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Resources
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Sunscreen Data Extracts
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Lotions, Sunscreens, and Body
Care Products
Many body care products contain pthalates such as
DEHP and DBP. In animals, both DEHP and DBP are toxic to
the liver, kidneys, testes, and the nervous system. DBP
is used extensively in perfumes, nail polishes, lotions,
and hair sprays. High levels of exposure have been found
in women of reproductive age.
Ironically, some sunblocks contain suspected
carcinogens, including diethanolamine and related
ingredients (DEA, TEA), padimate-o, and titanium
dioxide. Other ingredients are suspected endocrine
disrupters: benzophenone (oxybenzone), homosalate,
octyl-methoxycinnamate (octinoxate), and the parabens
(methyl-, ethyl-, butyl-, propyl-). Moreover, sunscreens
can contain chemicals associated with skin irritation
and rashes, including avobenzone (parsol 1789),
benzophenone, octyl-methoxycinnamate, and PABA (para-aminobenzoic
acid). Not only are these chemicals potentially bad for
you, they're bad for the environment. Diethanolamine has
been found in waterways around the country, posing a
threat to animals and humans. According to the National
Toxicology Program, benzophenone has been found in
surface water, groundwater, soil, and air, and may
affect the liver and bone marrow of animals ingesting
large amounts of contaminated water.
This and other endocrine disruptors in sunblocks can
also enter the water system when we swim or bathe,
eventually winding up in fish, amphibians, and marine
wildlife, and posing a threat to the animals'
reproductive cycles. Source: Grist Magazine,
Environmental Working Group. |
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From:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/sunscreen.cfm
The following excerpt is taken from a book called
"Sunscreen Photobiology ‹Molecular, Cellular and
Physiological Aspects": "Illumination of titanium
dioxide suspensions with sunlight can degrade organic
materials and purify drinking water, while illumination
with short wave UV kills human cells. This work shows
that the distinction between 'chemical' sunscreens and
'physical' sunscreens, attractive though it may be to
those who market them, is not based on any significant
difference. Both varieties have the potential to produce
reactive species that can attack biological materials
(human skin cells) when they are exposed to normal
sunlight... What is established is that particles of
titanium dioxide as large as 220 nm can enter human
cells in culture, and so it seems entirely plausible
that if titanium dioxide does pass through skin it could
enter cells under the skin (carrying with it the
absorbed UVA and UVB radiation and hydroxyl radicals)."
Titanium dioxide is now being used as a new treatment
for window glass because it attacks and degrades
anything that touches it, thereby helping to keep
windows clean. You probably don't want to have anything
attacking your skin!
The Washington Post (a reputable source) reports on
current scientific concerns about TiO2 NANOPARTICLES:
"Titanium dioxide, for example, is a generally
nonreactive substance used in many products, including
skin lotions and house paints. Increasingly, however, it
is being made in the form of nano-size particles. And
tests show that they are HIGHLY REACTIVE, generating
chemically "hot" free radicals that can literally burn
up bacteria. That has some experts worrying about
impacts on soil ecology if the particles are released."
Monday, May 03, 2004
Parabens and propylene glycol. Do you want to see these
chemicals in your natural body care products? Read the
data below to help you decide whether you want to use
these ingredients or dump them down the drain into our
drinking water.
Parabens penetrate the skin and can be found in
cancerous breast tumours. Is using a product with these
chemicals in it worth the risk to you? Read about the
latest study... here...
The EPA report "Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care
Products in the
Environment: Agents of Subtle Change" states that
parabens produced estrogenic activity in several assays.
The report also says that "(personal care products)
aquatic pollution is particularly troublesome because
aquatic organisms (fish, frogs, turtles, manatees, etc.)
are captive to continual life-cycle exposure...effects
could accumulate so slowly that major change goes
undetected until the cumulative level of these effects
finally cascades to irreversible change."
Additionally, the report declares "The literature shows,
however, that many of these compounds survive
biodegradation. Many of these personal care products and
their metabolites are ubiquitous and display persistence
in, and bioconcentration from, surface waters on par
with those of the widely recognized organochlorine
pollutants."
This is the link to the EPA report (above):
http://www.epa.gov/esd/chemistry/pharma/book-summary.htm
Propylene glycol is a highly controversial chemical.
What's the truth about propylene glycol? We've gathered
some facts from reputable sources so that you can read
scientific data instead of a manufacturer's hype and
make an educated decision about whether you really want
to rub this chemical into your body. First, you should
know that the US government's Environmental Protection
Agency has stated that "This substance/agent (propylene
glycol) has not undergone a complete evaluation and
determination under US EPA's IRIS program for evidence
of human carcinogenic potential."
