In a report released by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, 32 recently tested baby products tested positive for trace amounts of 1,4-dioxane and 23 tested positive for formaldehyde. Of the 48 products tested, 17 of the products tested positive for both.
The tested products include many big name products, including Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo and Baby Magic Lotion.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, 1,4-dioxane, is a known carcinogen. 1,4-dioxane is a by-product of a chemical processing method called ethoxylation. Ethoxylation is used to make petroleum-based cosmetics ingredients gentler to the skin. While the toxic by-product can be easily removed by manufacturers, it is not currently required under federal cosmetic safety standards.
Formaldehyde is listed as probable carcinogen according to the Environmental Protection Agency, despite the fact that the risk of cancer from absorption through the skin is not entirely understood. Formaldehyde has also been known to trigger skin reactions in both children and adults.
Stacy Malkin, spokeswoman for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics remarked, "Our intention is not to alarm parents, but to inform parents that products that claim to be gentle and pure are contaminated with carcinogens, which is completely unnecessary."
In a response, Johnson & Johnson said, "The FDA and other government agencies around the world consider these trace levels safe, and all our products meet or exceed the regulatory requirements in every country where they are sold. We are disappointed that the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has inaccurately characterized the safety of our products, misrepresented the overwhelming consensus of scientists and government agencies that review the safety of ingredients, and unnecessarily alarmed parents."
The European Union has banned 1,4-dioxane and a 1982 study by the FDA showed that 1,4-dioxane can penetrate the skin when used in lotion.
For more information about the report, visit The Campaign For Safe Cosmetics.
