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Arsenic

Most exposures to the heavy metal arsenic come from wood that is pressure-treated with Chromated Copper

Arsenate (CCA), which is found in playgrounds, fences, decks and other constructions. (Manufacturers of

CCA wood stopped producing in at the end of 2003, although stores can still sell the wood until the stockpiles

are gone). Arsenic is a carcinogen and has been shown to cause lung, skin, bladder, liver, kidney and prostate

cancer. Arsenic can also cause blood disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and is a known hormone disruptor

that affects metabolism and immune function.

Wikipedia entry on Arsenic

From wikipedia: "Arsenic is notoriously poisonous to most multicellular life, due to the interaction of

arsenic ions with protein thiols. Arsenic and its compounds, especially the trioxide, are used in the

production of pesticides (treated wood products), herbicides, and insecticides. These applications are

declining, however, as many of these compounds are in the process of being banned."

See Glossary Page

BFRs (brominated flame retardants)

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are used to slow the spread of fire in upholstered furniture, mattresses,curtains, carpets and electronics. BFRs contain PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers), a group of

chemicals that are highly persistent and bioaccumulative; they are suspected hormone disruptors and can

cause cancer reproductive and developmental disorders. PBDEs are suspected of having particularly

damaging effects on the thyroid (which controls brain development), and as a result, PBDEs may cause

neurodevelopmental disorders such as learning disbilities and behaviour problems. PBDEs leach from

products, and have been detected in house dust, human blood and breast milk.

BFRs (brominated flame retardants) Health and Safety issues on wikipedia

Many brominated chemicals are coming under increasing criticism in their use in household furnishings

and where children would come into contact with them..... Increasing concern has prompted some

European countries to ban some of them, following the precautionary principle more common inEurope.

See Glossary Page

Bioaccumulation

Bioaccumulation is the increase in concentration of a substance in the tissues of a living organism throughout

its lifetime. Everyday we are exposed to a mixture of substances through contaminated air, water, food and

products. As exposure occurs, certain chemicals that are very slowly metabolized or excreted build up in the

tissues of living organisms.

See Glossary Page

Bisphenol A

Bisphenol A is primarily used to make polycarbonate plastic (recycling # 7) food and beverage containers,

plastic food wrap, some dental sealants, and the epoxy resins that are used to line some metal cans for foods,

such as cans of soup. Bisphenol A can leach from these products as they age and are exposed to heat,

subsequently ingested by people.

Recent research has shown that this chemical is an estrogenic hormone disruptor that can cause reproductive

sary | Toxic Nation | Environmental Defence http://environmentaldefence.ca/campaigns/toxic-nation

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amage an r e ec s a may ea o pros a e an reas cancer n a u oo . er researc as n e

this chemical with immune system dysfunction, early puberty in females, heart disease, diabetes, and higher

rates of miscarriage.

Bisphenol A on wikipedia

Bisphenol A is an endocrine disruptor, which can mimic the body's own hormones and may lead to

negative health effects. Early development appears to be the period of greatest sensitivity to its effects.

See Glossary Page

Body burden

Body burden refers to the amount of a chemical, or a number of chemicals, stored in the body at a given time,

especially a potential toxin in the body as the result of exposure.

Link to Biomonitoring (measuring body burden) on wikipedia

In analytical chemistry, biomonitoring is the measurement of the body burden of toxic chemical

compounds, elements, or their metabolites, in biological substances. Often, these measurements are

done in blood and urine.

See Glossary Page

Cadmium

Cadmium is a heavy metal that comes from both natural and man-made sources. Most exposures to cadmium

come from pigments and bakeware, as well as electronic equipment, car parts, batteries, phosphate fertilizer,

sludge applications in agriculture and contaminated food. This heavy metal is known to cause lung and

prostate cancer, and is toxic to the gastrointestinal tract, the kidneys, and the respiratory, cardiovascular and

hormonal systems.

Cadmium poisoning on WikipediaCadmium has no constructive purpose in the human body. Cadmium is extremely toxic even in low

concentrations, and will bioaccumulate in organisms and ecosystems.

See Glossary Page

Carcinogen

Any substance that can cause or aggravate cancer.

See Glossary Page

Dioxin

Dioxins are highly toxic, persistent, and bioaccumulative compounds found in the environment. They occur

naturally at trace levels, but are also a byproduct of a number of industrial processes, including combustion

(commercial, medical or municipal waste incineration), burning fuels, chlorine bleaching of pulp and paper,

herbicide and pesticide manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, refining and processing, electrical power

generation, and iron and steel production. Studies demonstrate that 90% of human dioxin exposure occurs

through diet, from the consumption of fish, meat, or dairy products, and that the compound accumulates in

food chains through atmospheric deposition. Dioxins can cause a number of adverse health effects to humans


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, ,

endocrine system and nervous system; skin disorders, such as chloracne; liver damage; elevated incidence of

diabetes; heart and kidney disease; and cancer.

Dioxin on Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

Formaldehyde

For items in the home, formaldehyde is used to make wrinkle-resistant clothing, glues and adhesives and as a

preservative in some paints and coating products. Many types of wood found in construction materials,

furniture and cabinetry contain formaldehyde, including particleboard, fibreboard and plywood.

Formaldehyde emissions generally decrease as products age; when products are new, high indoor

temperatures and humidity can increase the amount of formaldehyde that is released. Formaldehyde is known

to cause cancer and is a sensitizer that can cause and aggravate severe allergies. This chemical can also

irritate and damage the respiratory system and trigger asthma attacks.

