Which brings me to the Toxic Tub report [2] from the Environmental Working Group [3]. The EWG is a consumer watchdog group that fights to make sure companies do the right thing for public health and the environment, despite big business’ massive lobbying strength, clout and wealth and apparent disregard for the health of the people who use their products. Right now, and for the last several years, the EWG has been trying to bring the public attention to safety in personal care products, and now it’s focusing on danger to our babies. The Toxic Tub report explains how many baby products are contaminated with toxic, often hidden formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, and that of the products independently tested for their report, 61 percent of the children’s bath products tested contained both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane. Yep, in products for babies.
The EWG’s Skin Deep database [4] is a great resource for looking up if that “natural” lotion or “organic” baby shampoo is all it claims to be. Very often, it’s not, and it’s very confusing for parents who aren’t scientists. How could a regular gal know that cocamidopropyl betaine is not great to use on your baby, but sodium lauryl glucose carboxylate is safe? The Skin Deep database will tell you if a product rates higher or lower on the toxicity scale, and you can sign their petition to take action:
Due to gaping loopholes in federal law, companies can put virtually any ingredient into personal care products. Even worse, the government does not require pre-market safety tests for any of them.
Should you care? I waffle a tiny bit. In a world where taking a walk means breathing unknown toxins, and staying inside means being exposed to VOCs, I wonder how much of what we put on our bodies can matter? But the accumulation of minute toxic substances found in our blood, our urine and even breast milk, can’t be good for us, and there is no way to tell what toxin from what source might have caused a certain cancer or neurological problem or reproductive harm. So I am coming down on the side of caution, because it just makes sense. When I read about baby lotions that have petrochemicals, and then chemicals to allow skin to tolerate the petrochemical, and that that chemical can be tainted with an ingredient that breaks down into formaldehyde or 1,4-Dioxane — known carcinogens — I have to shake my head and wonder how did this come to be. In what chaos did it make sense to use a product that shouldn’t be used on skin without another product added to it to make our skin not notice? It’s like a Frankenstein monster in lotion form. When there is soap, a product that can be made with very few ingredients, and those natural, why does there have to be a product with artificial ingredients to make a lather, artificial ingredients to create a clean feeling, and artificial ingredients to kill germs? It’s so hard to believe that those dubious, worrisome artificial ingredients must be far cheaper to use, and therefore more profitable than clean ingredients.
I know that big industries, from agribusiness to pharmaceutical to entertainment to personal care, care most about the financial bottom line, and not that their products bring about health or a beneficial lifestyle. The food industry is not above pulling the bait and switch (see the hydrogenated oil issue, or fruit snacks that don’t contain fruit for an illustration) and painting their products as somehow beneficial (Made with whole wheat! Now with real sugar!) or downright lying (Peanut Corp. of America). And now the personal care products industry is having a harsh, speculative light shone its way. Anything that helps consumers negotiate the doublespeak of advertising and claims seems like a great thing to me, but you can be sure there will be a ton of backlash painting the EWG and concerned consumers as nutcases. Everyone has to make their own choices, of course, but if we don’t even know what’s in products that claim to be safe for babies how can we make choices? Informing consumers is never a bad thing… for consumers. But as the personal care industry hunkers down for combat, you might want to hang onto your hats, caps or bonnets, folks, we’re in for some blustery battles!
Photo credit: Arindam's PhotoWorld [5]