What’s YOUR Body Burden?

Several years ago, scientists coined a term to  describe the contamination we all carry around in our bodies — Body Burden.  Body Burden is a direct result of the air we breathe, the water we drink, the houses we live in, the clothes we wear, the food we eat, the places we work and go to school, and the products we use on our bodies.

In a study led by Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, in collaboration with the Environmental Working Group and Commonweal, researchers at two major laboratories found an average of 91 industrial compounds, pollutants, and other chemicals in the blood and urine of nine volunteers, with a total of 167 chemicals found in the group. Like most of us, the people tested do not work with chemicals on the job and do not live near an industrial facility.

According to EWG:

“Of the 167 chemicals found, 76 cause cancer in humans or animals, 94 are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 79 cause birth defects or abnormal development. The dangers of exposure to these chemicals in combination has never been studied.”

The issue with exposure to these chemicals on an individual basis is enough to cause concern.  But the real issue is the layering of these chemicals in large combinations into our systems day in, and day out.

It’s easy to think, well, most of what I come into contact with isn’t TOO bad.  But sadly, IT IS.  If you’re a woman, you will likely come into contact with the following toxin-containing products in just one MORNING’S exposure of beauty products, for example:

(Click on each product to see Skin Deep’s rating information for each product.  The number following the product is the simple Skin Deep rating out of a possible 10, 10 being the worst.)

Pantene Pro V Hydrating Curls Shampoo — 5

Pantene Pro V Hydrating Curls Conditioner — 5

Dove Cream Oil Body Wash — 5

Olay Daily Face Scrub — 7

Pantene Hair Spray — 5

Pantene Mousse — 7

Olay Regenerist SPF 15 Lotion — 5

Olay Regenerist Eye Cream — 5

Olay Quench Body Lotion – 6

Revlon Mineral Foundation — 7

Revlon Concealer — 7

L’Oreal Blush – 3

L’Oreal Eye Shadow — 6

L’Oreal Mascara — 4

L’Oreal Eyeliner — 3

Revlon Lipstick — 3

Secret Antiperspirant — 6

Colgate Toothpaste — 5

Softsoap Antibacterial Hand Soap — 6

Perfume — 8 or worse — artificial fragrance (anything that is not an essential oil)  is now recognized as one of the most toxic components in beauty and body care items.

That’s TWENTY products.  Each one containing toxic chemicals that are stored within the body, and which we known nothing about over the long term when used in combination.  Especially when twenty of them are used together.

This doesn’t even take into account the burden placed on our bodies by pesticides and other toxins absorbed from food, chemicals in our clothing and household items, and air and water pollution, or other grooming products such as nail polish, nail polish remover, specialty masques and cleansers or shaving soaps/foams.

And worse, if you’re pregnant, these chemicals can be passed on to your child in utero.  All children are now born pre-polluted by multiple toxic substances, and beauty products only account for part of the problem:

“In a study spearheaded by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) in collaboration with Commonweal, researchers at two major laboratories found an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants in umbilical cord blood from 10 babies born in August and September of 2004 in U.S. hospitals. Tests revealed a total of 287 chemicals in the group. The umbilical cord blood of these 10 children, collected by Red Cross after the cord was cut, harbored pesticides, consumer product ingredients, and wastes from burning coal, gasoline, and garbage.”

Next week: Find out what you can do to lower your and your family’s body burden.

To purchase organic body care for the whole family that never contains toxic chemicals of any kind, visit BuyMomma to check out the entire line of Mommaganics Organic Skin Care.

Terrible Triclosan

When even the FDA is starting to get concerned about an ingredient commonly found in many body care items, then you know you should probably start thinking about, it too.

About a year ago, the FDA finally admitted that triclosan, an antibacterial and anti-fungal agent found in everything from hand soap to toothpaste to children’s toys, may be something to avoid.  Triclosan has been added to so many products over the last few years that it’s actually found in the urine of 75% of the population.

Why is the seemingly ubiquitous addition of triclosan something to be concerned about?

1. Triclosan has become so persistent in our environment that it has actually become a top 10 contaminant in most bodies of water (it breaks down into harmful dioxins when in contact with water).  We then ingest that water, leading to antibiotic resistance.

2. It’s a suspected endocrine disruptor and carcinogen that accumulates in the body over time. Since it’s in so many products, many of us are exposed to triclosan on a daily basis through multiple products in our daily routine.

3. A study at Virginia Tech discovered that products containing triclosan produced either chloroform or other chlorine byproducts when exposed to tap water. In fact, triclosan decomposes into chlorine byproducts in as little as one minute when exposed to chlorinated tap water at 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers the triclosan byproduct, chloroform, to be a probable human carcinogen that could cause cancer.