Fomaldehyde on Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

Heavy Metals

Please see arsenic, cadmium, lead, manganese and mercury.

Heavy Metals on Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

Hormone disruptors (a.k.a. Endocrine disruptors)

Hormone or endocrine disruptors are substances that can interfere with the normal functioning of the

hormone system of both people and wildlife in a number of ways to produce a wide range of adverse effects

including reproductive, developmental and behavioural problems.

Hormone disruptors on Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

Latex

The production of latex involves the use of nitrosamines and their precursors, which are known to be potent

cancer-causing substances. These chemicals are added to increase the strength and elasticity of the final

product, such as rubber nipples on baby bottles. Unfortunately, wear and tear can cause rubber nipples to

release nitrosamines and their precursors as a baby suckles. Studies show that the precursors actually

transform into nitrosamines when they are exposed to saliva.

Latex on Wikipedia

See Glossary Page


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ea

Lead is a heavy metal that occurs naturally in the environment and is produced from man-made sources.

Most exposures to lead come from lead paint and emissions from industrial facilities like metal smelters.

Other sources of exposure include crystal tableware, porcelain enamel and contaminated food. Lead is a

suspected carcinogen, a known hormone disruptor, and can damage almost every organ and system in the

human body, particularly the nervous system. Lead has been indicated as a cause of decreased mental ability,

developmental delays, behavioural disorders and reproductive defects.

Lead on Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

Manganese

Manganese is a naturally occurring metal that is found in many types of rocks. In addition to natural sources,

human-made sources of manganese include the burning of fossil fuels, emissions from the steel industry, and

the use of synthetic manganese compounds in pesticides. Although manganese is an essential element

necessary for good health, at elevated levels it can become a neurotoxin.

Manganese in Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

Measurements

g/L (microgram per litre), equivalent to parts per billion (ppb)

ng/mL (nanogram per millilitre), equivalent to parts per billion (ppb)

g/g (microgram per gram), equivalent to parts per million (ppm)

ng/g (nanograms of the chemical per gram sampled tissue), equivalent to parts per billion (ppb)

cre= creatinin, in urine measurementmol/L (micromoles per litre)

nmol/L (nanomoles per litre)

See Glossary Page

Mercury

Some mercury occurs naturally in the environment, but the major sources of mercury pollution are coal-fired

power plant emissions and emissions from mining and manufacturing processes, as well as mercury-

containing products, such as thermometers, batteries, and fluorescent light tubes. When inorganic mercury

enters the air from these human sources it is then deposited in soil and water, where micro organismstransform inorganic mercury into organic mercury compounds, such as methylmercury. Methylmercury can

bioaccumulate in the fatty tissues of living organisms, particularly fish living in polluted waters, and the

people who then eat those fish. Mercury is a recognized developmental toxin, and it is also a suspected

hormone disruptor, neurotoxin, reproductive toxin and respiratory toxin.

Mercury in Wikipedia

See Glossary Page


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Naphthalene is used in products to reduce mold contamination and protect clothing from moth damage. It is a

fungicide and a pollutant from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. Naphthalene is a chemical of

concern because it has been linked to cancer and organ system toxicity. This chemical is used in consumer

products like mothballs, fragrances, perfume, deodorizers, as a flavouring agent, in soap and cleaning

products. In the environment naphthalene is both persistent and bioaccumulative.

Naphthalene in Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Neurodevelopmental disorders are disabilities in the functioning of the brain that affect a childs behaviour,

memory, or ability to learn. These effects may result from exposure of the fetus or young child to certain

environmental contaminants, though current data do not indicate the extent to which environmental

contaminants contribute to overall rates of neurodevelopmental disorders in children. A childs brain and

nervous system are vulnerable to adverse impacts from pollutants because they go through a long

developmental process beginning shortly after conception and continuing through adolescence.

Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

Neurotoxins

Exposure to chemical substances can cause adverse effects on the nervous system (neurotoxicity). Chemicals

toxic to the central nervous system can induce confusion, fatigue, irritability, and other behavioural changes.

Exposure to methyl mercury and lead cause central nervous system toxicity, and can also cause degenerative

diseases of the brain (encephalopathy). Chemicals toxic to the peripheral nervous system affect how nervescarry sensory information and motor impulses from the brain to the rest of the body.

Neurotoxins in Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers)

See brominated flame retardants.

PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) in Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls)

PCBs have been banned in Canada since 1977, yet they continue to be released into the environment from

sources in other countries, and from PCB-containing industrial equipment that is still in use here at home.

PCBs are highly toxic and persistent chemicals that have been building up in wildlife and people through the

process of bioaccumulation. PCBs cause many types of cancer and damages the nervous, immune and

cardiovascular systems, leading to birth defects, brain damage and decreased immune function.


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PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) in Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

PERC (perchloroethylene)

The most common form of dry cleaning uses a chemical called perchloroethylene (or "PERC"). Ninety

percent of the industry uses PERC, and dry cleaning accounts for between one-third and one-half of all thePERC used in Canada. Typewriter correction fluid and shoe polish are among the consumer products that

contain PERC. PERC has been designated under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act as a persistent,

bio-accumulative chemical that is toxic to the environment. Short term exposure to PERC can cause adverse

health effects on the nervous system. Contact with PERC in its liquid or vapour form can irritate the skin,

eyes, nose and throat. Long term exposure to PERC can cause liver and kidney damage. PERC has been

shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals that repeatedly breathed PERC in air.