This chemical is definitely NOT an
environmentally-friendly, sustainable material. Very
energy-intensive in its use of fossil fuels--a big
source of pollution, harmful to the planet and humans in
its manufacture. Read the process for yourself to
determine if you think this is something natural that
you can make in your home kitchen or in your favorite
restaurant. To get you started, here's an excerpt from a
USDA National Organic Program material review report
that discusses the complex, industrial process to make
this chemical:
Propylene glycol is used in antifreeze and de-icing
solutions. It is used as a solvent in the paint and
plastics industries, and to make polyester compounds. It
is used as a substitute for ethylene glycol mono-alkyl
ethers in all-purpose cleaners, coatings, inks, nail
polish, lacquers, latex paints, and adhesives. It is
also used to create artificial smoke or fog used in
fire-fighting training and in theatrical productions.
CFNP TAP Review
Propylene glycol 8/12/2002 and polyethylene glycol 400
(PEG 400) have been shown to differ in their potential
to cause muscle damage following I.V. injection. In
previous studies, propylene glycol was found to be more
myotoxic than PEG 400, with cytosoliccalcium playing a
role in mediating this damage. |
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Xenoestrogens the cause of
Uterine Fibroid Tumors ( Myomas )
From:
http://www.fibroid101.com/xeno.htm
How to avoid Xenoestrogens
Uterine Fibroid Tumors (Myomas) are provoked by
Xenoestrogens are found in everyday synthetic materials.
These materials were previously thought to be inert. Cut
out the xenoestrogens from your life.
by Elizabeth Smith, M.D.
Xeno literally means foreign. So xenoestrogens means
foreign estrogens. Some of the 100,000 registered
chemicals for use in the world have hormonal effects in
addition to toxic and carcinogenic effects. Also the
synergistic effects are known to occur but also are
largely exactly unknown. The field of xenohormones is
new, and only been in existence since about 1991.
Critics have proclaimed that these chemicals are for the
most part "weak". The body's hormones are at levels of
parts per trillion. However, many of the chemicals that
affect the hormone systems are routinely found in the
serum after sauna at parts per billion. In other words,
these chemicals that affect the hormone systems of the
human body occur at 100 to 1000 times greater
concentration than that of the normal human hormones.
One researcher demonstrated that two "weak" estrogens
may act synergistically to give a strong estrogen
response. Some of these Xenoestrogens like DDE (a
metabolite of DDT) may persist in the body fat for
decades. Many of these mimicking hormones were
previously thought to occur in pesticides. However, many
of the newly discovered xenoestrogens are found in every
day previously thought to be inert materials.
Preservative Methyl Paraben in Skin Lotions and Gels
For many years, parabens were considered among those
preservatives with low systemic toxicity, primarily
causing allergic reactions. However, as we have become
aware that some synthetic chemicals mimic the female
hormone estrogen, our understanding of the toxic effects
of both synthetic and natural substances has changed.
Now, John Sumpter from the Department of Biology &
Biochemistry, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex,
have found that alkyl hydroxy benzoate preservatives
(namely methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, and butylparaben) are
weakly estrogenic. In an estrogen receptor-binding
assay, butylparaben was able to compete with the female
hormone estradiol for binding to estrogen receptors with
an affinity approximately 5 orders of magnitude lower
than that of diethylstilbestrol (a highly carcinogenic
synthetic estrogen), and between 1 and 2 orders of
magnitude less than nonylphenol (an estrogenic synthetic
industrial chemical).
Although it is reassuring to note that when administered
orally, the parabens were inactive, subcutaneous
administration of butylparaben produced a positive
estrogenic response on uterine tissues. Although
approximately 100,000 times less potent than17 beta-estradiol,
greater exposure to the parabens may compensate for
their lower potency. The researchers conclude that,
"Given their use in a wide range of commercially
available topical preparations, it is suggested that the
safety in use of these chemicals should be reassessed .
. ."
The European Union has asked the European Cosmetics and
Toiletry industry about these new findings and the
implication for breast cancer. These preservatives are
found in the vast majority of skin an body lotions, even
in natural progesterone creams. Generally, for the
sterol hormones, taken orally the hormones are 90% first
pass metabolized by the liver. Thus, taken orally only
10% reaches the body. In contrast, anything absorbed by
the skin is directly absorbed. In other words, anything
absorbed through the skin may be as high as 10 times the
concentration of an oral dose.
Unfortunately, some natural progesterone creams were
found to contain methyl and propyl parabens as a
preservative
5 Out of 6 Chemicals Used to block UV in Sunscreen
are Estrogenic
Margaret Schlumpf and her colleagues (Institute of
Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich,
Switzerland) have found that many widely-used sunscreen
chemicals mimic the effects of estrogen and trigger
developmental abnormalities in rats. (Schlumpf ,
Margaret; Beata Cotton, Marianne Conscience, Vreni
Haller, Beate Steinmann, Walter Lichtensteiger. In vitro
and in vivo estrogenicity of UV screens.
