Harmful chemicals hiding in everyday products (part 1)
More than 100 types of common consumer products contain chemicals linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental problems.
More than 100 types of common consumer products contain at least one, and often multiple, chemicals linked to cancer, reproductive and developmental problems, according to research published Tuesday in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Many of the chemicals were found in personal care products, including nail polish, shampoo, lotion, and soap. Cleaning products, particularly all-purpose cleaners, laundry detergent, and dish soap, also contained numerous chemicals.
Researchers have found dangerous levels of mercury in skin lightening and anti-aging creams; they’ve linked chemicals in hair dyes and straighteners to breast and uterine cancer; they’ve traced fragrances in soaps and shampoos to poor semen quality and fertility issues. Most American children are also exposed to toxic chemicals — from a wide variety of sources — that may be a cause of learning and developmental disorders, obesity, and asthma.
To be sure, not all chemicals are bad for your health. And you’re just as likely to encounter unsafe chemicals in processed foods and drinks, home furnishings and even prescription medicines as you are in personal care products. But low doses of iffy chemicals can add up over time and with exposure to multiple products, said Dr. Shruthi Mahalingaiah, an assistant professor of environmental, reproductive and women’s health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
You do not have to overhaul your entire routine overnight. In fact, many researchers who study environmental toxins admit that they still hold on to a few favorite creams and sprays with dubious ingredients. Most think of the shift to safer personal care products as a slow, lifelong process, akin to eating healthier food: You can take stock of what you put on, or in, your body from time to time and update your shopping cart with better options whenever you purchase new items. Here’s where to start.
Understand which chemicals are worrisome
The Food and Drug Administration, which oversees cosmetics products in the United States, has banned about a dozen ingredients for safety reasons. (Canada, Japan and European Union countries have hundreds more chemicals that they have banned.) Chemicals must meet a high bar for causing harm in humans before they are regulated in the United States. For example, many studies in animals and some studies in humans have established a link between cancer later in life and exposure to many of the chemicals below, but they remain legal and ubiquitous because there isn’t strong enough evidence yet to prove a causal effect.
Several states, such as California and Maryland, have enacted laws that will go into effect in January 2025, banning additional chemicals based on the growing observational evidence against them.
While this is not an exhaustive list, here are some common chemicals named in the recent state bans, as well as ones that are frequently flagged by researchers and consumer advocacy groups. These chemicals appear on the ingredient lists of products containing them.
- Talc
What it is: Talc is a naturally occurring mineral used to absorb moisture and make makeup opaque. It became notorious after thousands of lawsuits claimed that Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based baby powder caused cancer. The company discontinued North American sales of the product in 2020 and said that it would stop selling the powder globally in 2023. But several other manufacturers still use talc in powder foundations, eye shadows, blotting sheets and deodorants.
What the research says: Scientific literature going back to the 1960s and ’70s has suggested that talc use, particularly in the pelvic area, is linked to cancer. There are also concerns that talc can be contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen that is found near talc mines. The F.D.A. tests cosmetics that contain talc for asbestos every year, but the number of products the agency reviews is extremely limited — usually around 50 samples or fewer.
- Coal tar dyes like m-, o- and p-phenylenediamine
What it is: Coal tar is a thick brown-black liquid. M-phenylenediamine, o-phenylenediamine and p-phenylenediamine are compounds that were originally derived from coal tar and are now often produced synthetically. They are frequently found in hair dyes. The darker the dye, the more phenylenediamine it typically contains.
What the research says: Coal tar dyes may cause allergic reactions or skin irritation that can result in hair loss. Epidemiological data has also linked some coal tar dyes to an increased risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, acute leukemia and bladder cancer. Products containing more than trace amounts of m- and o -phenylenediamine will be banned in California and Maryland in 2025.
- Diethanolamine (DEA)
What it is: DEA is part of a group of chemicals frequently used as emulsifiers in products that are creamy or foamy, like shampoos and shaving creams. Its relatives include monoethanolamine (MEA) and triethanolamine (TEA).
What the research says: These compounds often react with other preservatives in personal care products to form nitrosamines, which are chemicals that the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the U.S. National Toxicology Program identify as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.” Because of the potential for this reaction, DEA is prohibited in cosmetics in Europe and Canada and consumer advocates recommend avoiding other ethanolamines as well.
- Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasers
What it is: Formaldehyde is a strong-smelling chemical that is used to lengthen the shelf-life of some cosmetics, hair straighteners, and nail polishes. Some companies have started moving away from formaldehyde use, but other preservatives that prevent the growth of bacteria in water-based personal care products — like shampoos and liquid baby soaps — can still release formaldehyde gas over time. These include DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, glyoxal, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate and quaternium-15.
What the research says: Exposure to low levels of formaldehyde fumes is known to irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, while higher exposures, particularly over longer periods of time, have been linked to nose and throat cancers as well as other ailments in certain workers, such as hair stylists and manicurists. Formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde and quaternium-15 are included in California and Maryland’s bans.
Consider how you’re using your products
Remember that in most cases, the size of the dose determines whether something is harmful to your health. You don’t need to throw out all of your soaps and serums immediately. “It is easy to demonize a product or one source of exposure, but the goal is really to reduce your overall body burden,” Dr. Mahalingaiah said. Instead of trying to completely eliminate a chemical from your life, count how many products with dubious ingredients are in your routine and start cutting out items. You can repeat the process every month or so to continue reducing your exposure as much as possible.
Consult a database
You can search for a product by name or bar code on apps by the Environmental Working Group and Think Dirty to find ingredients of concern. They also provide a score based on the number of hazards linked to various chemicals.
Look for third-party certifications
Some third-party certifications and seals of approval are intended to help consumers narrow down better alternatives amid aisles full of competing products. For example, “U.S.D.A. Organic” can denote products made with organic ingredients, while “COSMOS Natural” products are audited not only based on ingredients but also their manufacturing processes and eco-friendly packaging. There are also labels like “E.W.G. Verified” and “Made Safe,” as well as in-store programs like “Target Clean” or “Clean at Sephora” that signify products have met certain safety standards.
If a product or brand does not have one of these seals of approval, that doesn’t automatically mean it is toxic, Ms. Lu said. In some cases companies have to pay a fee to get approved for a label like “E.W.G. Verified.” And small beauty and personal care companies may choose not to get certified because of the cost.
More than 100 types of common consumer products contain at least one, and often multiple, chemicals linked to cancer or reproductive and developmental problems. Though concerning, my hope is that upon reading this article, you will feel informed and empowered, to become a more conscious consumer, and improve your well-being!
Feel free to leave a comment below, about what you thought about this article, and if you have any insight to share! Expect an upcoming Part 2 of this article, discussing more harmful chemicals hiding in everyday products, that are also hormone-disrupting.
Thanks for reading! -Gabi