PERC (perchloroethylene) in Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

Perfluorinated chemicals

Perfluorinated chemicals are widely used for their resistance to environmental breakdown in a range of

consumer products. PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) is used as a stain repellent on clothing and other fabric

products, such as carpets. This chemical is also used in food packaging, particularly for fast food and

microwave popcorn bags. Another perfluorinated chemical of concern is PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid),

which is used to make Goretex and Teflon products, such as non-stick cookware. Although much more

research is needed on these chemicals, existing studies have shown that perfluorinated chemicals are

extremely persistent. Studies also suggest that these chemicals can cause cancer and disrupt hormones.

Perfluorinated chemicals in Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

Persistent

Compounds that are not easily broken down in the environment and therefore stay in the environment for a

very long time are know as 'persistent'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persistent_organic_pollutant

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are organic compounds that are resistant to environmental

degradation through chemical, biological, and photolytic processes.

See Glossary Page

Pesticides

There are many different types of pesticides, insecticides, fungicides and other chemical treatments used in

agriculture, lawn care and for the treatment of pests such as mosquitoes and moths. Organochlorine pesticides

(OPs) are mainly used on agricultural cropsmeaning on the fruits and vegetables we all eat. These

chemicals are highly toxic and persistent in the environment, and as a group of chemicals have been shown to


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, , .

Organophosphate insecticides, like parathion, diazinon, malathion, and chloropyrifos, have a variety of

applications for lawns, agricultural crops, mosquito and pest control. These chemicals are known neurotoxins,

and have serious adverse effects on the development of the brain. Chronic exposure causes damage to the

reproductive system resulting in reduced fertility.

Pesticides in Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

Phthalates

Phthalates are a group of man-made chemicals that are widely used as plasticizing additives in a broad range

of consumer products, including cosmetic and personal care products, PVC consumer products and

construction materials. These chemicals are also used in synthetic fragrances to extend the scents staying

power. Phthalates are relatively persistent in the environment and have been found in drinking water, soil,

household dust, wildlife, fatty foods (meat and dairy products) and in the blood and breast milk of people.

Scientific research has shown that phthalates disrupt hormones, and can cause birth defects of male

reproductive organs.

Phthalates in Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

Polycarbonate plastic (recycling # 7)

Polycarbonate plastic is made with a toxic chlorine gas derivative and cancer-causing solvents, and

throughout its use, in the form of refillable drinking bottles for example, it may leach the hormone disrupting

chemical bisphenol A.

Polycarbonate plastic in Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

PAHs come from both natural and human-made sources, and are formed during the incomplete burning of

coal, oil, gas, garbage, or other organic substances; some PAHs are manufactured. Forest fires are the largest

natural source of PAHs in Canada. The greatest human-made sources of PAHs are aluminum smelters, coking

plants, creosote-treated products, spills of petroleum products and transportation. PAHs have been identified

as probably cancer-causing, and are suspected reproductive and respiratory toxins.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

PVC (Polyvinyl chloride), a.k.a Vinyl (recycling # 3)

PVC is a harmful plastic that emits toxic chemicals from manufacturing to disposal. PVC is used to make

construction materials (such as pipes, flooring, and wiring), and a range of consumer products (plastic bottles

and containers, baby bottles, toys, records and clothes). The manufacture of PVC involves the use and

emission of dioxin, but more importantly for the health of humans, PVC products can leach toxic additives,


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like phthalates, throughout their use. Phthalates are added to PVC products to make them softer and more

flexible, but these chemicals are known to disrupt hormones, leading to birth defects of male reproductive

organs.

PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) in Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

Reproductive/Developmental Toxicants

Reproductive toxicants can affect sexual behaviour, onset of puberty, sperm count, fertility, gestation time,

pregnancy outcome, lactation and premature menopause. Developmental toxicants, a sub-group of

reproductive toxicants, can cause adverse effects for the developing child, such as birth defects.

Reproductive/Developmental Toxicants in Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

Respiratory Toxicants

Respiratory toxicants cause adverse effects to the structure or functioning of the respiratory system (nasal

passages, pharynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs), and produce a variety of acute and chronic pulmonary

conditions, including local irritation, bronchitis, pulmonary edema, emphysema, and cancer.

Respiratory toxicants include categories of substances like toxic gases, vapors from solvents, aerosols, and

particulate matter. Ozone and fine particles are known to pose a significant threat to respiratory health.

Ground-level ozone, the main component in smog, causes breathing problems, aggravates asthma, and

increases the severity and incidence of respiratory infections.

See Glossary Page

Stain repellants

See perfluorinated chemicals.

See Glossary Page

Synthetic fragrances

See phthalates.

See Glossary Page

Teflon

See perfluorinated chemicals.

Teflon in Wikipedia

See Glossary Page


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Materials that cause death, disease, or birth defects in organisms that ingest or absorb them. The quantities

and exposures necessary to cause these effects can vary widely.

Toxic in Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

Triclosan

The chemical triclosan is a synthetic antimicrobial/antibacterial agent whose use has become widespread in

toothpastes and mouthwashes, deodorants, cosmetics, fabrics, plastics and other products. No data has

demonstrated that antibacterials provide any additional benefits over using ordinary soaps and water when it

comes to protecting against viral infectious diseases. Research has rather shown that triclosan may have

several negative health effects; it can cause allergies and asthma by weakening the immune system; it disrupts

the hormonal system; it can bioaccumulate; and, it belongs to a class of chemicals that are suspected of

causing cancer in humans. Studies have also shown that when triclosan is exposed to sunlight in water it may

convert into the potent toxic chemical dioxin.

