Placental Extract

Placental Extract comes from the placentas of humans and other mammals.  The placenta is a thin film which envelops the womb of mammals which is attached to the umbilical cord where nourishment and oxygen passes through.  Cosmetic companies use this to make skin care products and grooming products like shampoos and conditioners.

Placental Extract contains hormones like progesterone and estrogen which are vital for fetuses to develop while inside the wombs of their mothers.  Cosmetic companies have taken advantage of these hormones present in the placenta to make hair shinier, skin softer and tighter and other positive effects it has on our outward appearance.

However, studies have shown that girls ranging in ages from 1-8 years old were given hair products containing placental extract.  Within 24 months of use, 50% of the subjects developed breasts and pubic hair.  Discontinued use of the product regressed the development of their breasts and public hair.  No other cause for their early sexual development was found.

Products containing placental extracts are tainted with hormones which may be dangerous not only to young girls but also to the rest of us.  Excess progesterone and estrogen has been linked to breast cancer, ovarian cancer and other reproductive cancers.

Canada has banned the use of placental extracts from all its grooming and personal care products.  Natural alternatives like olive oil, wheat germ oil, coconut oil, almond oil and the like should be used instead of placentas from mammals which may contain waste matter eliminated by the fetuses.

. 

Propylene Oxide

Propylene Oxide is listed by the FDA as a carcinogen.  The use of this chemical in the cosmetic industry can be found in fragrances, shampoo, bubble bath and shaving creams.

Propylene Oxide or PO is a very versatile chemical.  It is used in anti-freeze, to make rigid foams for insulation, and mattresses.  Chemical plants around the world produce an estimated 14 billion pounds or 6.3 million metric tons to manufacturers around the world.

This massive amount finds its way to our everyday lives as it is used in a multitude of products which we consume everyday.

PO is found to have detrimental health effects to people who are overly exposed to this product.  Effects include contact dermatitis, dry skin.  Factory workers in a plant which manufactures anti-freeze are warned to avoid skin contact as this may cause liver damage if overly exposed.

We now have to ask ourselves if chemicals used to manufacture dangerous products like  anti-freeze and insulation should also be used in everyday household items like deodorants, shampoos and shaving creams.

Even if the FDA does regulate the amount of PO used by cosmetic companies to manufacture personal care products, the effects of exposure to PO are clear.  PO should be banned in all health and personal care goods.

. 

Urethane

Urethane is a known carcinogen which causes lung cancer and a host of other illnesses.  Urethane has found its way to our daily lives as it can be found in products like nail polish, shampoo, shaving cream, mouth wash and other personal stuff we use everyday for grooming.

Urethane is a thickener commonly used in paint in order to make it spread evenly when applied.  It is also used in the manufacture of rubber, plastics, resin and foam.

Every year hundreds are kids in America are rushed to the ER after ingesting large amounts of mouthwash.  The insides of their mouths were “burned” due to the high alcohol content in the mouth wash.  Others suffered abdominal pain as mouth wash contains other chemicals other than urethane, many of which may be toxic.

Studies in Japan and the United States have shown that urethane is the leading cause of lung cancer.  Inbred mice were administered shots of urethane proportionate to their body mass.  After many months, the mice finally died and scientists were able to conduct a biopsy of their lungs.  Significant amounts of tumors were present in the lungs of the dead mice.

Aside from lung cancer, inhalation of Urethane is known to cause respiratory infections and diseases such as bronchitis.

. 

Benzene

Benzene is found in nail polish and nail polish remover.  Cosmetics, rubber, pesticide and tobacco smoke are also sources of benzene.

Its links to breast cancer is still unclear due to the fact many products contain benzene but as the chemical is a known carcinogen, avoiding it might be better, health wise.

However, laboratory mice exposed to benzene during an experiment conducted in a laboratory found that the mice grew mammary tumors.

Aside from its association with breast cancer, benzene is also linked to leukemia.  Leukemia is a cancer which affects the blood and bone marrow.

