Carcinogenic 1,4-Dioxane Found in Leading Organic Brand Personal Care Products

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http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/DioxaneRelease08.cfm

Carcinogenic 1,4-Dioxane Found in Leading " Organic "

Brand Personal Care Products

USDA Certified Products Test Dioxane-Free

ANAHEIM, CA - A newly released study commissioned by

the Organic Consumers Association (OCA), a watchdog

group with over 500,000 members, and overseen by

environmental health consumer advocate Steinman

(author of The Safe Shopper's Bible), analyzes leading

" natural " and " organic " brand shampoos, body washes,

lotions and other personal care products for the

presence of the undisclosed carcinogenic contaminant

1,4-Dioxane. A reputable third-party laboratory known

for rigorous testing and chain-of-custody protocols,

performed all testing.

Ethoxylation, a cheap short-cut companies use to

provide mildness to harsh ingredients, requires the

use of the cancer-causing petrochemical Ethylene

Oxide, which generates 1,4-Dioxane as a by-product.

1,4-Dioxane is considered a chemical " known to the

State of California to cause cancer " under proposition

65, and has no place in " natural " or " organic " branded

personal care products. 1,4-dioxane is also suspected

as a kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant and respiratory

toxicant, among others, according to the California

EPA, and is a leading groundwater contaminant.

Although previous studies have revealed 1,4-Dioxane is

often present in conventional personal care products,

this new study indicates the toxin is also present in

leading " natural " and " organic " branded products, none

of which are certified under the USDA National Organic

Program. The products/brands tested are listed on the

attached page with the level of 1,4-Dioxane detected,

if any, along with ethoxylated ingredients listed on

the label.

Some of the Leading Brands Found to Contain

1,4-Dioxane:

JASON Pure Natural & Organic

Giovanni Organic Cosmetics

Kiss My Face

Nature's Gate Organics.

View this page or download this leaflet for full

listing.

Both the OCA and Steinman are calling for misleadingly

labeled " Organic(s) " brands which include ethoxylate

ingredients or otherwise utilize petrochemicals in

their ingredients, to drop all organic claims from

their branding and labeling. " The practice of

ethoxylating ingredients or using other petroleum

compounds must end for natural personal care, and is

that much more outrageous in so-called 'organics'

brand products, " says Ronnie Cummins, Executive

Director of the OCA.

" At a time when our nation is dangerously dependent on

foreign oil and attempting to wean itself off

unnecessary dependence on petroleum-based ingredients

in major consumer products for national security

reasons, it is self-defeating that we are literally

bathing ourselves and our children in toxic petroleum

compounds, " says Steinman. " But consumers should also

take heart in the emergence of a growing number of

companies who've received the message and who are

seeking to completely avoid petrochemicals in their

cosmetic and personal care products. Your best bet is

to purchase products whose ingredients you can

pronounce or better yet are certified under the USDA

National Organic Program. "

Brands Found not to Contain 1,4-Dioxane:

All USDA Certified brands tested in this study were

1,4-Dioxane-free, including:

Dr. Bronner's

Sensibility Soaps (Nourish)

Terressentials

All German Natural " BDIH " Certified brands tested

were found to be 1,4-Dioxane-free:

Aubrey Organics

Dr. Hauschka

View this page or download this leaflet for full

listing.

A visit to any health food store unfortunately reveals

the majority of products in the personal care section

with " organic " brand claims are not USDA certified,

and contain only cheap water extracts of organic herbs

and maybe a few other token organic ingredients for

organic veneer. The core of such products are composed

of conventional synthetic cleansers and conditioning

ingredients usually made in part with petrochemicals.

According to market statistics, consumers are willing

to pay significantly more for products branded

" natural " or " organic " which they believe do not

contain petrochemical-modified ingredients or toxic

contaminants like 1,4-Dioxane.

To avoid 1,4-Dioxane, the OCA urges consumers to

search ingredient lists for indications of

ethoxylation including: " myreth, " " oleth, " " laureth, "

" ceteareth, " any other " eth, " " PEG, " " polyethylene, "

" polyethylene glycol, " " polyoxyethylene, " or " oxynol, "

in ingredient names. In general, the OCA urges

consumers to avoid products with unpronounceable

ingredients. " When it comes to misbranding organic

personal care products in the US, it's almost complete

anarchy and buyer beware unless the product is

certified under the USDA National Organic Program, "

says Cummins.

The study builds on the extensive survey conducted by

Steinman for his book Safe Trip to Eden (Perseus Books

2007), in association with the Campaign for Safe

Cosmetics, the Breast Cancer Fund and the

Environmental Working Group, which found that many

mainstream children's bubble bath and shampoo products

contain dangerous amounts of this undisclosed

carcinogen.

Further Resources:

OCA's " Coming Clean " Campaign:

www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics: www.safecosmetics.org

FDA: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/cos-hdb3.html