Triclosan in Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

Virtual Elimination

Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, virtual elimination is the reduction of releases to the

environment of the most dangerous toxic substances to a level below which these releases cannot be

accurately measured.

Virtual Elimination in Wikipedia

See Glossary Page

VOCs (Volatile and Semi-volatile organic compounds)

VOCs, such as the chemicals xylene, benzene, and toluene, are found in many household products, including

paints, varnishes, paint stripping products, and adhesives. VOCs are air borne particles that contribute to poor

air quality indoors and out. In fact, VOCs are one of the building blocks of smog. VOCs are toxic to the

nervous system and some are cancer-causing. The health effects of different VOCs range from damage to the

reproductive, neurological and respiratory systems, birth defects, and impaired kidney and liver function.

VOCs in Wikipedia


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Have you ever counted how many cosmetics or personal care products you use in a

day?

Chances are its nearly 10.

And chances are good that they include shampoo, too thpaste, soap, deodorant, hair conditioner, lip balm,

sunscreen, body lotion, shaving products if youre a man, and cosmetics if you are a woman. And what about

your children? On any given day you might rub, spray, or pour some combination of sunscreen, diaper cream,

shampoo, lotion, and maybe even insect repellant on their skin.

Most people use these products without a second thought, and believe that the government must certainly bepolicing the safety of the mixtures in these myriad containers. But they are wrong about this. The government

does not require health studies or pre-market testing for these products before they are sold. And as people

apply an average of 126 unique ingredients on their skin daily, these chemicals, whether they seep through the

skin, rinse down the drain, or flush down the toilet in human excretions, are causing concerns for human health,

and for the impacts they may have to wildlife, rivers and streams.

Why personal care products? At first blush it may seem that mascara and shaving cream have little

relevance to the broader world of environmental health. Think again. In August 2005, when scientists published

a study finding a relationship between plasticizers called phthalates and feminization of U.S. male babies,

they named fragrance as a possible culprit. When estrogenic industrial chemicals called parabens were found

in human breast tumor tissue, researchers questioned if deodorant was the source. And when studies show,

again and again, that hormone systems in wildlife are thrown in disarray by common water pollutants, once

again the list of culprits include personal care products, rinsing down drains and into rivers.

At the Environmental Working Group we have researched and advocated on personal care product safety for

five years now, and consider it an integral part of our work to strengthen our system of public health protections

from industrial chemicals. Heres why:

Industrial chemicals are basic ingredients in personal care products. The 10,500 unique chemical

ingredients in these products equate to about one of every eight of the 82,000 chemicals registered for

use in the U.S. Personal care products contain carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, endocrine

disruptors, plasticizers, degreasers, and surfactants. They are the chemical industry in a bottle.

No premarket safety testing required this is a reality of both the personal care product industry and

the broader chemical industry as a whole. For industrial chemicals, the government approves an average

of seven new chemicals every day. Eighty percent are approved in three weeks or less, with or without

safety tests. Advocating that industry have an understanding of product safety before selling to the public

finds common messages, common methods, and common gains whether the focus is cosmeticingredients or other industrial chemicals.

Everyone uses personal care products. Exposures are widespread, and for some people, extensive.

Our 2004 product use survey shows that more than a quarter of all women and one of every 100 men

use at least 15 products daily. These exposures add up, and raise questions about the potential health

risks from the myriad of unassessed ingredients migrating into the bodies of nearly every American, day

after day.

No safety testing. According to the agency that regulates cosmetics, the FDAs Office of Cosmetics and

Colors, a cosmetic manufacturer may use almost any raw material as a cosmetic ingredient and

market the product without an approval from FDA(FDA 1995). The industrys self-policing safety panel

falls far short of compensating for the lack of government oversight. An EWG analysis found that in its 30-year

history, the industrys self-policing safety panel has reviewed the safety of just 11 percent of the 10,500

ingredients used in personal care products. FDA does no systematic reviews of safety. And collectively, the

ingredients in personal care products account for one of every eight of the 82,000 chemicals industries have

registered for commercial use with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Nearly 90 percent of the 10,500 ingredients FDA has determined are used in personal care products

have not been evaluated for safety by the CIR, the FDA, or any other publicly accountable institution.

While some companies make products that are safe to eat, other companies choose to use known human

carcinogens or developmental toxins like coal tar and lead acetate. When risky chemicals are used in

cosmetics, the s takes are high. These are not trace contaminants like those found at part-per-million or even

part-per-billion levels in food and water. These are the base ingredients of the product, just as flour is an

ingredient in bread. These chemicals are found in percent levels in personal care products, nearly all easily

penetrate the skin, and some we ingest directly from our lips or hands.

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,

Environmental Working Group compiled an electronic database of ingredient labels for name-brand products

and cross-linked it with toxicity or regulatory databases.

At Environmental Working Group we consider these results cause for concern, not alarm. Much study remains

to be done on exposure levels and health risks. But what we do know shows that such s tudy and direct

consumer action to avoid known toxic ingredients is absolutely essential.

Cosmetic ingredients do not sit tight of the surface of the skin they are designed to penetrate, and they do.