The regular use of triclosan as an antimicrobial agent prolongs the shelf life of many products, and is extremely cheap to incorporate.  Reading the labels of your personal care products carefully is the only way to avoid its presence in your home.

Some of the products to look for in particular that often contain triclosan include:

• Antibacterial soaps
• Hand sanitizers
• Deodorants
• Toothpastes
• Acne fighting products
• Mouthwash
• Athletic clothing
• Bedding
• Socks
• Cleaning supplies
• Toys
• Trash bags

Each brand is different, so not all of the above products contain triclosan.  But this list is an excellent place to start investigating which products in your home might be better exchanged for healthier alternatives.  A great (but not all-encompassing) list of brand name products that contain triclosan can be found on the Beyond Pesticides website.

For skin care that never contains triclosan or any other chemical nasties, check out Mommaganics organic skin care.

Why Fragrance-Free is the Way to Be

I used to wonder why anyone would want to buy fragrance-free products.  I have to confess — I was a scent worshiper.  Outside of the few people with an allergy to fragrance, I couldn’t understand WHY anyone wouldn’t want to smell as delicious as a “Sweet Vanilla Bean,” or as fresh as a “Summer Escape.”  In fact, I think I can safely say I was a Bath and Bodyworks addict, and could easily wander the brightly-lit aisles of Sephora for an hour or more.

Then I became pregnant with my first child, and started doing a lot of research, eventually culminating in the development of my  line of  organic skin care, Mommaganics.  Only one product, the baby bottom cleanser, has any added scent – organic tangerine essential oil — which earns a “zero” hazard rating on EWG’s Skin Deep site.

My Mommaganics line of organic skin care features a signature body butter — a very tempting place to place fragrance of some sort.  I remember how much I used to love slathering myself with delicious-smelling lotions and butters.  And at first I was a little concerned that others would feel the same way and not want to purchase something without added fragrance.  But I quickly realized how educated my customer base was!  They already knew about the dangers of synthetic fragrances, and that was one of the reasons they were coming to me in the first place.

So why ARE artificially-scented products so dangerous?  There are a number of reasons.

1: Synthetic scents are made in factories — not in nature.  These fragrances contain phthalates (plasticizers also found in PVC), which are chemicals that can cause hormonal abnormalities, birth defects and reproductive problems.   Children and pregnant women are especially at risk from exposure.

2. Artificially-scented products have been shown to trigger migraine headaches, allergies and asthma attacks. A recent Institute of Medicine study put fragrances in the same category as second hand smoke as a trigger for asthma in school-age children.

3. In homes where aerosol sprays and air fresheners were used frequently, studies found that mothers experienced 25% more headaches, and infants younger than 6 months old had 30% more ear infections.

4. Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database rates artificial fragrance with a hazard score of EIGHT (in the dreaded “red zone”) and states that:

The word “fragrance” or “parfum” on the product label represents an undisclosed mixture of various scent chemicals and ingredients used as fragrance dispersants such as diethyl phthalate. Fragrance mixes have been associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system.

5. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) reports that “95% of the ingredients used to create fragrances today are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum, including benzene derivatives, aldehydes, and many other known toxins and sensitizers.”

6. According to EWG, there are potentially hundreds of chemicals in a single product’s secret fragrance mixture.  As cosmetics are not regulated by the FDA, companies are not required to list what chemicals make up a “fragrance.”   In fact, fragrances can contain neurotoxins and are among the top 5 allergens in the world.

7. If you see the word “fragrance” on a label, you can basically assume that it’s not an essential oil or anything vaguely derived from a healthy, natural source.  If the product IS scented with a natural essential oil, the label will almost always state that, as essential oils are far more expensive than synthetics and companies who use them tend to be proud of the quality of their ingredients and eager to share that via their labeling.

8. Perfume, cologne, and scented body sprays are almost ENTIRELY made up of “fragrance” or “parfum.”  When you use these products, you are inhaling and covering your skin with an undisclosed assortment of toxins.

To purchase body care that never contains “fragrance,” “parfum,” or any other synthetic ingredients, check out Mommganics organic skin care.

The Story of Cosmetics

The Story of Cosmetics explains, in a fun way, why it’s important to make smart decisions about personal care products.  That means reading labels carefully, and knowing exactly what you’re putting on your body, and allowing into your home for your family’s use.

For truly organic skin care that never contains unpronounceable ingredients, check out Mommaganics organic body butter, skin balm, and baby care products.

What is Propylene Glycol?

Propylene glycol is a very common additive found in cosmetics, body care, baby care, such as wipes and lotions, and even foods and beverages.

It’s also a common ingredient in anti-freeze, brake and hydraulic fluid, de-icer, paints and coatings, floor wax, and laundry detergents.

I’m thinking I don’t really want the same stuff that goes into my car to be in my body butter.  But maybe I’m alone on this one.

