How to Be a Ninja Label Reader

Today, the average American comes into contact with over 120 chemicals every day through personal care products, cleaning products and the environment. Yet our government doesn’t require pre-market safety testing except for what the manufacturer provides. This information is often blatantly biased and has resulted in virtually no independent oversight.

Meanwhile, independent laboratories have disclosed serious health risks associated with many of the chemicals commonly used in the personal care industry. The debate is on in Congress as to how to address these concerns while still appeasing the powerful chemical lobby. Legislation is currently being proposed to address some aspects of this problem, but until we have strong regulation that requires pre-market testing to ensure safety of personal care products – one needs to be a Ninja label reader.

As a concerned parent or a health positive individual, you are likely already reading labels – but do you realize that terms like ‘natural, non-toxic, hypoallergenic, gentle or non-irritating’ are no guarantee of safety? Personal care products are allowed to label a product as ‘natural, non-toxic, gentle’ or even ‘organic’ while still containing carcinogenic agents, industrial detergents, hazardous dyes, artificial fragrances, petroleum derivatives and harmful preservatives.

In fact, many of the most dangerous chemicals will not even be listed among the ingredients. This is true when a chemical is used in processing, or if it results as a by-product of other chemical combinations in the product, or if it’s intrinsic to the packaging and ‘leaks’ into the product indirectly, like BPA. Some ingredients, like artificial fragrance, can contain over 600 chemicals, none of which are listed and many of which are known to be carcinogenic.

To sort through the forest of false advertising claims, I suggest avoiding the entire herd of mainstream, commercial brands. I have searched and searched and not found a single major commercial brand making product that I would consider safe. Once you’re in the ‘health food’ category of products, you can begin your practice of becoming a Ninja label reader.

While some advertising claims are based on facts, most are designed to reassure you and prevent you from reading the small print. In fact, many labels are so written that it is virtually impossible to read the small print and that is an automatic warning. A product that claims gentleness yet uses chemical solvents, is clearly going to be a pass.  A product that claims to moisturize, yet uses a petroleum derivative, is not acceptable. Generally, you want to look for ingredients that you can easily recognize as being of natural origin. Then, if a product contains any of the following chemicals, it automatically gets put back on the shelf. To be a true Ninja shopper, the hard truth is that you  must memorize this list. To be ultra safe, look for products that have certified organic ingredients. These products are likely to cost more, but you are assured that  they are free of even traces of the petrochemicals used in most commercial agriculture. Every ounce of protection now will save a pound of problems later.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate & Sodium Laureth Sulfate

• Most commonly used foaming ingredient in shampoos & toothpaste
• Can cause damage to the immune system
• Commonly contaminated with carcinogenic dioxane
• Can cause permanent eye damage – without getting in eyes
• Denatures skin oils – skin irritant with serious drying effect
• Penetrates to systemic tissues such as heart, liver, brain

Methyl, Ethyl, Propyl or Butyl Paraben

• Most widely used preservatives in Personal Care
• Accumulates in the tissues of the body over time
• Mimics the action of the female hormone estrogen
• Detected in human breast tumors
• May affect development of the male reproductive system

Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea

• The most commonly used preservatives after the parabens
• Primary cause of contact dermatitis
• Releases formaldehyde (see below)

Bisphenol (BPA)

• Found in certain hard plastics and is released into any liquid that comes into contact with it.
• An endocrine disruptor that mimics the body`s own hormones and can cause permanent reproductive harm.
• Builds up in the body so that long term low dose exposure can induce chronic toxicity.

Nitrosamines

• Used in synthetic rubber and are also released by certain preservatives used in cosmetics.
• Has been linked to Alzheimer`s, Parkinson`s and Type 2 diabetes.
• Is a known carcinogen, linked to bladder, brain and spinal cancers

2-bromo2 nitopropane 1,3 diol (also known as Bronopoll)

• Preservative
• Can break down into formaldehyde
• Can form nitrosamines which are carcinogenic

Formaldehyde

• Not listed on labels but released by the following preservatives:
• 2-bromo-2nitropropane-1,3-diol
• Diazolidinyl urea
• DMDM hydantoin
• Imidazolidinyl urea
• Quaternium 15.
• Also found in:
• Permanent press sheets
• Mattress foams
• Nail polish and hardener
• Building materials
• Known carcinogen and neurotoxic
• Skin, eye and respiratory irritant
• Can cause insomnia, coughing, headaches, skin rash, nose bleeds and nausea

Cocamide DEA Note that all of the following may contain DEA:

Cocamide MEA, DEA-Cetyl Phosphate, DEA Oleth-3 Phosphate, Lauramide DEA, Linoleamide MEA, Myristamide DEA, Oleamide DEA, Stearamide MEA, TEA-Lauryl Sulfate, Triethanolamine

• Foaming agent
• Clear evidence of carcinogenicity
• Disrupts hormone balance
• Causes yeast infections
• Causes contact dermatitis and skin irritations – Dandruff
• Produces cancer-causing nitrates and nitrosamines

Phthalates

• Not listed on labels but present in many artificial colors and fragrances.  Also present in PVC plastics – especially flexible pvc sometimes used in teething rings.
• Known to be a hormone disrupter for both sexes
• Associated with diminished fertility and genital birth defects
• May have links to breast cancer

Petroleum Bi-products (Mineral Oil, Petrolatum)

• Inexpensive oil substitute
• Reduces the skin’s ability to eliminate toxins
• Interferes with the body’s natural moisturizing system
• Passes through liver & sequesters fat soluble vitamins
• Known to be comedogenic – acne causing
• Increases photosensitivity – promotes sun damage
• Accelerates aging

Propylene and Ethylene & Polyethylene Glycol

• Solvents, also a kind of alcohol
• Many industrial uses including anti-freeze
• Used in personal/baby care, hand sanitizers, toothpaste & cosmetics
• Also used as a carrier for artificial fragrance
• Can cause allergies, dermatitis, drying to skin
• Reported to cause kidney and liver damage
• Linked to throat & tongue cancer in mouthwash

PEG’s (Synthetic Polyethylene Glycol)

• Powerful solvent – dissolves proteins
• Accelerates aging
• Potentially carcinogenic

Isopropyl, Ethyl, Cetyl or SD 40 Alcohols

• Solvents
• Severely drying to the skin
• Changes Ph balance
• Accelerates aging
• Can cause headaches, flushing, dizziness, mental depression.

Artificial Colors – (FD&C Colors)

• Made from coal tar and petroleum
• Often contain impurities like lead acetate
• Toxic to the nervous system.
• Known allergens, irritants – some known carcinogens.

Artificial Fragrances

• Made from coal tar and petroleum
• Can involve as many as 600 separate chemicals, some of which are carcinogenic, such as  methylene chloride
• May contain or release formaldehyde
• Can cause allergies, skin irritation, headaches and nausea
• Musk fragrance, xylene, is hormone-disrupting
• Can trigger asthma attacks

Triclosan

• An antimicrobial agent used in many hand washes
• Registered as a pesticide with EPA
• Hormone disrupting agent
• Produces chloroform when mixed with chlorinated water
• Interferes with reproductive and sexual functions

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