Program at St. Anthony's Hospital:
“Low exposure over long-term can be enormous. Low exposure for someone who doesn't remove chemicals well... their parents had Parkinson's, they're chemically sensitive they may not be able to remove it and they accumulate it. It's enormous.
The bottom line is the more things you use, the more it behooves you to check out the safest products in these lines whether it's nail polish, hairspray or deodorant to make sure you're making the best choices."

There is a website that makes it easy for you to understand which products are safer (link below).

You can type in the name of your favorite product to see if it gets a green light, which means the ingredients are of low health concern, or a red light, which means higher chemical concern.

The Environmental Working Group, a non profit, research based, consumer advocacy group compiled an electronic database of ingredient labels for 14,000 name brand products and cross linked it with 37 toxicity or regulatory databases.

When EWG analyzed the database results they found:

* More than one-third of all personal care products contain at least one ingredient linked to cancer.
* 57 percent contain “penetration enhancer” chemicals that can drive other ingredients faster and deeper into the skin to the blood vessels below.
* 70 percent of all products contain ingredients that may contain harmful impurities such as known carcinogens, according to FDA or industry reviews. Impurities are legal and unrestricted for the personal care products industry.

Dr. Masley says, while some studies suggest chemicals in cosmetics can mimic estrogen and increase your risk of cancer, he says the bottom line is we're guinea pigs. There are no long term exposure studies that have been done on humans.

The FDA maintains it's not clear what effect, if any, phthalates have on health.

Taylor says she isn't ready to give up her cosmetics, but she is willing to search the database to find safer options.

Taylor Traviesa, St. Petersburg Teenage:
“I would have no idea that something in my body lotion or the shave gel might actually be harmful.”

Check out chemicals and health concerns in your favorite products.

Find safer options:
Skin Deep

See if your favorite cosmetic company agreed to remove ingredients linked to cancer, birth defects, hormone disruption and other negative effects:
www.safecosmetics.org

*300 cosmetic companies, including The Body Shop, Aubrey Organics & Burt's Bees promised to replace ingredients linked to cancer, birth defects, hormone disruption and other negative health effects with safer alternatives.

The Breast Cancer Fund says studies show half of breast cancer causes are environmental:
www.breastcancerfund.org

Also we received a statement from OPI concerning these chemicals. It says:

There is no cause for concern regarding the safety of cosmetic ingredients, including those of OPI. All products and treatments produced and sold by OPI, including nail polish, have been substantiated for safety as required under federal law by the US Food and Drug Administration and qualified scientists, and found to be safe.

We believe, based on our rigorous testing methods and documented scientific studies on these ingredients, that OPI products -- whether used once or over a lifetime - are safe for use by consumers. These are the same ingredients used by all leading professional brands.

OPI is proud of our safety record and is constantly re-examining all available scientific information in regards to our products/ingredients. OPI is dedicated to working closely with the regulators at FDA, federal and state policymakers, the Consumer Federation of America, and others who are committed to objectively using the best science to ensure the safety of our products.

Heather Van Nest, Tampa Bay's 10 News
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=31891