Scientists have found many common cosmetic ingredients in human tissues, including industrial plasticizers

called phthalates in urine, preservatives called parabens in breast tumor tissue, and persistent fragrance

components like musk xylene in human fat. Do the levels at which they are found pose risks? For the most part,

those studies have not been done. But a recent study showing feminization of human male babies in the U.S.

linked to a common fragrance component (diethyl phthalate) joins a small but growing number of studies that

serve as scientific red flags when it comes to the safety of ingredients in personal care products.

Are our products affecting wildlife, rivers and streams? When the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention sought to understand human exposures to industrial plasticizers called phthalates, they passed up

food, water, air, or human blood testing, and targeted urine instead. When ingredients in personal care products

seep through human skin into our bodies, many end up in human excretions. Other ingredients get washed

down the drain when we wash our hair and bodies in the shower, or clean a days makeup and lotion off our

faces at the end of the day.

A growing number of studies in the field of testing that targets what are known as PPCPs pharmaceuticals

and personal care products finds our personal care product ingredients in rivers and streams across thecountry. And some ingredients have been linked to impacts in wildlife those that target the hormone system,

for example, that have been linked to feminization of fish and other aquatic life.

Personal care products are chock full of chemicals that act like estrogen and that raise concerns with respect

to wildlife. Examples? Fifty-seven percent of all products contain paraben preservatives, nearly two percent

contain surfactants called alkylphenols and just over two percent contain estrogenic sunscreen ingredients,

according to EWGs 2004 product assessment.

EWGs research shows that 50 percent of all products on the market contain added fragrance, complex

mixtures of chemicals, some persistent, some neurotoxic, and some newly found to harm wildlife. Researchers

at Stanford University published work in 2004 showing that mussels lost their ability to clear their bodies of

poisons when exposed to parts-per-billion levels of common fragrance musks.

When the ingredients in our products are harming wildlife, what must be their impact to us? That is a question

that remains unanswered by an industry with near complete discretion over product safety, making slow

progress in screening ingredients for safety.

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Almost any chemical as an ingredient in personal care products

Misleading and incomplete labeling of ingredients

Unsubstantiated claims about product benefits

No required safety testing of products or ingredients

What can you do?

Navigating store aisles can be difficult. Environmental Working

Group researchers have evaluated hundreds of safety studies andthousands of ingredient labels to bring you our top

recommendations for what not to buy.

Pick safer products

Your body

Your teeth

Your lips

Your skin + the sun

Your hair

Your nails

Your kids

For babies and young children

For teens

For women

For men

Over-the-counter drugs and personal care products

Buyer beware: Less common ingredients with significant health

concerns

Ingredients derived from animals

Pick safer products:

Use EWGs Skin Deep Cosmetics Database to find safety scores for thousands of products.Print our wallet guide [link]

Use fewer products. Buy only after reviewing ingredients.

Remember marketing claims like dermatologist-tested, gentle and natural could be ad hype.

Your body

Getting clean

No { triclocarban (bar soap) or triclosan (liquid soap) }

Yes { hand sanitizers with ethanol/ethyl alcohol }

Moisturizing

No { retinyl palmitate or retinol in daytime skin products }

Your Teeth

No { triclosan in toothpaste }

Your Lips

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No { retinyl palmitate or retinol }

Your skin + the sun

Very few sunscreens provide adequate sun protection and are free of harmful ingredients.

No

SPF above 50

Retinyl palmitate

Aerosol spray and powder sunscreen

Oxybenzone

Insect repellent

Yes

Hats and shade in mid-day sun.

Zinc or Titanium are the best active ingredients, otherwise Avobenzone at 3%

SPF 30 for intense sun

Use a lot and reapply frequently

Your hair

No

Fragrance

PEGs, ceteareths and polyethylene

Parabens: propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl

DMDM hydantoin

Your nails

No

Formaldehyde or formalin in polish, hardeners or other nail products.

Toluene

Dibutyl phthalate (DBP).

Pregnant? Skip polish

Your kids

Kids are sensitive. Use few products and pick them carefully.

Diaper Cream

No Boric Acid

Baby Wipes

No 2-Bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (bronopol)

Toothpaste

LIMIT fluoride toothpaste for kids who might swallow it (none for kids under 2)

5 problem products:

Some categories of products have major safety concerns. Avoid them, particularly for children.

Hair straighteners : cancer, allergy, skin and scalp irritation, hair damage and hair loss


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Loose powders: inhalation risk

Perfumes/fragrances: allergy concerns

Dark permanent hair dyes: linked to cancer

Skin lighteners: skin irrita tion and damage

Common ingredients with safety concerns:

Fragrance: This catch-all term can include hundreds of chemicals and trigger allergic react ions. Skip

products that use the term fragrance in the list of ingredients and instead opt for those that list each

fragrance ingredient.Ingredients can have harmful contaminants: Many common ingredients can

contain impurities linked to cancer and other health concerns. Avoid these common ingredients where

possible:

DMDM hydantoin,

Diazolidinyl urea,

Imidazolidinyl urea,

Ceteareth,

Polyethylene glycol and PEG

For a full list of ingredients with impurities concerns, check EW Gs Skin Deep database.

In depth: common ingredients to avoid

Benzalkonium chloride: Biocide, preservative and surfactant associated with severe skin, eye, and

respiratory irritation and allergies, benzalkonium chloride is a sensitizer especially dangerous for people with

asthma or skin conditions like eczema. It is found in many household disinfectants and cleaning supplies.

