Toxic Ingredients Reference Guide- A

Greetings!

The average person can be exposed to hundreds of different chemicals from personal-care products every day. We use multiple personal care products that contain toxic ingredients that are absorbed through the skin, inhaled or ingested. Potentially harmful chemicals get into our bodies, our breast milk and our children. Some of these chemicals are linked to cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities and other health problems that are epidemic in our society. In the United States, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women are expected to develop cancer during their lifetimes, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Here is a short reference guide for toxic cosmetic ingredients starting with the letter A, found in common personal care products. Be informed!

Acetamide MEA	Used in lipsticks and cream blusher to retain moisture. Causes adverse reactions, and is toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic.
Acetal	Fruit flavouring solvent; synthetic perfumes, hypnotic in medicine. Central nervous system depressant, respiratory, cardiovascular collapse; no known skin toxicity, possible high blood pressure. On NIH list.
Acetaldehyde	Fragrance in cosmetics, perfume, silvering of mirrors, synthetic rubber. Mucous membrane irritation, liver damage, kidney, respiratory, neurotoxicity; CNS depression; skin irritation; tetragenic; carcinogenic; harmful to aquatic organisms.
Acetamide MEA - n-acetyl ethanolamine	Antistatic agent, humectant in hair shampoos and conditioners, skin cream, hair tonic. Mild skin irritation, caused liver cancer in rats, may contain DEA.
Acetaminopropyl trimonium chloride	Antistatic agent in shampoos, bath soaps, conditioners
Acetarsol - acetarsone	Antimicrobial used in mouthwash, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products. Causes sensitisation, allergic reactions; lethal dose in mice is only 0.004g/kg of body weight.
Acetone	Colourless, flammable liquid. Used in cologne, dishwashing liquid and detergent, nail polish, nail polish removers. It is excessively toxic. Inhalation can cause dryness of the mouth and throat; dizziness, nausea, incoordination, slurred speech, drowsiness, and, in severe exposures, coma. Acts primarily as a central nervous system (CNS) depressant.
Alkyl-phenol-ethoxylades	Has been found to reduce male sperm count, and to mimic estrogens in the body. It is widely used in shampoo, causes adverse reactions and has been shown to be toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA)	Do not use on children or infants. Group of acids that appear naturally in fruit. AHA’s include: citric acid (citrus fruits), glycolic acid (sugar cane), lactic acid (milk), and the less common AHA's used in cosmetics malic acid (apples) and tartaric acid (wine). Used in toners, creams. Skin is exfoliated chemically instead of mechanically via abrasion, dries and increases skin aging. Supposed to be anti-wrinkle, found in many skin and hair care products. Higher risk of skin cancer. Used as a solvent originally in cleaning compounds and for tanning leather. A smooth finish is developed by stripping the outer layer of the epidermis, which causes the irritated skin to puff up and thus fill in the lines and wrinkles. The US FDA warns that strengths over 3% may thin the skin. Can be a skin irritant causing redness and rashes.
Aluminium	Used as a colour additive in cosmetics, especially eye shadows. Another form of Aluminium is used in deodorants and antiperspirants. Listed as carcinogenic, toxic and mutagenic. Ingestion or inhalation can aggravate kidney and lung disorders, cardiovascular, reproductive, neurotoxicity. Evidence of link to Alzheimer's disease. EU Parliament said aluminium should be banned.
Anionic Surfactants	Anionic refers to the negative charge these surfactants have. They may be contaminated with nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic. Surfactants can pose serious health threats. They are used in car washes, as garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers - and in 90% of personal-care products that foam. Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES) Ammonium Lauryl Sulphate (ALS) Ammonium Laureth Sulphate (ALES) Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate Sodium Cocoyl Sarcosinate Potassium Coco Hydrolysed Collagen TEA (Triethanolamine) Lauryl Sulphate TEA (Triethanolamine) Laureth Sulphate Lauryl or Cocoyl Sarcosine Disodium Oleamide Sulfosuccinate Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate Disodium Dioctyl Sulfosuccinate etc
Azo dyes	A colourant used in non-permanent hair rinses and tints, foods, beverages. Skin contact can cause hives, urticaria, asthma, hay fever, allergic reactions, bladder cancer. May be absorbed through the skin.

Popular Name brands with these chemicals include:

Dove deodorants – Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex GLY (20%)

Suave shampoos- Anionic Surfactants= Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS),Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES)

More to come!