Did you know that a synthetic petrochemical carcinogen called 1,4-dioxane is in everything from J & J’s baby wash to Tide laundry detergent, Dial Clean & Soft Aloe an0bacterial hand soaps, Olay Complete Body Wash with Vitamins (Normal Skin) and many other products?
According to The Environmental Working Group; “Many manufacturers use ethoxylation, a cheap, shortcut process that provides mildness to harsh cleaning ingredients and generates 1,4-dioxane as a by-product. 1,4-dioxane is a chemical “known to the State of California to cause cancer under Proposition 65, and is also suspected as a kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant, and respiratory toxicant, according to the California EPA. 1,4-dioxane is also a significant groundwater contaminant.”
So why on earth aren’t consumers being notified that these carcinogens are in the products we purchase? This answer will make you laugh. Since 1,4-dioxane is considered a “contaminant” it does not need to be listed on product labels. Aside from being absurd, it’s really irresponsible that these products are not under scrutiny and testing, after all our health is at stake.
But several nonprofits are taking matters into their own hands and performing testing of various products.
The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) has been on to this for some time and they have made available a wonderful printout that gives you a list of the products they have tested so far and what their safety rating is.
You can access the PDF here.
