Friday 16 October 2015

Is Your Bathroom Poisoning You?


Is your home the biggest environmental hazard to your good health? 

Between cosmetics, perfumes, personal care products and feminine hygiene products, the average woman uses 12 products containing 168 man-made toxic chemicals every day, whilst men typically only use 6 personal care products daily containing 85 man-made toxic chemicals according to research published by The Environmental Working Group.
The use of toxic commercial body-care products is the NUMBER ONE reason why women typically have TWICE as much man-made chemical toxins in their body than men! If you go to your bathroom, flip the bottles you use around and look at the ingredients, can you even pronounce them?
15 ingredients to evict from your Bathroom and Toilet Bag:
  • Formaldehyde
    A known Class A carcinogen (cause of cancer) banned in Japan and Sweden.
  • Parabens 
  • Increases levels of the toxic form of oestrogen which lies behind many cancers like breast cancer, testicular cancer, colon and prostate cancer. Also lowers sperm count.
  • Phthalates
  • Banned in the EU, but still in toiletries – they damage the liver, kidneys, lungs and reproductive system -especially developing testes.
  • Bisphenol A
  • Another plastic-based oestrogen mimic.
  • Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)
  • Skin irritant, stops hair growth, can cause cataracts in adults.
  • Toluene
  • A neurotoxin that can damage the liver, disrupt your hormones and cause asthma.
  • Fluoride
  • Associated to dementias.
  • Propylene Glycol
    Used in industrial anti-freeze, robs your skin of moisture and causes your skin to age faster.
  • Talc
  • A known carcinogenic and has been linked to an increased risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer and general urinary tract disorders.
  • Parfum/perfume
  • A petro-chemical toxic cocktail linked to allergies and breathing difficulties – 26 of the most commonly used chemicals are on the EU hit list for being dangerous.
  • Xylene / xytol / dimethylbenzene 
  • Damage your liver, and causes skin and respiratory tract irritation.
  • Diethanolamine, also Tri- and Mono- (DEA, TEA and MEA
  • Cancer causing
  • Retinyl palmitate
  • Pre-sensitises the skin to the harmful effects of Ultra Violet
  • Triclosan sometimes listed as 5-chloro-2 (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) phenol
  • Breakz down in water to create a member of the dioxin family, a proven carcinogen. Serious concerns are under investigation right now.
  • Paraphenylenediamine or PPD 
  • Implicated in numerous bladder cancer cases in California.


But where does all this Toxic Crap come from? And why is it put in products in the first place?

1: Formaldehyde
A known Class A carcinogen it is used as a disinfectant, fixative, germicide and preservative in a wide variety of products from deodorants to liquid soaps, and from nail varnish to shampoos. Also known as formalin, formal and methyl aldehyde, it has been linked in research to lung cancer and leukaemia. It can also be sourced from chipboard and ceiling and floor tile glues. It can damage DNA, irritate the eyes, upper respiratory tract and mucous membrane, and may cause asthma and headaches. It is banned in Japan and Sweden.
2: ParabensListed as alkyl parahydroxy benzoates -butyl/methyl/ethyl/ propyl/ isobutyl parabens on products such as some toothpastes, moisturisers and deodorants. They are used as a preservative but, like phthalates, can act as oestrogen mimics. Research suggests that mimics can increase levels of active oestrogens in the body – oestrogen lies behind many cancers like breast cancer, testicular cancer, colon and prostate cancer. Xenoestrogens, as these chemical oestrogens are termed, have also been linked to reductions in sperm count.
3: Phthalates (a plasticiser)
Sometimes referred to as “gender benders”, these are a family of industrial plasticisers already banned in the EU from being used in plastic toys, but still widely found in plastic bottles and plastic cups. If the contents is heated, the heat can further denature the plastic causing a greater release – forever.  Phthalates can be absorbed through the skin, inhaled as fumes and ingested in liquids and contaminated food, and even via breastfeeding. They are xenoestrogens, or oestrogen mimics. They can be found in shampoos, shower gels, and even your posh mountain fresh water bottles. Also found in hairsprays, top-selling perfumes and nail varnishes. Animal studies have shown they can damage the liver, kidneys, lungs and reproductive system -especially developing testes.

