Cancerous Chemical in So-Called Natural Products

In a study by the Organic Consumers Association, a cancer-causing compound called 1,4-dioxane has been found in some of the most commonly used petroleum-based cosmetics?including many “NATURAL” products.

1,4-Dioxane is a foaming agent that is used in the manufacture of cosmetics and personal care products such as deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste and mouthwash, which is why it may contaminate these items. 1,4-Dioxane is classified as an ether and is a known eye and respiratory tract irritant that easily penetrates the skin. It should not be confused with the similarly-spelled chemical “dioxin,” which is a major environmental pollutant.

In Naturalnews.com, Mike Adams writes: “The FDA currently does not require safety testing of cosmetic products or their ingredients. The cosmetic industry polices the safety of its own products, and this safety panel is run and funded by the industry’s trade association. In other words, very little testing actually occurs because the government does not mandate this testing, and potentially hazardous ingredients can slip through the cracks. There is also no financial incentive for the cosmetic industry to raise questions about the safety of its own products.” Dioxane is on California’s Proposition 65 list of chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer or birth defects.

Adams quotes Jeanne Rizzo of the Breast Cancer Fund as saying, “Regrettably, 1,4-Dioxane contamination is just the tip of the iceberg. Because the FDA does not require cosmetics products to be approved as safe before they are sold, companies can put unlimited amounts of toxic chemicals in cosmetics.”

According to Adams, “The FDA has been measuring 1,4-dioxane levels since 1979, but because the agency has little authority or enforcement capacity over the cosmetics industry, it has worked with manufacturers to reduce levels on a voluntary basis only.”

To learn which items YOU may be using that do or do not contain this chemical, click here.

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