Blog # 3
Toxic Chemicals in Our Everyday Lives
As an educational tool for consumers, Environmental Working Group (EWG) offers its EWG VERIFIED™ mark as a quick and easily identifiable way of conveying personal care products that meet EWG's strict health criteria.
I looked up my two personal products scores in skindeep database, Sensodyne Complete Protection Sensitivity Toothpaste with Cavity & Gingivitis Protection(toothpaste) and Pantene Pro-V Sheer Volume Shampoo.
EWG's rating for Pantene Pro-V Sheer Volume shampoo is 5.
Other HIGH concerns: Multiple, additive exposure sources, Contamination concerns, Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Miscellaneous, Occupational hazards; Other MODERATE concerns: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive); Other LOW concerns: Enhanced skin absorption, Cancer, Data gaps, Ecotoxicology, Neurotoxicity
EWG's rating for Sensodyne Complete Protection Sensitivity Toothpaste with Cavity & Gingivitis Protection is 3.
Ingredient Concerns:
Other HIGH concerns: Multiple, additive exposure sources, Contamination concerns, Miscellaneous, Persistence and bioaccumulation; Other MODERATE concerns: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive); Other LOW concerns: Data gaps, Ecotoxicology, Occupational hazards
Hazard score key:
 |  |  |
| Low hazard | Moderate hazard | High hazard |
Data score key:
Data: None
|  |
Data availability rating: the scope of ingredient safety data contained in Skin Deep®, and the number of studies available in the open scientific literature
|
Data: Limited
| ||
Data: Fair
| ||
Data: Good
| ||
Data: Robust
|
The information about my daily personal products in Skindeep databas was interesting. I decided to change my Pantene shampoo with high hazard score and Sensodyne toothpaste with moderate hazard score, and to select recommended products based on skindeep database.
Current science tells us that even low doses of certain chemicals can contribute to cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities, and other health problems that are on the rise. Each day, the average American woman uses about a dozen personal care products containing more than 100 chemicals that we ingest, inhale, and absorb through our skin, so they end up inside us. So People should know about these important information. However, majority are not educated about the sources of information.
As a nurse and educator, I will provide the information to my family members, coworkers, patients and their family, and encourage them to change their behavior of using toxic chemicals in their daily life.
The 1938 law needs to be changed that gives the FDA almost no authority to regulate cosmetics. Right now, companies are allowed to put nearly any chemical into personal care products sold in the US—even known carcinogens—without any safety testing, and without disclosing all the chemicals on labels.
The good news is, companies have already figured out how to make safer personal care products without using hazardous chemicals. Yet many of the leading brands continue to use old, outdated, toxic chemistry, because it’s easier than changing. The problem is, since companies can get away with hiding the toxic nature of their products—and marketing them as “natural,” “pure,” and “healthy”—there is no incentive to change. That’s why stronger safety laws are necessary not only for the health of people, but also for the long-term health of the American cosmetics industry. People around the world want safe cosmetics. European companies are already far ahead; in 2003 the EU banned chemicals that cause cancer and birth defects from cosmetics. We need to do that here.
The list of symptoms people with scent sensitivities attribute to chemical fragrances is a lengthy one that includes everything from coughing, sneezing, gagging, shortness of breath, rhinitis and asthma attacks, to debilitating headaches, anxiety and dizziness. So many workplaces and institutions like schools, hospitals and other government buildings might have some sort of scent-free or scent-reduction policy in place, which asks people entering the building not to wear perfumed products include scented perfumes, colognes, lotions,
hairsprays, deodorants and other products promoted
by the fragrance industry.
Zahra,
ReplyDeleteI mentioned in my blog a similar topic that you stated "The problem is, since companies can get away with hiding the toxic nature of their products—and marketing them as “natural,” “pure,” and “healthy”—there is no incentive to change." I find it quite troublesome that companies can mislead consumers by the words they used despite the fact they are not based in fact.
Thanks,
Cinnamon
Hi Zahra,
ReplyDeleteI use Sensodyne too but recently switched to Tom’s toothpaste due to the ratings! I agree with you that we, especially women, are constantly using products that contain so many chemicals on a daily basis and it is important to educate the public about these toxic exposures. I find it so interesting that companies can put whatever chemicals in their products without listing it as an ingredient. The other day, I was reading the ingredients of a toner that I use for my skin and one of the ingredients simply read, “fragrance.” However, it did not specific what fragrance and how it was extracted. Furthermore, I do find it scary that companies can hide toxic ingredients then falsely advertising their product as “natural” or safe.