Toxic Bathroom Guide

Are your personal care products toxic free?  Many personal care products contain ingredients that are toxic or less than safe for your health.  Of the 2,983 Chemicals analysed by the National Institute of Occupational Safety & Health, 884 of the ingredients were found to be toxic.  Of these:

*314 can cause biological mutation (change in cells)
*218 can cause reproductive complications
*778 can cause acute toxicity
*146 can cause tumours, and
*376 can cause skin & eye irritations
(Ref: 'Why are you poisoning your family' by Kare Possick, A Consumer Alert Publication 1994)

The following information I use for a guideline ~ For those who are curious what to look for when going natural, I have listed below the affects that are linked/caused by the chemicals that are put in the products you may use (& what you can avoid!).  Some of the ingredients are in more than one category:

Linked to CANCER in animals and/or humans:  Alcohol, Aluminium, BHA-Butylated Hydroxyansole, BHT-Butylated Hydroxytoluene, Coal Tar Dyes, DEA (Diethanolamine), Fluoride, Formaldehyde-or (Formalin), Hydroxyanisole (Isopropyl Alcohol), Methylene Chloride, Mineral Oil, PABA (Para Amino Benzoic Acid), PEG, Phenol, Phenylenediamine, Propylene Glycol, Quaternium Pthalates, Saccharin, Talc, Toluene.
Often contaminated with carcinogens or readily forms carcinogenic nitrosmines when mixed with other ingredients:  Lanolin, Mea-Monoethanolamine, SLS/SLES (Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate), Triclosan, TEA-(Triethanolamine).
Skin/eye irritant, may cause allergic reaction:  Acetone, Alcohol, Alpha-Hydroxy Acids, Benzophenones, BHA-Butylated Hydroxyansole, BHT-Butylated Hydroxytoluene, Collagen, Coal Tar Dyes, DEA (Diethanolamine), Dibenzoylmethanes, Ethylene Oxide, Formaldehyde-or (Formalin), Hydroxyanisole (Isopropyl Alcohol), Lanolin, Mea-Monoethanolamine, Methylene Chloride, Mineral Oil, PABA (Para Amino Benzoic Acid), PEG, Phenol, Phenylenediamine, Propylene Gycol, Quaternium Pthalates, SLS/SLES (Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate), Toluene, Triclosan, TEA-(Triethanolamine).
Chemical Toxins accumulating in organs:  Aluminium, BHA-Butylated Hydroxyansole, BHT-Butylated Hydroxytoluene, DEA (Diethanolamine), Fluoride, Methylene Chloride, Propylene Gycol, SLS/SLES (Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate), Triclosan.
Known to cause respiratory problems:  Aluminium, BHT-Butylated Hydroxytoluene, Formaldehyde-or (Formalin), Phenylenediamine, Toluene.
Neurotoxin - Damages the central nervous system, Teratogen - Affecting the embryo, Mutagen - Induces genetic mutation:  Acetone, BHT-Butylated Hydroxytoluene, Dibenzoylmethanes, Ethylene Oxide, Formaldehyde-or (Formalin), Hydroxyanisole (Isopropyl Alcohol), Lanolin, Methylene Chloride, PEG, Phenol, Phenylenediamine, Propylene Glycol, SLS/SLES (Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate), Toluene, Triclosan.

I hope this has helps you all just as much as it has for me!  I got this information from a couple brochures a friend gave me, but you can check out this information plus more at:

www.dig4truth.com
www.beinformed.com.au