Regular use of products containing antimicrobials such as benzalkonium chloride could lead to development of

resistant bacteria.

BHA: The National Toxicology Program classifies butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) as reasonably anticipated to

be a human carcinogen. It can cause skin depigmentation. In animal studies, BHA produces liver damage andcauses stomach cancers such as papillomas and carcinomas and interferes with normal reproductive system

development and thyroid hormone levels. The European Union considers it unsafe in fragrance. It is found in

food, food packaging, and personal care products sold in the U.S.

Coal tar hair dyes and other coal tar ingredients (including Aminophenol, Diaminobenzene,

Phenylenediamine): Coal tar, a byproduct of coal processing, is a known human carcinogen , according to the

National Toxicology Program and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Hair s tylists and other

professionals are exposed to these chemicals in hair dye almost daily. While FDA sanctions coal tar in

specialty products such as dandruff and psoriasis shampoos, the long-term safety of these products has not

been demonstrated.

DMDM hydantoin & bronopol (2-Bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol): Cosmetics preservatives that decompose

and release formaldehyde , which the International Agency on Research on Cancer lists as a known human

carcinogen. The preservatives and their decomposition products, including formaldehyde, can trigger allergicreactions. About one-fifth of U.S. cosmetics and personal care products contain a chemical that releases

formaldehyde. Not surprisingly, more Americans develop contact allergies to these ingredients than Europeans.

Formaldehyde: A potent preservative considered a known human carcinogen by the International Agency on

Research on Cancer. Formaldehyde, also an asthmagen, neurotoxicant and developmental toxicant, was once

mixed into to many personal care products as antiseptic. This use has declined. But some hair straighteners

are based on formaldehydes hair-stiffening action and release substantial amounts of the chemical. Many

common preservatives also release formaldehyde into products (like DMDM hydantoin, quaternium, and urea

compounds).

Fragrance : It may help sell products from face cream to laundry detergent, but do you know whats in it?

Fragrances are in everything from shampoo to deodorant to lotion. Federal law doesnt require companies to


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.

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found an average of 14 chemicals in 17 name brand fragrance products, none of

them listed on the label. Fragrances can contain hormone disruptors and are among the top 5 allergens in the

world. Our advice? Buy fragrance free.

ydroquinone: A skin bleaching chemical that can cause a skin disease called ochronosis, with blue-black

lesions that in the worst cases become permanent black caviar-s ize bumps. In animal studies, hydroquinone

has caused tumor development. The National Toxicology Program is conducting reproductive toxicity and

dermal carcinogenicity s tudies of this chemical.

Methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone: Preservatives, commonly used together in

personal care products, among the most common irritants, sensitizers and causes of contact allergy Lab

studies on mammalian brain cells suggest that methylisothiazolinone may be neurotoxic.

Oxybenzone: Sunscreen agent and ultraviolet light absorber, found in nearly all Americans , according to the

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In human epidemiological studies, oxybenzone has been

linked to irrita tion, sensitization and allergies. A study of 404 New York City women in the third trimester of

pregnancy associated higher maternal concentration of oxybenzone with a decreased birth weight among

newborn baby girls but with greater birth weight in newborn boys. Studies on cells and laboratory animals

indicate that oxybenzone and its metabolites may disrupt the hormone system.

Parabens (Propyl, Isopropyl, Butyl, and Isobutylparabens): Parabens are estrogen-mimicking preservatives,

found in breast cancer tumors of 19 of 20 women studied. The CDC has detected parabens in virtually all

Americans surveyed. According to the European Commissions Scientific Committee on Consumer Products,

longer chain parabens like propyl and butyl paraben and their branched counterparts, isopropyl and

isobutylparabens, may disrupt the endocrine system and cause reproductive and developmental disorders.

PEG/Ceteareth/Polyethylene compounds: These synthetic chemicals are frequently contaminated with

1,4-dioxane, which the U.S. government considers a probably human carcinogen and which readily penetrates

the skin. Cosmetics makers could easily remove 1,4 -dioxane from ingredients, but tests documenting its

common presence in products show that they often dont.

Petroleum distillates: Petroleum-extracted cosmetics ingredients, commonly found in mascara. They may

cause contact dermatitis and are often contaminated with cancer-causing impurities. They are produced in oil

refineries at the same time as automobile fuel, heating oil and chemical feedstocks.

Phthalates: A growing number of studies link this chemical to male reproductive system disorders. Pregnant

women should avoid nail polish containing dibutyl phathalate. Everyone should avoid products with fragrance

indicating a chemical mixture that may contain phthalates.

Resorcinol: Common ingredient in hair color and bleaching products; skin irritant, toxic to the immune system

and frequent cause of hair dye allergy. In animal studies, resorcinol can disrupt normal thyroid function. The

federal government regulates exposures to resorcinol in the workplace, but its use is not restricted in personal

care products.

Retinyl palmitate and retinol (Vitamin A): Vitamin A is an essential nutrient, but excessive amounts can

cause severe birth defects if women are exposed during pregnancy New evidence shows that when applied to

sun-exposed skin, for instance, in sunscreens, lip products and daytime moisturizers, these compounds can

break down and produce toxic free radicals that can damage DNA and cause skin cancer. Recent date f rom the

federal Food and Drug Administration indicate that when retinyl palmitate is applied to the skin in the presence

of sunlight, it speeds the development of skin tumors and lesions.

