Frequently Asked Questions About 1,4-Dioxane
How can I avoid 1,4-Dioxane exposure from personal care products?
Will products contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane harm my baby?
How many personal care products contain 1,4-Dioxane?
Is 1,4-Dioxane the only hazardous impurity in personal care products?
Why are so many cosmetics contaminated with carcinogens?
What are cosmetics companies doing to address this problem?
What can we do to get products that are safe for our families?
Q: How can I avoid 1,4-Dioxane exposure from personal care products?
A: The US Centers for Disease Control Agency for Toxics Substances and Disease Registry recommends avoiding cosmetic products that contain ingredients that could be contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane, since there is no way to know the level of contaminants in the products. It may be in products that contain the following ingredients or partial ingredient names: “PEG,” “polyethylene,” “polyethylene glycol,” “polyoxyethylene,” “-eth-” (such as sodium laureth sulfate), “oxynol” "ceteareth," or "oleth."
An easier way is to use the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database. Check the box next to "Contamination concerns" to limit your search results to products that do not contain known impurities, including 1,4-Dioxane.
For more about 1,4-Dioxane, see the September 2007 public health statement from the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
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Q: Will products contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane harm my baby?
A: It is highly unlikely that any one product containing 1,4-Dioxane will cause harm on its own. The problem is that none of us are exposed to just one product. The same baby could be exposed to 1,4-Dioxane from baby shampoo, bath bubbles and body wash in a single bath, as well as from other contaminated personal care products today, tomorrow and the next day. It is these multiple, chronic exposures to carcinogens such as 1,4-Dioxane that are cause for concern.
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Q: How many personal care products contain 1,4-Dioxane?
A: Since the contaminant is not listed on labels, there is no way to know for sure. But an analysis by Environmental Working Group found that 97% of hair relaxers, 57% of baby soaps, and 22% of all products in the Skin Deep database may be contaminated. Visit EWG to learn more.
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Q: Is 1,4-Dioxane the only hazardous impurity in personal care products?
A: No. From the Environmental Working Group analysis: “When it comes to harmful impurities in cosmetics, 1,4-dioxane is just the tip of the iceberg. Our analyses show that 80 percent of all products may be contaminated with one or more of the two dozen recognized cosmetic impurities that are linked to cancer and other health concerns. These trace contaminants in petroleum-based ingredients often readily penetrate the skin according to government and industry studies, and their presence in products is not restricted by government safety standards — they are legal at any level.
In our 2004 online survey of the cosmetics and personal care products used by 2,300 people, we found that impurities are so ubiquitous that one of every five adults is potentially exposed every day to all of the top seven carcinogenic impurities common to personal care product ingredients — hydroquinone, ethylene dioxide, 1,4-dioxane, formaldehyde, nitrosamines, PAHs, and acrylamide.”
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Q: Why are so many cosmetics contaminated with carcinogens?
A: The Food and Drug Administration has almost no authority to regulate cosmetics. FDA cannot require safety testing of products before they are sold, and does not systematically assess the safety of ingredients. Instead, the cosmetic industry polices the safety of its own products through a safety panel that is run and funded by the industry's trade association. In the absence of mandated testing or even FDA guidance on product safety, some companies make products safe enough to eat, while other companies routinely add carcinogens and other hazardous chemicals to their formulations.
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Q: What are cosmetics companies doing to address this problem?
A: Nearly 800 companies have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, a pledge to remove chemicals linked to cancer, birth defects and other health problems. Unfortunately, not one of the large mainstream companies – the brands found in most drug stores, supermarkets and high-end beauty stores – has signed the pledge. In fact, the largest companies and their trade group, the Cosmetics Toiletry and Fragrance Association, have lobbied against laws that would protect consumers from hazardous chemicals and have fought hard to keep their products unregulated. In the face of mounting concerns about toxic ingredients, the largest cosmetics companies are rolling out a major new marketing campaign to convince us their products are safe – rather than actually making their products safe. Read more about the industry's PR push.
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Q: What can we do to get products that are safe for our families?
A: In the short term, you can choose safer products and learn more about the issue of cosmetics safety at www.safecosmetics.org. But we can’t just shop our way out of this problem. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics believes that consumers should not have to memorize long lists of hazardous chemicals in order to protect our families. Chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects do not belong in any beauty products, at any level. We should all be able to walk into any store and buy health and beauty products that are safe for babies and safe for everyone. Cancer is an epidemic in our society: 1 in 2 men in the United States, and 1 in 3 women will get cancer in their lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. Companies must be required to eliminate cancer-causing chemicals from all possible sources immediately – starting with baby shampoo and bubble bath. Take action at: http://www.safecosmetics.org/action/
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