Over the past months, Melinda Olson, founder of EMAB, and the 3 Green Angels have held many Twitter parties discussing the presence of cancer-causing chemicals found in personal care products. Since I have been working closely with Melinda and the EMAB staff as their hospital liaison, I attend as many of these parties as possible. Stacy Malkan of the non-profit organization, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, also joins the party on occasion.

Most moms are quit shocked (as I was myself) to learn that the FDA does not regulate ingredients in our personal care products. According to the FDA, “With the exception of color additives and a few prohibited ingredients, a cosmetic manufacturer may use almost any raw material as a cosmetic ingredient and market the product without an approval from FDA.” Nice!...So now we have to trust these manufacturers to provide us (and our little ones) with safe products?! I use to trust the big name brands that we use in the hospitals and never did I think for one minute that our products contain carcinogens. Oh, my ignorant mind. Well, after researching products and finding great resources like the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Environmental Working Group, my eyes were open and I have lost trust in the companies that I once thought of as safe.

If you haven’t read the No More Toxic Tub report, I suggest you do so. I think you will be shocked to see the list of baby products that contain cancer-causing chemicals. Check out the test results here. This report focuses on two chemicals: 1,4-dioxane and formaldehyde. You won’t see these two chemicals listed on the ingredient list. Instead, they hide behind other names. Over the course of these Twitter parties, we have discussed the specific ingredients that contain these two ingredients so moms (and all consumers) can be more aware of the products they are buying. We focused on two frequently used ingredients: PEG compounds (e.g. PEG-100 Stearate, PEG-80 Stearate) and Quantarium-15.

1,4-dioxane is not added intentionally, but instead is considered a contaminant and therefore is not required to be listed on product labels. 1,4-dioxane is produced as a by-product during the chemical processing technique called ethoxylation. Ethoxylation lessens the harshness of chemicals to the skin. This chemical is used as a foaming agent and found in many of the products that we use today, such as shampoos, liquid soaps, deodorants, laundry detergents, toothpastes and much more. PEG compounds (such as PEG-100 Stearate) and sodium laureth sulfate are common ingredients found in many personal care products which can be contaminated with this carcinogen. The shocking thing is that products that claim to be organic and those claiming to be safe for pregnancy still may contain this chemical!

The USDA is cracking down on manufacturers who claim their products are organic and are not. According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, “…Organic standards do not allow ethoxylation at all. A study by the Organic Consumers Association (vi) shows that 1,4-dioxane is nonexistent in a variety of cosmetics produced and certified under the USDA National Organic Program.”

Formaldehyde-releasing chemicals are used as preservatives to control the growth of microorganisms. Formaldehyde has been linked to allergies, skin irritations and cancer. Formaldehyde is used in many of our personal care products amongst many other consumer products that we use on a daily basis. Again, you will not see the word “formaldehyde” on the ingredient list. So, what should you look for? Formaldehyde-releasing ingredients include quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea and diazolidinyl urea.

Now, ponder this…if formaldehyde is safe in our personal care products as the Formaldehyde Council (ha) claims, why is it banned in cosmetics and toiletries in both Japan and Sweden? Why does the European Union restricts its use in personal care products and require those products that contain ingredients which are sources of formaldehyde to list it on the label as “contains formaldehyde”? The Formaldehyde Council calls us “activists”. I say, “Call me whatever you want. I will do my part to raise awareness and help protect our babies from repeated exposure to unnecessary carcinogens.”

As a said earlier, I work closely with Earth Mama Angel Baby to educate not only parents, but also healthcare professionals about this shocking news. I know that over time, policies will change and stricter guidelines will be enforced. Until then, I say: educate yourself and others, question “trusted” companies and become an avid label reader to reduce the number of chemicals that you and your family are exposed to on a daily basis. There are many companies that are looking to provide healthier and safer products (like Earth Mama Angel Baby) and with a bit of research and knowledge, we can choose the best option for ourselves and our families.

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Babies 411 is an on-line information and resource center for parents. This site has been developed by a neonatal intensive care nurse with the sole purpose of promoting the health, safety, and well-being of all babies.