Being green gets you green nowadays. If your company wants to capitalize on the green movement, slap a ‘green’ logo or slogan on your bottle of shampoo and you’re all set! You can even put a few natural ingredients in there just in case your customers actually read labels but, nobody actually reads labels anymore right? Well, If you take the environment to heart and don’t want to put toxic chemicals and stuff that’ll screw with marine and plant life down the drain, then reading labels is a big part of being a responsible eco-conscious consumer. The days of trusting a brand because your mom used it or because the TV adds say they're GREEN and safe are over. Let’s be realistic, the corporate world has always been out to make a buck however they can (often under false pretence) and they’ve always been really good at exploiting the latest trends. So in support of label-reading everywhere, here is a glossary of ingredients you should look out for when buying personal hygiene and household cleaning products. If you don’t usually read labels (or read labels without really knowing what to look out for) you’ll be appalled at first at the amount of these ingredients that are in everyday products that you’ve been using your whole life. Don’t despair, head to the organics section in your supermarket or find a good eco-shop nearby and your job will suddenly become much easier. Propylene Glycol: This petrol-derived ingredient can be found in deodorants, toothpastes and many other health and beauty products. At 100% concentration it is known as antifreeze and is extremely toxic to aquatic life. Some companies claim that it is safe in small doses and point out that it is also found in fat-free ice cream. Petrol-based ingredients in ice-cream… um…not good.Fluoride: It’s still found in many municipal waters and toothpastes. Fluoride does help prevent tooth decay but flossing and brushing regularly and avoiding high-sugar foods does the same job with none of the negative effects of fluoride. The negative effects of fluoride definitely outweigh the good: fluoride, when swallowed, accumulates in your bones and has been linked to increasing bone-cancer rates in boys and hip fractures. Fluoride is also building up in wild-life and is leading to fractures, reduced reproduction rates and lameness. If your municipality is still putting fluoride in your drinking-water, let your MP know that many towns have stopped using it and yours should too. Parabens: All Parabens (methyl, ethyl and others) are estrogenic, which means they mimic female hormones. The U.S. National Institute of Health conducted a study where Parabens were repeatedly found in human breast tumors. The research was inconclusive about the source and effect of those parabens but parabens are often found in deodorants and other beauty and hygiene products. Sodium laurel sulphate (SLS): A sudsing agent found in shampoos, soaps and toothpastes is a known skin and eye irritant. May aggravate dandruff and mouth ulcers, sting your eyes and cause itchy and dry skin. Why would anybody knowingly expose a human body and the eco-systems downstream to this stuff? Diethanolamine (DEA): A suspected carcinogen commonly found in shampoos, body wash and makeup. Phthalates: A chemical often added to PVC (plastic) as a softener. Found in kid’s toys, sex toys, personal care products and perfumes. Considered a possible carcinogen and definite hormone-disruptor. Different types have been found to cause birth defects in lab animals and damage DNA in male (human) sperm. You won’t see this controversial ingredient listed very often, it’s usually hiding under a ‘fragrance’ listing. Talc: A powder found in eye-shadow, blush, baby-powder, deodorant and on your barber’s countertop. Talc has been found to sometimes be contaminated with asbestos. Any asbestos-contaminated talc is a recognized carcinogen. Toluene: A powerful solvent found in nail polishes. Long-term exposure can affect the nervous system, liver and kidneys. This chemical also contributes to smog. Surfectant: Found in household cleaning products, dish and laundry detergent, shampoos and washes. Makes things lather and penetrate well. Hundreds of types exist, many are petroleum-based. Most surfactants biodegrade in sewage treatment plants but the one to look out for is nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs). They don’t biodegrade; they’re toxic to algae and aquatic life and have been associated with hormone-disrupting effects. Triclosan: The active ingredient in anti-bacterial soaps, deodorants and toothpastes. If a product boasts of being ‘anti-bacterial’ it most likely contains triclosan. Read 'Antibacterial soaps: helping or hindering?' to debunk the corporate world’s bacteria scare. It Accumulates in fatty tissues (has been found in fish and breast-milk), found to be one of the top ten stream contaminants by the U.S. Geological Survey and when it’s exposed to sunlight, say in a stream, a mild dioxin (see definition below) forms. When mixed with chlorinated water, a much nastier dioxin forms. E. coli that survived being treated with triclosan became resistant to 7 of 12 antibiotics. Dioxin: Carcinogenic, endocrine-disrupting (a.k.a hormone-disrupting) neurotoxins. This means they block hormones from performing their functions and may potentially disrupt normal body functions and trigger behavioural, reproductive and developmental problems. Those are a few of the worst bad-guys to look out for. The symptoms and side-effects listed are all verified by several sources including the well-respected eco-bible, Ecoholic by Adria Vasil. On top of avoiding all these offenders, you would be well-advised to stay away from any artificial fragrances and colours, most of these synthetic additives are petroleum-based and non-biodegradable. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the things to remember to avoid, don’t freak out! Just make yourself a little list of all these ingredients and keep it in your wallet or purse ready for quick perusal when needed. Whenever you’re in the market for cleaning products or personal hygiene products, a good first bet is to head directly to the “organics” or “natural” section of your grocery store. For all you doubters that natural cleaning products works as well as chemical ones I say: don’t judge something without having tried it. Give these natural products a chance and you’ll be surprised at how little you miss your old, toxic cleaners. |