Ien

[Guest guest]

Thank you Ien for posting this. Quite astonishing isnt it? The sad part is

that the majority of people dont even realize it and some just wont listen. I

would like to ad that this is true of any commercial skin care products and food

as well.

 

Tracy Tappin (BC Canada)

Goat's Milk Skin Care http://www.goatmilkskincare.com

CAE Tested and CL Free LaMancha Dairy Goat's

 

 

>>>Time to Protect Babies From Dangerous Products

CHICAGO, Feb. 28 (AScribe Newswire) -- From shortly after birth, mothers

tenderly wash and pamper their infants with a wide range of baby products. These

include soaps, shampoos, lotions, and dusting powders, some of which are used

several times daily.

 

However, how would mothers react if they discovered that these baby

products contain a witch's brew of dangerous ingredients? Hopping mad could be a

reasonable understatement.

 

Most disturbing are three groups of widely used ingredients known as

" hidden carcinogens " -- ingredients which are contaminated by carcinogens, or

which break down to release carcinogens, or which are precursors of carcinogens

-- to which infants are about 100 times more sensitive than adults.

 

- The largest group of hidden carcinogens includes dozens of wetting

agents or detergents, particularly PEGs, Laureths, and Ceteareths, all of which

are contaminated with the potent and volatile carcinogens ethylene oxide and

dioxane. These carcinogens could readily be stripped off during ingredient

manufacture, if the industry just made the effort to do so. Another hidden

carcinogenic ingredient is lanolin, derived from sheep's wool, most samples of

which are contaminated with DDT-like pesticides.

 

- The second group includes another detergent, Triethanolamine (TEA)

which, following interaction with nitrite, is a precursor of a highly potent

nitrosamine carcinogen.

 

- The third group includes Quaterniums and Diazolidinyl urea

preservatives which break down in the product or skin to release the

carcinogenic formaldehyde.

 

Of additional concern is another group of common preservatives, known as

Parabens. Numerous studies over the last decade have shown that these are weakly

estrogenic. They produce abnormal hormonal effects following application to the

skin of infant rodents, particularly male, resulting in decreased testosterone

levels, and urogenital abnormalities. Parabens have also been found to

accumulate in the breasts of women with breast cancer.

 

The common use of Talc dusting powder can result in its inhalation,

resulting in acute or chronic lung irritation and disease (talcosis), and even

death. Additionally, Talc is a suspect cause of lung cancer, based on rodent

tests.

 

Fragrances, containing numerous ingredients, are commonly used in baby

products for the mother's benefit. However, over 25 of these ingredients are

known to cause allergic dermatitis.

 

A final ingredient of particular concern is the harshly irritant sodium

lauryl sulfate. A single application to adult human skin has been shown to

damage its microscopic structure, increasing the penetration of carcinogenic and

other toxic ingredients.

 

Most disturbing is the ready availability of safe alternatives for all

these dangerous ingredients (longstanding information on which is detailed on

the Cancer Prevention Coalition website, http://www.preventcancer.com). So, why

is it that the multibillion-dollar cosmetic and toiletry industry has not acted

on this information? The answer is that the major priority of the industry's

trade association is " to protect the freedom of the industry to compete in a

fair market place. " At the same time, the association pursues a highly

aggressive agenda against what it claims are " unreasonable or unnecessary

labeling or warning requirements. " As Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D.MA) stated at

1997 Hearings on the FDA Reform bill: " The cosmetics industry has borrowed a

page from the playbook of the tobacco industry by putting profits ahead of

public health. "

 

Astoundingly, the interests of industry remain reinforced by the

regulatory abdication of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in spite of its

authority under the 1938 Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetics (FD & C) Act. Clearly,

the FDA is the lap dog, rather than the watchdog, of the industry.

 

Of even greater concern is the reckless failure of the federal National

Cancer Institute and the " non-profit " American Cancer Society to inform the

public of the avoidable risks of cancer from the use of baby products,

especially in view of the escalating incidence of childhood cancers over recent

decades. However, the silence of the American Cancer Society is consistent with

its over $100,000 annual funding from about a dozen major cosmetic and toiletry

industries.

 

The protracted failure of Congress to enforce FDA's compliance with the

FD & C Act has evoked the growing concern of State legislatures. Assemblywoman

Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) of the California Senate Health Committee, recently

introduced landmark legislation that requires disclosure of all carcinogenic,

hormonal, and otherwise toxic ingredients in cosmetics. Strongly backed by a

coalition of consumer, womens, occupational, and church groups, but opposed by

powerful mainstream industry interests, the Bill failed to pass. However, this

shot over the bows of the reckless mainstream industry marks the beginning of

nationwide State initiatives to protect consumers and their babies from

undisclosed dangerous products and ingredients. Safe alternative products and

ingredients, including organic, are becoming increasingly available from

non-mainstream companies.

 

- - - -

 

CONTACTS:

 

-- Samuel S. Epstein, MD, Professor emeritus Environmental & Occupational

Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, Chairman,

Cancer Prevention Coalition, and Recipient of the 2005 Albert Schweitzer Golden

Grand Medal for Humanitarianism, 2121 West Taylor Street MC 922, Chicago IL

60612; phone 312-996-2297; fax 312-413-9898; e-mail epstein; Web

http://www.preventcancer.com/

 

-- Ronnie Cummins, National Director, Organic Consumers Association, 6101

Cliff Estate Road, Little Marais, MN 55614; phone 218-226-4164; e-mail

ronnie; Web www.organicconsumers.org

 

-30-

 

Media Contact: Samuel S. Epstein, MD, 312-413-9898, epstein Ronnie

Cummins, 218-226-4164, ronnie

 

AScribe - The Public Interest Newswire / 510-653-9400

 

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