Environmental Health Perspectives Vol. 109 (March
2001) pp 239-244) Her group tested six common chemicals
that are used in sunscreens, lipsticks and facial
cosmetics. Five of the six tested chemicals
(benzophenone-3, homosalate, 4-methyl-benzylidene
camphor (4-MBC), octyl-methoxycinnamate and
octyl-dimethyl-PABA) behaved like strong estrogen in lab
tests and caused cancer cells to grow more rapidly. Only
one chemical - a UVA protector called butyl-methoxydibenzoylmethane
(B-MDM) - showed no activity. Uterine growth and
endometriosis :One very common sunscreen chemical,
4-MBC, was mixed with olive oil and applied to rat skin.
This caused a doubling of the rate of uterine growth
well before puberty. "That was scary, because we used
concentrations that are in the range allowed in
sunscreens," said Schlumpf. Three of the six caused
developmental abnormalities in animals. The major cause
of sterility in women in the USA is endometriosis, a
condition afflicting 5.5% of American women. Exposure to
excessive estrogen, that may have come from such
sunscreens, is felt to be the primary cause of
endometriosis. Perhaps a sunscreen using zinc oxide is a
better choice. |
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When applied to breast cancer cells in vitro (test
tubes) the following chemicals increased cancer cell
proliferation/growth:
- Benzophenone-3
- Homosalate
- Octyl Methoxycinnamate
- 4 Methyl-benzylidene camphor (4-MBC)
- Ocryl-dimethyl-PABA
These are the Chemicals found in your typical store
bought sunscreens that you are putting on yourself and
your children!
[Source: Environmental Health Perspectives, Volumn 109,
Number 3, March 2001,
In Vitro and in Vivo Estrogenicity of UV Screens.
Margaret Schlumpf, Beata Cotton, Marianne Conscience,
Vreni Haller, Beate Steinmann, and Walter Lichtensteiger]
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Titanium
Dioxide--a carcinogen?
Risk to humans from titanium dioxideOne form of
mineral or mineral extract, including titanium dioxide,
that we should be concerned about is ultrafine or nano
particles. As technology has advanced, so has its
ability to take normal sized particles of minerals and
reduce them to sizes never before imagined. While many
are praising this new technology, others are warning of
its inherent dangers to our bodies. A study by Churg et.
al. at the University of British Columbia in their paper
"Induction of Fibrogenic Mediators by Fine and Ultrafine
Titanium Dioxide in Rat Tracheal Explants" (1999) found
that ultrafine particles of the anatase form of titanium
dioxide, which are less than 0.1 microns, are pathogenic
or disease causing."
Chemical versus Physical sun blockers
With so much that is known about the risks of
chemical sunscreens--they generate free radicals and in
addition octyl metoxycinnimate and benzophenones have
been implicated in estrogenicity studies. A few facts
about how chemical sunscreens and physical sunblocks
work may help to put it in perspective.
Chemical sunscreens work by absorbing UV rays and
absorbing the radiation. In the process of breaking
chemical bonds they release free radicals. About 15% of
the population will experience skin irritation from some
component found in a typical chemical sunscreen.
Physical sunblocks, on the other hand, work by
reflecting and/or scattering UV rays and radiation. The
following brief list describes how each type of
sunscreen performs:
|
Ingredient |
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UVB Protection |
UVA
Protection |
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Chemical Absorbers |
Avobenzone
(Parsol 1789) |
No |
Yes |
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Cinnamates |
Yes |
No |
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Octocrylene |
Yes |
No |
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Oxybenzone (Benzophenones) |
No |
Yes |
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PABA
(para-aminobenzoic acid) |
Yes |
No |
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Padimate-O
(Octyl dimethyl paba) |
Yes |
No |
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Salicylates |
Yes |
No |
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Physical Blockers |
Titanium Dioxide |
Yes |
Yes |
(up to about 360nm on the UVA spectrum) |
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Zinc Dioxide |
Yes |
Yes |
(protects along the full UVA range, up to 400nm) |
A look at the list should indicate the superiority of
physical sunblocks. In addition, only one chemical
agent, avobenzone, is allowed in sunscreens in Europe,
Australia and Canada. They use primarily titanium
dioxide in their sunscreens--and my guess is that
avobenzone is on the allowed list because it in
conjunction with titanium dioxide gives you full UVA/UVB
protection--at least in theory. In practice avobenzone
degrades about thirty minutes after application, hence
does not offer very effective protection.
Zinc Oxide--a physical sunblock that works
Zinc oxide emerges as the clear winner in the
sunblock wars, and it eludes me why it is not used more
frequently. Not only is it the only mineral to provide
complete UVB/UVA protection, it is also a wonderful
anti-inflammatory and has great healing properties. It
is safe for use by people who have rosacea, both because
it is anti-inflammatory and because it provides the
protection they, more than most, so urgently need.
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