Propylene glycol is a petroleum derivative, which comes from crude oil.  Again, I just have to say — yuck.

Environmental Working Group’s database Skin Deep shows Propylene Glycol’s various uses to vary widely, and include:

“Fragrance Ingredient; Humectant; Skin-Conditioning Agent – Humectant; Skin-Conditioning Agent – Miscellaneous; Solvent; Viscosity Decreasing Agent; SKIN CONDITIONING; VISCOSITY CONTROLLING”

…and defines it as being:

“…a small organic alcohol commonly used as a skin conditioning agent. It has been associated with irritant and allergic contact dermatitis as well as contact urticaria in humans; these sensitization effects can be manifested at propylene glycol concentrations as low as 2%.”

It has been shown to be harmful when ingested or when applied to skin.  Some of the risks of the use of products containing propylene glycol include allergies and immunotoxicity, skin and eye irritation, enhanced skin absorption, and organ system toxicity.

The truth is, there is no reason to use products containing propylene glycol. It’s simply a cheap and easy way for manufacturers of these products to formulate them to a certain consistency.  Emphasis on the cheap and easy.  It’s more expensive to use healthy, truly non-toxic methods to make these products.  And yes — they do often pass the savings on to consumers.  But at what cost to their future health?  Saving a dollar now may very well mean shelling out thousands and thousands in doctor bills later on.

For truly natural, organic body care that never contains propylene glycol or any other chemical nasties, check out Mommaganics organic skin care for choices that will keep you and your family’s skin healthy and toxin free!

BPA — Does Your State Regulate It?

The sad news is, probably not.  At the time of this writing, only nine states had any kind of BPA regulation on the books.  The federal government has legislation being considered as well, but no one is sure of the odds that it’ll be passed.  Considering the pro-business, anti-consumer safety slant of this latest congress, it’s more than likely that it’ll be somehow shot down, or at least weakened to the point that is has no real teeth.

If you feel strongly that BPA should be taken out of all baby products and food containers, it’s time to get involved.  Email or call your congresspeople, and do the same with known manufacturers of BPA-containing products.  Vote with your dollars — do not buy from companies that product these products.  It’s the only type of voting they understand, and the backlash against BPA-containing products (aka lack of sales) is the only reason BPA is becoming less common in plastic products to begin with.

Truly, it’s up to us.  If we don’t get mad and stand up for ourselves and our families, who will??

Mineral Oil May Increase Cancer Risk

A recent study published in the  Journal of Investigative Dermatology demonstrated that mice that were pre-treated with UVB rays and then exposed to mineral oil-containing moisturizers were 69% more likely to experience histologically characterized tumor growth.

The moisturizers in the study were those available on most drugstore shelves — brand names such as Eucerin, Dermabase, Dermovan, and Vanicream.

This is just one more reason why it is so, SO important to check the ingredients of every body care item you buy.  The cosmetics industry isn’t regulated by the FDA — it essentially functions like the wild, wild west.  Mineral oil, according to Skin Deep, is rated a “3″  – in the yellow light category.  With so many truly healthy oils available as close as your grocer’s shelf (organic coconut oil and olive oil just to name two), why would anyone choose mineral oil as a moisturizer?

Many people don’t realize, due to the deceptively healthy-sounding name, that mineral oil is a derivative of petroleum.  The same petroleum that is a by- product of crude oil — the stuff coming up from oil wells.  Petroleum is at its core a mixture of hydrocarbons from the earth, which sounds safe enough, in theory. But even though the petroleum that is used to make mineral oil is considered purified, there is really no regulation around what that means.

To top it off, EWG has found several common impurities in personal care products that are linked to mammary tumors in animal studies — ethylene oxide, PAHs, and 1,3-butadiene.  PAH’s are also known as hydrocarbons — the same ones mentioned above.  Among the studies linking PAHs to breast cancer is a Columbia University study in which researchers found that the breast tissue of women with breast cancer was 2.6 times more likely to contain elevated levels of PAHs bound to DNA (called DNA adducts) than the breast tissue of women without breast cancer (Rundle et al. 2000).

It just gets better and better, doesn’t it?

The good news is that it’s very easy to avoid exposing ourselves and our families to petroleum-based products.  With a a little research, you’ll find many, many effective products on the market that are commercially available.

If you have a child in diapers, one of the biggest offenders is Aquaphor and other diaper creams.  But happily, one of the best creams I’ve ever found is Burt’s Bees Baby Bee Diaper Ointment.  It’s not inexpensive, but most diaper creams aren’t, and it’s a purchase I found very much worth the cost.

For wonderfully-effective, organic body butter and skin balm that never, ever contains mineral oil or other petroleum products, check out the  Mommaganics line of skin care to help keep you and your family both happy, and healthy.