THEY ARE BANNED IN THE EU FROM BEING USED IN PLASTIC TOYS, BUT ARE STILL IN TOILETRIES

4: Bisphenol A (a plasticiser)
Found in plastics, the white linings inside cans, and babies bottles. Recent Canadian research turned BPA up in cans of fizzy soft drinks too. Banned in Canada, and in toys for the under 3´s in California, BPA is another plastic-based oestrogen mimic.
5: Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)
is one of the ingredients in many a shampoo, bubble bath, liquid soap etc. Why, when it is a known skin irritant, stops hair growth, can cause cataracts in adults, damage childrens eye development and cause urinary tract infection?
Because its cheap and produces lots of bubbles when mixed with salt. Hardly compensation! Sodium Laureth Ether Sulphate (SLES) is a slightly less irritant form of SLS, but may cause more drying. Both can lead to potentially carcinogenic cocktails of nitrites and dioxins forming in shampoos and cleansers, by reacting with other ingredients. SLS actually increases the permeability of the skin by about 40 per cent. Skin is not a barrier – it´s a carrier. If anyone tells you otherwise, ask them how HRT and nicotine patches work?
6: Toluene
is a common solvent found in nail enamels, hair gels, hair spray, and perfumes. It is a neurotoxin and oestrogen mimic and can damage the liver, disrupt the endocrine system and cause asthma.
7: Fluoride
In America toothpaste labels clearly warn about fluoride use.  Consider carefully this warning: ´As in all fluoride toothpastes, keep out of the reach of children under 6 years of age. If you accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, seek professional assistance or contact a Poison Control Centre immediately´. Fluoride is even added to mouthwash. It probably does no good at all if you are over 35 and the FDA has stated that it should be avoided by pregnant women. Some states in America have started banning fluoride from water supplies.
8: Propylene Glycol
is a cosmetic form of mineral oil (refined crude oil) used in industrial anti-freeze. People handling it are warned by the manufacturer to avoid skin contact and wear respirators and rubber gloves etc, and yet this is a major ingredient in most moisturisers, skin creams, baby wipes and sun screens. Why? Its cheap and gives the “glide” factor in body lotions – but is in fact robbing lower layers of skin of moisture. Lanolin and collagen can also clog pores and cause skin to age faster than if nothing was used.
9: Talc
is recognised as carcinogenic and has been linked to an increased risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer and general urinary tract disorders. On some baby powder tins it actually says, Do not use near mouth or nose! The distant cousin of asbestos, so dont dust it on your babys, or anyone elses, bottom! And certainly not near your mouth and nose – of course it is in make-up face packs and ´powder puffs´.
10: Parfum/perfume
A typical cosmetic can contain up to 150 chemicals in the perfume alone! 95 per cent of these chemicals are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum -26 of which are on an EU hit list. Fragrances have been linked to allergies and breathing difficulties and they penetrate the skin. The ingredients do not legally have to be declared. Avoid all skin contact with fragrances.
11: Xylene
is also listed, for example, as xytol or dimethylbenzene on nail varnish bottles. It can damage your liver, is narcotic in high concentrations and causes skin and respiratory tract irritation.
12: Diethanolamine
Ans also Tri- and Mono- (DEA, TEA and MEA) are absorbed through skin where they accumulate. If found in products also containing nitrates, they react and form nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic.
13: Retinyl palmitate (synthetic vitamin a)
Is found in many skin creams, skin lotions and sunscreens. There is a growing body of research expressing concern that, far from helping with skin damage or protecting against sunburn, this either pre-sensitises the skin to the harmful effects of Ultra Violet rays in sunshine or is actually carcinogenic where in sunlight! The FDA is reviewing concerns that this may actually cause more skin cancers!
14: Triclosan
Sometimes listed as 5-chloro-2 (2,4-dichlorophenoxy) phenol, is an antibacterial agent in deodorants, toothpastes, vaginal washes and mouthwashes. Toxic dioxins are produced during its manufacture or incineration. It is stored in breast milk and in fish, and can break down in water to create a member of the dioxin family, a proven carcinogen. Serious concerns are under investigation right now.


15: Paraphenylenediamine
or PPD is used in dark hair dyes. Tests on rats have shown that PPD may cause cancer, after long-term use with hydrogen peroxide. Now look at the next ingredient in the list on your pack at home! It has been implicated in numerous bladder cancer cases in California. The perfect excuse to go blonde?



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