Fw: Cancer Link Discovered in Common Cosmetics

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Thanks Rogene!

> Sent: Monday, November 10, 2003 1:11 PM

> Subject: Cancer Link Discovered in Common Cosmetics

>

>

> > Cancer Link Discovered in Common Cosmetics Posted on May 22, 2000

> >

> > Manufacturers of natural personal care products were not surprised by

> > the results of a recent study that found a common ingredient in many

> > major cosmetics and toiletries causes cancer in lab animals.

> >

> > The study, released by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), found that

> > repeated applications of DEA (diethanolamine) or its fatty-acid

> > derivative, cocamide-DEA, to the skin of lab animals induced liver and

> > kidney cancer. NTP also emphasized that not only is DEA readily absorbed

> > through the skin, it also accumulat es in organs such as the brain,

> > where it can produce toxic effects.

> >

> > Natural personal care products (Bath & Shower )don't contain DEA or

> > cocamide-DEA, which are solvents and emulsifiers that aid cleaning.

> > Instead, natural manufacturers use ingredients such as lecithin, which

> > is an effective natural alternative to DEA.

> >

> > " We believe in producing the safest products possible using natural

> > alternatives that are as effective if not more effective, " said

> > Upton, vice president of sales and training for Borlind of Germany, a

> > natural personal care manufacturer. " Including ingredients like DEA can

> > result in products that aren't safe. "

> >

> > Tom Mower, CEO of Neways Inc., a distributor of carcinogen-free

> > cosmetics, added, " I see no reason at all to use DEA as there are safe

> > and cost-effective alternatives which we have been using in a wide range

> > of our cosmetics and toiletries for the last decade. "

> >

> > High concentrations of DEA are commonly added to cosmetics and

> > toiletries including shampoos, hair dyes and conditioners, lotions,

> > creams, and bubble baths in addition to dishwashing liquids and laundry

> > soaps. According to the Cancer Prevention Coalition, lifelong use of

> > products containing DEA can pose a major risk to American consumers

> > especially infants and young children.

> >

> > Compounding the problem is longstanding evidence that DEA interacts with

> > nitrite preservatives in cosmetics to form NDELA

> > (nitrosodiethanolamine), a carcinogen recognized by federal agencies and

> > the World Health Organization. Like DEA, NDELA is readily absorbed

> > through the skin.

> >

> > In 1979, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that over 40

> > percent of all cosmetic products were contaminated with NDELA, and

> > informally requested the personal care industry " to take immediate

> > action to eliminate this carcinogen from cosmetic products. " However, as

> > late as 1991, two surveys found that 27 out of 29 products still

> > contained high concentrations of NDELA. These results were later

> > confirmed by the FDA.

> >

> > The European Union and the European cosmetic industry have taken strong

> > action to reduce or eliminate DEA and NDELA from their cosmetic and

> > toiletry products. To date, the FDA hasn't taken any formal action, nor

> > has it responded to a 1996 petition from the Cancer Prevention Coalition

> > requesting a phase-out of DEA, or at least a warning label on

> > DEA-containing products. The mainstream U.S. cosmetic industry has been

> > similarly unresponsive even after a warning from the Cosmetics,

> > Toiletries and Fragrance Association to discontinue use of DEA. Source:

> > Written by Gloria Bucco, contributed by healthshop.com

> >

> > http://www.locateadoc.com/Patient_Resources/Cancer/cosmetic.cfm

>