Unfortunately baby care products like shampoos, lotions and powders are classified under cosmetics’ regulations and the TGA (therapeutic goods administration) and is therefore not required to test their safety. Therefore, when buying your organic baby products the only way to be certain a product will not have harmful compounds is that it is certified organic, and even better, to be certified organic to food standards. It is important to understand that infants and children are very vulnerable to the dangerous effects of these chemicals because their bodies, organs and brains are still developing and growing. You need to be informed about how certain ingredients cause harm, how to interpret labels to avoids dangerous toxins and what are acceptable substitutes.
Major Toxins to Avoid
•Phthlates : phthlates have been shown to disrupt the reproductive and endocrine systems, more so in a young body and the growing rates of male infertility are thought to be linked to phthalate exposure.
There has been a lot of concern about Phthalates in the news lately but were you aware that they are contained in most baby care products like lotions and shampoos? Countries such as Canada and Europe are taking action, earlier this year Australia banned the use of products with more than 1% phthalate, however I don’t believe action was taken on bath and skin products. They are still trying to convince us they are safe. They are not. In a similar vein to Australia, California passed a law to ban 6 types of phthalates in toys and bottles but other products like bath and skin care products have not been placed under the law. Companies are not required to fully disclose ingredients on the label, so therefore there is no way to know if they are phthalate free unless you buy certified organic baby products.
Research conducted recently from the University of Washington found that children were not just being exposed through formula, bottles and chewing toys but were also absorbing phthalates through the skin when it was applied directly to the skin. Urine testing was used in 163 children aged 2-28 months and it was found that over 80 percent of these infants had over 7 types of phthalate in their urine. The more phthalates detected was directly related to frequency of bathing and lotion use. What was alarming is that baby shampoo had been used on more than half of the tested infants within 24 hours of the urine testing. Thirty percent had lotions applied and 14% had had powder used. These babies had four times the level of phthalates in their urine than those babies whose parents had not used those products on them.
The industry rebuts this research by saying the only phthalates used in baby products is called DEP, which apparently has been proven safe. So why then could 7 or more different types be found in the testing? Yes, infants are exposed by many means, but the truth remains that all phthalates were significantly increased in infants whose parents had done nothing else different except use lotions, shampoos and powders. This strongly suggests that the increased phthalates came from these products. Don’t forget full ingredient disclosure is not required, so you really don’t know exactly what manufacturers are putting in these products.
•Carcinogens or cancer causing agents. The Environmental Protection Agency has found through a review of 23 peer-reviewed studies of cancer over the last 50 years that infants up to the age of two years are 10 times more vulnerable to carcingenic chemicals that an adult, and in some instances they are 65 times more vulnerable for some cancer causing chemicals. Between the ages of 2-15 years children are three times more vulnerable to carcinogens than adults. They conclude by stating children accumulate up to fifty percent of their lifetime cancer risk by the age of two.Here are just a few ingredients known or suspected to cause cancer: Ammonium laureth sulphate, Alkyl-phenol-ethoxylades, Cocamide (and cocomide)DEA, FDC- (FD&C) Colors, Benzene,Glycols – Propylene glycol, Ethylene glycol, Diethylene glycol and carbitol.
•Fragrances contain up to 4000 separate ingredients, with almost all of those being synthetic. These synthetic fragrances can result in headache, dizzy spells, rashes, skin disorders, coughing and vomiting, skin reactions and asthma. Their affects on the central nervous system can cause hyperactivity, depression, irritability, inability to cope and other behavioural changes.
•1,4 Dioxane: Ethylene oxide is used by companies to help make harsh petroleum based ingredients more gentle. As a result of this ethylation 1,4 Dioxane is produced, which is a known carcinogen and suspected to cause kidney damage. Of late several alleged “green” companies were exposed because their products contained this very chemical which proves the use of petroleum based chemicals. Once again you will not find this listed in the ingredients list, because it is a by product and not part of the original formula. Avoid any product with any of the following ingredients: oxynol, myreth, oleth, laureth, any other “eth,” or PEG, polyethylene, ceteareth, polyethylene glycol or polyoxyethylene.
•Mineral oil: would any caring parent put gasoline on their child? The Environmental Working Group state that 40% of all baby lotions and oils contain petroleum, which is a non renewable hydrocarbon made from crude oil. The oil can coat you baby’s skin with a non-breathable toxic film. The Australia’s National Occupational Health and Safety Commissions (NOHSC) say that prolonged contact with mineral oil has an associated risk of developing skin conditions such as eczematous dermatitis, oil folliculitis, melanosis of the face and plantar warts. Petroleum can also disrupt hormones and reduces the skin’s ability to detoxify. After excessive sun exposure it is the 2nd most likely cause of premature skin aging. Sunscreens that have a basis in mineral oil are now being implicated in promoting colon, skin and breast cancer and disturbingly are found in most breast cancer tissue. Petroleum is a known carcinogen, known to adversely effect health, yet is still approved safe by the TGA.
•Sodium Laurel Sulfates (SLS)/Sodium Lareth Sulfates (SLES): These are the ingredients responsible for suds or froth in shampoos, soaps and toothpastes. As far back as 1983 the Journal of American College of Toxicology reported SLS can cause separation of skin layers and inflammation of the skin and damage the immune system. They also state that SLS/SLES can cause malformation of a baby’s eyes. These chemicals are readily absorbed by the skin and wind up in the heart, lungs, liver and brain.
•Parabens are commonly used as a preservative in products ranging from food to shampoo to baby wipes. At low doses they are known to cause system organ toxicity and reproductive damage.
•“Natural” : Unfortunately this term in not at all regulated and has no guarantee of safety. Many products labeled “natural” contain at least one of the above listed ingredients and have petroleum based chemicals in them.
How to reduce the toxic load on your child
Read labels: learn or carry a list of the above ingredients with you when you shop.
Keep it easy and simple: before a baby becomes mobile, warm water and a washcloth is usually all you will need.
Choose certified organic baby products: when you do need to use products, choose ones that are certified organic. This way you are assured that these products contain only pure, truly natural, non-toxic ingredients that are safe for your baby, your family and the environment.
It is important to note, the skin is the largest organ in the body and easily absorbs almost anything placed on it. Listed above are some ingredients that are the major toxins. There are many more. Assure your children’s future health by protecting them in the present. If you can’t pronounce the ingredients or are clueless to what something is, if the label looks like chemical textbook instead of a garden do not buy it. Do this and you will know what you are putting on your baby’s (and your own) skin.