I’m not a “tweeter”, but I’ve been told the ol’fashioned way that Washington Post has caused some ruckus on Twitter with their article on baby products – Probable Carcinogens Found In Baby Products. Unfortunately this “news” is not so new! The Czech Republic seemed to take notice over a year ago on their Bureau Veritas Consumer Product Division website.
In 2000, the FDA stated evidence that 1,4-Dioxane may be linked to systemic cancer and in 2003 stated that 1,4-Dioxane could be removed without an unreasonable cost. In the United States, the personal care industry – or beauty industry – or cosmetic industry – whatever you want to call it – is completely self-regulated and products are submitted for approval on a voluntary basis to the CTFA (Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association).
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that not many of our products – and definitely not many of the THOUSANDS of chemicals that are used to create them – have been tested for human safety. Nice thought, huh?
Of course John Bailley, Science Director, of the CTFA stated that the amount of 1,4-Dioxane present in the products is not harmful. Of course! Of course! I think HE forgot that most people apply more than one product each day – many women apply more than 15 and toddlers spend 30 minutes soaking in the bubbles every evening and are lathered with lotion after they are sqeaky clean!
Just wait until the Washington Post and other news venues get hold of the idea that our little girls are applying lip gloss with rodanticide and known carnciogens as the primary ingredients to their lips. I wonder if those ingredients have been tested for human safety?!
In the case of 1,4-Dioxane – a chemical that readily penetrates the skin, such an ingredient should NEVER be tolerable at any level in personal care products especially for infants.
So, what’s next? The official warning that 1,4-Dioxane may be harmful on labels… to protect the beauty industry! Don’t let them fool you! If they “warned” us… no room for consequences!
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