Dioxane: harmful substances in cosmetics
Often we buy shampoos and creams only on the basis of their action, their perfume and their cost, without taking into account the ingredients that appear on the label, forgetting that some substances contained within them may be harmful to our health. Among these, the one that is creating more alarmism in recent times is the 1.4 dioxane, a contaminated organic compound present, at very low concentrations, in cosmetics. According to data collected by Skin Deep, the database that collects data on the ingredients of cosmetics products, 1,4 dioxane is found in 22% of more than 25,000 products present.
What is 1,4 dioxane?
The 1,4 dioxane isomer is a contaminant present in minimal parts in some cosmetic products. It is a sort of "collateral product", an organic compound that is formed during the preparation stages of some cosmetic products.It is not used as a cosmetic ingredient in itself but is the result of the synthesis and combination of some ingredients used for the production of cosmetics, such as surfactants , substances that facilitate the state of liquid and its miscibility with other elements.
Damage levels of 1,4 dioxane
However, the harmfulness of this chemical compound is directly proportional to the conditions of use. The studies conducted by the American Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) show that 1,4 dioxane can penetrate the skin of humans and animals when certain preparations are applied, such as lotions.
The first studies on the subject began in the 1970s, when the National Cancer Institute found a correlation between 1,4 dioxane and cancer in animals.
However, the current level of 1,4 dioxane in cosmetic products is far from the levels of the age and the products within which the compound has been found are in contact with the skin for a limited time. Recent studies 1 have determined that the dioxane evaporates very quickly, so that the minimum part contained in cosmetics is not able to contaminate the skin even if the product remains in contact with the epidermis for a longer time, as happens for lotions and creams.
Labels: the ingredients that favor the formation of 1,4 dioxane
The dioxane is not found among the substances used for the production of cosmetics but is formed during their preparation. It is then important to pay attention, when buying these products, to which ingredients appear on the label. The substances that favor its development are: sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), polyethylene, polyoxyethylene, PEG and polyethylene glycol.
The FDA does not require dioxane to be listed in the ingredients of beauty and cosmetics products, so there is no way to know for sure the presence and percentage of concentration within them. However, the Association promoted a new guiding method, called "vacuum stripping", to minimize the levels of 1,4 dioxane at the end of the polymerization process 2 .
Companies such as Johnson & Johnson, which in 2009 had agreed to change the formula of its products in response to requests from consumer associations 3, joined the new production program in 2011 and modified the recipe for its best-selling baby shampoo.After years of research and more than 2500 substances tested to ensure that the products remained unaltered in form and color, they presented their 100 new products at the end of 2013 4 .
Diossano: what are the risks to health?
This contaminant is dangerous for children because it irritates the eyes and the respiratory tract, but above all there is the suspicion that it can cause damage to the central nervous system and the kidneys. Furthermore, 1,4 dioxane is considered a probable carcinogen by the US Environmental Protection Agency 5 .
However, although exposure to dioxane remains likely to be harmful, current research is not yet able to set a maximum limit, otherwise the dioxane would pose a high risk to health.
Sources :
http://www.epa.gov/NCEA/iris/subst/0326.htm
http://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/productandingredientsafety/potentialcontaminants/ucm101566.ht
http://safecosmetics.org/downloads/JNJ-sign-on-letter_May09.pdf
http://www.blogjnj.com/2014/01/update-on-milestone-in-formulation-of-our-baby-products/
http://www.epa.gov/NCEA/iris/subst/0326.htm
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