Other diseases linked to benzene are non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), Hodgkin’s disease, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), aplastic anemia,  pancytopenia,  cytopenias, myelofibrosis and polycythemia vera

Reports regarding benzene and cancer have been published.  And there have been studies which indicate that workers at a plant exposed to benzene solvents are at a great risk of developing cancer and blood related diseases.

Benzene is one of the most produced solvents in the world.  Studies show that the production of this chemical will continue to increase.  Almost everybody is at risk because benzene can be inhaled through fumes from automobile exhaust and cigarette smoke.  People who work in rubber factories, shoe factories and gasoline manufacturing industries are at risk.

. 

Butadiene

Because cosmetic companies claim that chemicals used in their products contain very little chemicals which cause cancer, the campaign for the removal of such has been ineffective so far.

These days, consumers are getting smarter and getting informed.  Butadiene a known carcinogen has been used in the cosmetic industry in the sponges used to apply make up.  Butadiene has other uses in the market like fungicides which are manufactured for the agriculture industry. You can also inhale butadiene through automobile or tobacco smoke.

Lab animals were tested as to their reaction to the chemical.  In this study it was found that the mammary glands of mice exposed developed tumors and lumps.  Further more the female rats also developed ovarian cancer and baby rats died due to exposure.

Humans are exposed to chemicals used daily for personal care purposes.  The government should find ways to better regulate cosmetic companies in their usage which deem dangerous for humans.

. 

Dioxane

Dioxane is widely used in a lot of personal care products including shampoo, facial wash, body wash and bubble bath.

Recent studies have shown that most of these products exceed more than twice the approved levels of the FDA.  Famous brands called into question include Johnson’s Body Wash, Hello Kitty Bubble Bath, Huggies Baby Wash, Scooby-Doo Bubble Bath, Sesame Street Bubble Bath., Clairol Herbal Essences shampoo, and Olay Complete Body Wash.

The FDA has been measuring Dioxane levels since 1979 and has prescribed that levels should not exceed 10ppm but studies by the agency has discovered that over 15% of products in shelves across the country exceed this regulation.  Moreover, this level prescribed does not include young children and infants who are at a greater risk.

What is even more shocking is that products listed as “organic” also contain Dioxane.  The Organic Consumers Association has discovered that such brands as Jason Pure Natural and Organic, Giovanni Organic Cosmetics, Kiss My Face and Nature’s Gate Organics to contain Dioxane.

The OCA is urging the public to consult their websites for possible products which may contain Dioxane.

Dioxane is listed as an eye and respiratory irritant.  It is also listed as a known carcinogen.  The Breast Cancer Fund has also listed Dioxane as such.  Laboratory mice exposed to the chemical have been found to have developed mammary tumors or liver and bladder carcinomas.

. 

PAHs, or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Perhaps the most common example of PAH or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is petroleum jelly or Vaseline.  Vaseline was discovered during the late 1850’s and has since been marketed to the public for an array of uses.  Most of us use petroleum jelly for chapped lips, dry skin, as a make up remover and moisturizer.
Products containing PAH are baby lotion, lipstick, oil and petroleum jelly.

A study conducted by the Columbia University show that women breast tissues that were already cancerous had 2.6 more PAH levels than breast tissues of women who do not have cancer.

Vaseline is not cancerous per se.  It is the petrolatum present in the PAH that causes cancer.  Studies also show that they way a product is manufactured may cause petroleum jelly mixtures that contain possible human carcinogens.

The European Union has banned PAH in cosmetics since 2004.  The EU has called for cosmetic companies to remove PAH impurities from cosmetic products before they are manufactured for public consumption.

However, in the United States, no such regulation exists.  There may be some manufacturers which opt for petrolatum with lower PHAs but as we cannot be sure, it is better to be on the safe side.

If unsure, you can look for products which have been certified as organic or natural.  Manufacturers are now answering the call of the public to produce more products which promote health and environment issues so be sure to buy one which has been deemed safe for human consumption.

. 

Vitamin C and the Collagen Connection

Human beings need Vitamin C in order to make collagen, an important component of blood vessels, tendons, ligaments and bones.  However, unlike most mammals, humans do not produce Vitamin C which is why important as it is, it should be included in our diet.

Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin.  Studies have shown that the use of Vitamin C to treat scurvy dated as far back as the 17th century when ship physicians recommended lemon juice to treat patients suffering from the disease.  Sailors began to notice that they got sick with scurvy because of the absence of green, leafy vegetables in their diet at sea.  Which is why the British Navy began giving their crew two oranges and one lemon per day.

Vitamin C is needed to synthesize collagen and neurotransmitters and scurvy is one of the diseases best associated with Vitamin C insufficiency.  Scurvy is characterized by hair and tooth loss, joint pains and swelling.  This is because bones, tendons, blood vessels and tissue need collagen.

The North American Dietary Reference Index requires around 2000 milligrams of Vitamin C per day.  As most food contain Vitamin C, nutritionists report that a well balanced diet without supplementation is enough to protect the body from scurvy.  However, pregnant women, smokers and those under more stress require slightly higher doses.

Perhaps the most famous example for Vitamin C is the orange.  The Kakadu plums native to Australia is the best source of Vitamin C, containing 3100 milligrams and perhaps the most unlikely source being the Red Pepper.

Vitamin C is also found in meat, calf liver being the best choice.  Oysters are also a good source.  Food supplements which contain Vitamin C can also be taken as food supplements.

. 

Breast Cancer causing carcinogens in every day beauty products

According to a report by the Environmental Working Group 80% of our cosmetics including deodorants, shaving creams, shampoos and toothpaste contain 146 chemicals linked to cancer.

According to the report 1 in 13 women and 2 out of 23 men are exposed to carcinogens everyday through their use of personal care products.  This same report has caused the Breast Cancer Action (BCA) and the Breast Cancer Fund to hold protests in Washington to urge the government to better regulate and provide health care guidelines to manufacturers and producers of such products.

While manufacturers of these products say that their products contain minuscule amounts of these chemicals, most of us use more than one product at the same time.  In a single day, most of us brush our teeth 3 times a day, wash our hair once, use soap to bathe, put on deodorant, wear lipstick and make up and a host of other things we need in order to keep clean.  This multiplies our exposure to dangerous and toxic chemicals.

Breast cancer activists have cautioned women (and men) to be wary of products containing parabens, a substance found in biopsied breast cancer tumors and phthalates found in fragrances.  Women are also cautioned against products used on the skin as our skin is our body’s largest organs.

The public is advised to patronize products which contain ingredients which have been certified by third party watch groups like the UHDA Organic, BDIH, ECOCERT and the National Product Association

. 

Lead Acetate. Toxic to us, our children and our environment

Lead acetate is commonly found in hair dyes.  This chemical is used as “color additives”.

The FDA has approved the use of lead acetate in hair dyes after strict laboratory experimentation.  Subjects who used hair dyes with the chemicals were found to have “no significant increase in blood levels of lead was seen in the trial subjects and the lead was not shown to be absorbed into the body through such use”.

The FDA has also mandated hair dye producers to correctly label their products.  The FDA has prescribed a regulation prescribing that the following be clearly labeled in all hair dye products containing lead acetate.

“Caution: Contains lead acetate. For external use only. Keep this product out of children’s reach. Do not use on cut or abraded scalp. If skin irritation develops, discontinue use. Do not use to color mustaches, eyelashes, eyebrows, or hair on parts of the body other than the scalp. Do not get in eyes. Follow instructions carefully and wash hands thoroughly after use.”

The public has a right to be cautious.  Lead acetate is a known carcinogen.  It may also cause birth defects in unborn children.  It may also cause brain damage and damage to blood cells causing anemia.

Aside from possible human harm, lead acetate is toxic for the environment.  It is considered a bio hazard and products containing the chemical should be disposed of accordingly.

There are hair dye alternatives that do not contain lead acetate.  You can use natural ingredients like henna powder for black hair.  If you want your hair to be brown, you can use amla (powdered Indian gooseberry) and walnut.  Indigo when added to henna also gives off a brown shade.

.