Happy 2013! It has been almost a year since I did the Toxin a Day series (you can find the wrap up and links to all the Toxins here). For you newbies, the series took aim to help our readers navigate the shopping aisles armed with a bit more knowledge of the toxins that lurk in
Tag: toxin a day
Whew… that was exhausting! I’m sure you are thinking right about now that this is completely overwhelming, so many things to remember, look for, learn about. I felt, and still feel the same way. It is sad, scary, and a tad mind-boggling that we have to spend so much time, energy, and brain power trying
Well, we have made it to the 12th day… But no Partridge in a Pear Tree here, we are learning about Nitrosamines today! Nitrosamines are not actually an ingredient. They are a compound created when nitrites and amino acids (which often occur from proteins) are combined. This combination can occur in very acidic settings, such as
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)- not to be confused with beta hydroxy acid (also abbreviated BHA)- is a preservative found in food and cosmetics. It is used to keep fats from going rancid and to preserve shelf life of cosmetics. Most common foods it can be found in butter, meats, cereals, chewing gum, baked goods, snack foods, dehydrated
Formaldehyde. Yes, the stuff they use for embalming bodies to temporarily prevent decomposition can be found in your personal care products. Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen, skin irritant, and can bring on or worsen respiratory ailments, such as asthma. Personal care products that contain formaldehyde expose its users to this chemical through inhaling off-gas, ingestion, or
1,4 Dioxane is a carcinogenic compound that is used in dry cleaning solvents, lacquers and automotive coolant. It is listed on the State of California’s list of chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects. The California Environmental Protection Agency also lists 1,4-dioxane as a suspected kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant and respiratory toxicant. It is banned for use
Hydroquinone is most commonly found as a skin lightener and in products marketed towards women of color. In addition to this purpose it is also found as in impurity (possible contamination) in other ingredients found in more common personal care products, such as facial cleansers, lotions and shampoos. Hydroquinone is a melanin inhibitor, decreasing the production of
Sorry for the break, but 2-year-old birthdays are a lot of work- especially when you are travelling to a different state to host them! So, let’s get to Parabens. Parabens (ethylparaben, butylparaben, methylparaben and propylparaben) are a chemical preservative most commonly found in cosmetics, deodorants, moisturizers, make-up, shaving cream, sunscreens and toothpaste. They can also be found in some processed
I know I said Parabens were next, but after yesterday’s press event here in CT , and Michelle’s post a few days back about fire retardants in popular childrens products, I thought it was a better idea to go with this toxin first. The use of the chemical fire retardant, Tris (which was banned for use
Triclosan is an anti-microbial chemical that is found in a number of soaps, detergents, deodorants, and even toothpaste. According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics it was originally developed as a surgical scrub for medical professionals, but in recent years it has been added to consumer products in order to kill bacteria and fungus and prevent odors. However, Triclosan is
