Dangerous chemicals in personal care products can also trigger premature puberty.
Shampoo seems safe, doesn’t it? After all, we use it all our lives—even on our babies.
Now new research finds that popular personal care products, like cosmetics and shampoo, as well as commercial detergents can interact with disinfectants at wastewater treatment plants to form cancer-causing agents, called nitrosamines. And because nitrosamines end up in public drinking water, we drink these dubious substances daily.
Testing drinking water at three treatment plants, Yale University chemical engineer William Mitch and his colleagues found that both Suave shampoo and Dawn detergent created nitrosamines.
While this research is preliminary, “it’s entirely possible that we’re producing more problems—and maybe even worse problems”—with chloramines (a combination of ammonia and chlorine) in drinking water, says David Reckhow, an environmental engineer at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Dr. Ann Louise’s Take:
Some of us remember when the adage “better living through chemistry” was touted far and wide. That certainly has not proven to be true anymore.
Many chemicals in personal care products are downright dangerous. A recent study of phenols, phthalates, and phytoestrogens—used in lotions, nail polishes, perfumes, and shampoos as well as their packaging—suggests these chemicals may contribute to early puberty in girls.
“Research has shown that early pubertal development in girls can have adverse social and medical effects, including cancer and diabetes later in life,” says Mary Wolff, MD, an oncologist at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. “We believe there are certain periods of vulnerability in the development of the mammary gland, and exposure to these chemicals may influence breast cancer risk in adulthood.”
Phthalates are banned in Europe. And they should be in this country too!
The good news is that effective, nontoxic alternatives are available—and often quite inexpensive. Natural personal care companies like Aubrey Organics and Burt’s Bees have a number of products that meet the Environmental Working Group’s—and my own—careful standards.
What to Avoid
You don’t need to be fanatic or get neurotic over purchasing cosmetics. But you’d be smart to avoid petrochemical-based products like mineral oil and other synthetics.
For decades, I’ve been advising against the most commonly used preservatives in cosmetics and deodorants—parabens—which often cause allergic reactions including skin rashes. More recently, parabens have been linked to cancer. Unfortunately, these endocrine disrupting chemicals have been found in almost all urine samples from American adults!
Popular even with little girls, nail polish and remover contain benzene and formaldehyde, which are also cancer-causing agents. Sodium lauryl sulfate is added to body washes and shampoos for it foaming abilities, but it irritates eyes, creates a scalp scurf similar to dandruff, and may cause hair loss.
Triclosan, which is a pesticide as well as an endocrine disrupter, is commonly used in antibacterial soaps (as well as deodorants and toothpastes). To fight germs, I like Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotic Beauty Bar with natural plant extracts and essential herbs to leave skin radiant, supple, and youthful. Not only does this beauty bar keep skin moist but it’s also a deodorant. Formulated by award-winning microbiologist Iichiroh Ohhira, PhD, this revitalizing soap is free of artificial colors and fragrances, chemicals, preservatives, and unwanted minerals like titanium oxide.
When shopping for personal care products:
• Look for simple, natural products without a lot of multisyllabic ingredients, but don’t trust claims like “dermatologist tested.”
• Avoid DMDM hydantoin, formaldehyde, hydroquinone, imidazolidinyl urea, methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinonesynthetic, parabens, “PEG” and “-eth,” phthalates, petrolatum, propylen glycol, PVP/CA copolymer, sodium lauryl or laureth, stearalkonium chloride, synthetic dyes and fragrances, TEA, triclosan and triclocarben.
• Check out all your personal care products on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep website, www.cosmeticsdatabase.com.
Drink Pure Water
Personal care and cleaning products aren’t the only substances to turn into nitrosamines in drinking water. Pharmaceutical drugs—like the stomach acid reducer Zantac—do too. And medicines (both over-the-counter and prescription) are increasingly found in U. S. drinking water.
Clean, pure water is critical to both beauty and overall wellness, so consider filtering your water. Both ammonia and chlorine are toxic—without being combined with cosmetics or drugs. And while chlorination is effective against some bacteria, it doesn’t get ‘em all. Why trade the risk of bacterial infection for the risk of cancer?
In my home, we use the Crown Water Filter System for 3-stage filtration. The CWR Basic Crown Under Counter Ceramic Filter removes chlorine and chemicals, heavy metals like copper and lead, parasites including cryptosporidium and giardia, and particulates like dirt, rust, and sediment. It’s also available in counter top and whole system filters. If you have chlorine in your water, you’re also breathing and soaking in this chemical through your skin.
Sources:
How to Stay Young and Healthy in a Toxic World
The Living Beauty Detox Plan
http://news.nationalgeorgraphic.com/new/2010/04/100429-shampoo-cancer-causing-substance/
www.breastcancerfund.org/clear-science/chemicals-glossary/parabens.html
www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
www.ewg.org/files/EWG_cosmeticsguide.pdf
www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/7561878/
Visionary, health guru, diet/detox expert, author, spokesperson, role model, and natural foods icon, Ann Louise Gittleman has always been a trendsetter. 
What would you reccomend for foundation? Major Dept. stores are not the place to go for better cosmetics as i found out recently. any ideas please?
Thanks Ann Louise! I’ve always thought there was a connection there. I appreciate the good information!
As a former middle school teacher (for 20 years), I’ve been witness to the increase in premature puberty and its effects.
I always head to the health food store for my cosmetics. There are so good brands of foundation there too.
What about reverse osmosis filter systems? Are they just as effective as the 3-stage filtration?
L’Brie Cosmetics are excellent and safe. Look them up on the web–they are not sold in stores.
Three stage-filtration usually combines a ceramic filter – which is the only filter certified to block parasties – one of ALG’s environmental concerns!
I teach at an elementary school grade K-5 and I see normal weight 4th and 5th grade girls – age 9 – 10 – 11 growing breasts!
I know what you mean, Lis, but I think we sometimes forget.
I’m 54 this month.
I needed a bra in 5th grade but didn’t start wearing one until 6th grade and was already a C-cup by 7th grade.
I started my period in 6th grade, just before I turned 12. I think we forget how young WE were!
You can always depend on Shaklee products to be safe and toxic-free. I have used them for years. Their Minerelles cosmetics are paraben free. Their Basic H is the only cleaning product you need, and it is organic and non-toxic.
It is better to use any natural products than any commercially manufactured shampoo. Or it maybe good to use shampoo at least 3x a week. Right? I am not dependent of using shampoo but I like using conditioner. Is using this has disadvantage too?
Thanks very much for the comprehensive list of what to look for in personal care products. One thing I would like to mention – when it comes to kids, you also have to be careful with crib mattresses. Most crib mattresses contain phthalates – they’re used to soften the PVC/vinyl waterproof coverings. Kids spend 12 to 15 hours a day in their crib, and they’re breathing the chemical fumes being emitted from their mattress. This is pretty intense exposure, at a time in their lives when they are most susceptible to any damage. In addition to your suggestions above, parents should also check into organic crib mattresses that have been certified as not emitting harmful chemical fumes into the air the child breathes.