Have you ever wondered if your make-up bag contains any toxic chemicals? Dutch EDC-Free Europe member Erase All Toxics set out to test 111 popular personal care products and found that 60% of those contained chemicals may be endocrine disrupting.
Through our daily use of personal care products and cosmetics, we are all exposed to potentially toxic chemicals hidden in their ingredient list. These products can be a significant source of our daily exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals, which disrupt the functioning of our hormone system. Women in the reproductive age as well as pregnant women are especially vulnerable to these chemicals.
By analysing the ingredient lists of 111 popular personal care products and cosmetics - like soap, crème, deodorant, body lotion and lip balm – Erase All Toxins found twelve chemical substances that are known or potential endocrine disruptors. These include:
- Butylparaben
- Propylparaben
- Ethylparaben
- Methylparaben
- BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)
- Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate
- Benzophenone-3 and Benzophenone-4
- Butylphenyl
- Methylpropional
- Benzyl salicylate
- Octocrylene, and
- Cyclopentasiloxane
Erase All Toxins (or: Tegengif in Dutch) is a not-for-profit organisation that researches our daily exposure to harmful chemicals. They are especially concerned about the use of potentially toxic endocrine disrupting chemicals in cosmetics. Whenever possible, Erase All Toxins provides practical tips to reduce exposure.