Toluene: Volatile petrochemical solvent and paint thinner and potent neurotoxicant that acts as an irritant,

impairs breathing and causes nausea A pregnant womans exposure to toluene vapors during pregnancy mayimpair fetal development. In human epidemiological and animal studies, toluene has been associated with

toxicity to the immune system. Some evidence suggests a link to malignant lymphoma.

Triclosan & Triclocarban: Antimicrobial pesticides in liquid soap (triclosan) or soap bars (triclocarban), very

toxic to the aquatic environment. often found as contaminants in people due to widespread use of antimicrobial

cleaning products. Triclosan disrupts thyroid function and reproductive hormones. American Medical

Association and the American Academy of Microbiology say that soap and water serves just as well to prevent

spread of infections and reduce bacteria on the skin. Overuse may promote the development of bacteria l

resistance.

For babies and young children


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Every day, children are exposed to an average of 27 personal care product ingredients that have not been

found safe for developing bodies, according to an EWG national survey. An EWG review has found that 77

percent of ingredients in 1,700 childrens products have not been assessed for safety.

Children are not little adults. Pound for pound, kids are exposed to more contaminants in a ir, water, food, and

personal care products than adults. Immature organ systems are often less capable of fending off chemical

assaults. Subtle damage to developing bodies may lead to disease later in life.

Parents can make healthy choices by using fewer personal care products for their children, ignoring ad hype

and following these tips:

Baby wipes

oid{ 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (or Bronopol), DMDM hydantoin, fragrance }

Diaper cream

Avoid{ BHA, boric acid, sodium borate, fragrance }

Sunscreen Infants under 6 months dont belong in the sun and they shouldnt wear sunscreen. For older babies

and children, use protective clothing and sunscreen that provides good UVA and UVB protection. Use enough

and reapply often. See general sunscreen guidelines and our sunscreen report for more information.

Toothpaste Use small amounts of fluoride-free toothpaste for children under 2, as recommended by the

American Dental Association. See general toothpaste guidelines for more information.

Baby powder Skip it! Just like auto exhaust or secondhand smoke, tiny ai rborne particles can damage babys

delicate, developing lungs.

Play makeup and nail polish Avoid when possible. A little goes a long way. Children should play dress-up with

small amounts of safer products and not every day.

For teens

Teens use cosmetics. Sometimes lots of them. From hair gels and straighteners to eye make-up, body wash

and lotions. And then some! Knowing which ones are healthy and which ones arent is important. Why?

EWG found that adolescent girls bodies are contaminated with chemicals commonly used in cosmetics and

body care products. In fact, we detected 16 potentially toxic chemicals phthalates, triclosan, parabens, and

musks in blood and urine samples from 20 teen girls [http://www.ewg.org/reports/teens]. Studies link these

chemicals to potential health effects including cancer and hormone disruption.

To make matters worse, teens may be particularly sensitive to exposures to hormone-disrupting chemicals,

given the complex role they play during puberty precisely when girls typically experiment with an increasing

number and variety of body care products. When we surveyed them, our teen study participants reported using

an average of 17 personal care products each day, 40 percent more than an adult woman.

Teens can eas ily make safer choices by reducing the number of body care products they use, viewing

marketing claims with skepticism, always checking the ingredients for toxics (a good lifelong habit!), and

following EWG guidelines to select safer products:

Acne products

Avoid{ Fragrance, parabens, PEG/ceteareth/polyethylene, Tricolosan }

Perfume, cologne, and body spray

Avoid{ Diethyl phthalate, Fragrance (on the list of ingredients), oxybenzone }

Sunscreen Use sunscreens with UVA and UVB protection and reapply often. See general sunscreen guidelines

and our sunscreen report for more information.

Avoid tanning beds. Tanning booths expose the skin to 15 times more UV sun. The use of tanning beds before

age 30 can cause a 75 percent increase in melanoma.

For women


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The average woman uses 12 products containing 168 different ingredients daily. Many cosmetic chemicals are

designed to penetrate into the skins inner layers, and they do. Consequently, some common cosmetic

ingredients turn up in peoples bodies. Among them: industrial plasticizers called phthalates; parabens, which

are preservatives; and persistent fragrance components like musk xylene.

Are levels found in our bodies causing biological damage? Only more research can say. Several studies have

linked feminization of American baby boys to a common fragrance chemical called diethyl phthalate.

Product

TypeBuying Guidelines

Anti-aging

products

Avoid

alpha and beta hydroxy acids

lactic acid

glycolic acid

FDA-sponsored studies find UV-caused skin damage doubles for users of products with alpha

hydroxy acid. Regular sunscreen application is the best way to avoid sun-damaged skin.

Hair dye

Minimize use of dark, permanent hair dyes. Many contain coal tar ingredients, including

aminophenol, diaminobenzene, and phenylenediamine, linked to cancer.

Skin lighteners Avoid skin lighteners with hydroquinone. FDA warns that this skin-bleachingchemical can cause a skin disease called ochronosis, with disfiguring and irrevers ible

blue-black lesions that in the worst cases become permanent, intensively black bumps the

size of caviar all over the skin.

For men

The average man uses 6 products daily with 85 unique ingredients. Some ingredients are hormonally active;

some of these are specifically linked to male reproductive system disorders. For instance, phthalates have

been associated with altered hormone levels in men and boys and sperm damage.

