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HomeUncategorizedChemicals and Beauty Products

Chemicals and Beauty Products

We posted a number of months ago about some nasty chemicals you can run into while using personal care products. Recently, I received an e-mail from the David Suzuki Foundation asking me to complete a survey of toxic ingredients in cosmetics. Essentially, you find some care products that you use on a daily basis, check them for any of the “dirty dozen” chemicals, submit some demographic info, and get entered into a draw for some prizes. Neat-o.

What struck me about the survey is that they thank you for “participating in…important research”. But getting web-users to do “research” for you doesn’t seem entirely solid. If I had wanted to, I could’ve checked off that my cleanser had all 12 of the ingredients they’re looking for, and spoiled the study (I didn’t, by the way). That’s a bit sketchy for such a well-known organization. It seems more likely to me that they’re enticing individuals to take a look through their care ingredients, and realize what they’re absorbing through their skin, without directly asking them to do so. Kind of smart. But hey, I’m also a cynic, and maybe they’re just killing two birds with one stone.

In any case, I’m not sure how I feel about studies like these. One of the prize packs includes a copy of “Slow Death By Rubber Duck“, a best-selling Canadian book, which looks at how the toxins in products “make their way inside us” and what impact they have on our health. The description of the book itself reads: “We cannot see it; we often have trouble measuring it and it is very difficult assigning specific damage to chemicals that are so widely used. But the alarm bells are starting to sound.” For these reasons, attempts to point out the dangers of such toxins has often be accused of inciting “environmental alarmism”. To some degree, this is in defence of a pretty heartless industry, but when the best even the Suzuki Foundation and the Diamond Environmental Research Group can say is that toxins “may” or have “potential to” cause damage, you have to wonder how concerned you should be.

Speaking personally, I don’t use many beauty/care products aside from the standard shampoo/conditioner/soap. But those are for social, not scientific, reasons. What about you guys? Are there specific ingredients you look out for when buying household cosmetics cleaning supplies?

Unrelated side-note: The City of Calgary released an iPod/Phone app for the Public Art Program. Check it out.

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4 COMMENTS

  1. I've read "Slow Death by Rubber Duck" and I really enjoyed reading the topics the book covered upon. If there was ever a book that revealed the dangers of our environment, that book definitely persuaded to change my life style. I'm also happy that you have posted such a great article and are aware of the "heartless industries" and what the down side to consumerism. I'm also an advocate of being against the fast food industry, due to the various hidden chemicals and damaging effects their food possess, and I believe that everyone can limit their exposure if they become more aware! Thanks for spreading the awareness!

  2. I'm not going to lie, I really don't notice at all. When I'm walking through Walmart it's like hey what soaps are on the clearance shelf this week? On another note, for years I've heard the whole deodorant can give you cancer argument, but we all still wear it and if it was harming us, don't you think the government would ban it like they did BPA?

  3. I think the argument is that antiperspirant can lead to Alzheimers, but anyway =P I think the government would ban it if there was a stronger link between cause and effect, yes. Though I don't know what research came forward specifically for the banning of BPA.

    Lisa, I think you missed the point I made. I wasn't aiming to "spread awareness", I was trying to point out the other side of things – that there isn't anything solid to link these things to cancer and various other effects. Thought that isn't to say these things are good for you, either.

  4. haha sorry…im pretty extreme in my views. Definitely interesting article…haha but I may argue that was the case with mercury…and look where the research to that went. I'm pretty sure there is solid evidence out there… thanks for the inspiration for an article!

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