ProductType

Buying Guidelines

After shave

Avoid

Fragrance

Oxybenzone

PEG/ceteareth/polyethylene

Parabens

Shaving

cream

Avoid

DMDM hydantoin

Fragrance

PEG/ceteareth/polyethylene

Triclosan

Sunscreen

Wear sunscreen. Surveys show just 34 percent of men wear sun protection, compared to 78

percent of women. Men should wear sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection and reapply

often. See general sunscreen guidelines and our sunscreen report for more information.

Over-the-counter drugs and personal care products

Certain personal care products fall under FDA definitions of both cosmetics and drugs. Examples include

anti-dandruff shampoos, deodorants that are also antiperspirants, and moisturizers and makeup marketed with

sun-protection claims. Some active ingredients in over-the-counter (OTC) products raise concerns for cancer,


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reproductive and developmental toxicity. However, unlike non-drug cosmetics ingredients, OTC drugs generally

must receive FDA authorization and offer a therapeutic benefit that would off-set potential toxicity risks. Some

OTCs currently on the market were introduced before FDA initiated an OTC Drug Review in 1972; thus, they did

not receive a specific approval from FDA.

Dandruff shampoos: Most of the active ingredients approved by the FDA for use in dandruff shampoos have

significant safety concerns. Common dandruff control ingredients selenium sulfide, ketoconazole, salicylic

acid, and coal tar are identified on the European or Californian list of carcinogens and/or reproductive

toxicants. They can also cause minor to significant skin effects, including irritation, inflammation and

photosensitivity. These products should sparingly and only be used as directed. Avoid using dandruff shampoo

on children, especially to t reat benign conditions like cradle cap and normal scalp flaking.

Antibiotic creams: Some topical antibiotics, such as neomycin sulfate may not be safe for pregnant or

breastfeeding women or children. In research studies, certain antibiotics have been shown to cross the

placenta, where they could pose a risk of adverse developmental defects to the fetus. Read label instructions

and consult your physician to see if suitable alternatives are available for your antibiotic needs.

Antibacterial products (soaps, antiperspirants, toothpaste): Triclosan is one of the most common OTC

antibacterial chemicals found in personal care products such as antibacterial soaps. However, triclosan-

containing soaps are no more effective than plain soap and water. Triclosan is also very toxic to the

environment and may disrupt hormonal function in people and other mammals.

Buyer beware

Several chemicals that occasionally crop up in personal care products have been linked to cancer, reproductive

toxicity, and a host of other health effects. Among them:

Lead: A neurotoxin in popular hair dye Grecian Formula 16 and other black hair dyes for men. Lead from hair

dyes travels from hair to doorknobs, cabinets and other household items, where children can ingest it.

Methyl cellosolve (or methoxyethanol): Fragrance ingredient and solvent that is an irritant, neurotoxin, possible

mutagen (may cause DNA mutations that could lead to cancer) and developmental toxicant. It should be barred

from personal care products.

Mercury and mercury compounds: Mercury damages brain function. It is occasionally found in cosmetics as an

impurity or even as an intentionally added ingredient. Over-the-counter drugs like ear and eye drops may

contain mercury.

Nanoparticles: Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide nanoparticles appear to be among the safer and more effect ive

active ingredients in U.S.-marketed sunscreen creams because they do not penetrate the skin. Sprays and

powders containing these nanoparticles should be avoided. Many other nanoparticles have received very little

testing, yet they readily penetrate the skin and contaminate the body. Cosmetics manufacturers are not

required to disclose the presence of nanoparticles in products. EWG analysis has found that one-third of all

personal care products on the market contain ingredients now commercially available in nano forms.

Nitromethane: Anticorrosive agent found in a few aerosol hair sprays. The U.S. government considers i t a

probable human carcinogen.

Phenacetin: Component of some face and arm hair bleaching agents, a probable human carcinogen, according

to the U.S. government.

Phenolphthalein: A few shampoos and texturizing products contain this chemical, a probable human carcinogen,

according to the U.S. government.

Phthalates: A growing number of studies link this chemical to male reproductive system disorders. Pregnant

women should avoid nail polish containing dibutyl phathalate. Everyone should avoid products with fragrance

indicating a chemical mixture that may contain phthalates.

Placenta/Progesterone: Extracts from human and cow placenta are advert ised as conditioning agents for skin

and hair. Placental extracts in cosmetics may contain enough hormones to spur breast growth in toddlers,

according to recent studies.

Ingredients derived from animals


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Many consumers are asking manufacturers tough questions about ethical sourcing of their ingredients.

Vegetarians, vegans, and people concerned about animal welfare frequently seek to avoid ingredients derived

from animals. A number of animal-based substances are found in cosmetics. Some are fat-based and described

as tallow, rendered beef or mutton fat. Mink oil and emu oil are rendered from those animals fat.


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Nanotechnology

Beware personal care products that tout use ofnanoparticles, nanomaterials or nanotechnology.This emerging technology is a lmost entirely untestedfor its health effects, and no requirements exist foreither testing or labeling these products to make sure

consumers are both safe and informed. That meansthat you might be getting a dose of nano without

even knowing it.

Nanotechnology involves the manipulation of

materials and the creation of structures and systems

that exist at the scale of atoms and molecules. Thisis seriously tiny stuff: a human hair is about 80,000nanometers in diameter.

Because of their size, the properties of nanoscale materials (measuring

glossary _ toxic nation

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