Aubrey Organics - Chemical Toxins in Personal Care Products

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Chemical Toxins in Personal Care Products
(No Testing Required), from Healthy Living by David Steinman

In May 2002 a coalition of environmental and public health organizations, led by the Environmental Working Group, contracted with a major national laboratory to test 72 name-brand, off-the-shelf beauty products for the presence of phthalates, a large family of industrial chemicals linked to permanent birth defects in the male reproductive system and to premature breast development among girls and infants, as well as to childhood asthma rate increases (see page 10).

The laboratory found phthalates in nearly three-quarters of the products tested (52 of 72 products), including all 17 fragrances tested, 9 of 14 deodorants, six of seven hair gels, four of seven mousses, 14 of 18 hair sprays, and two of nine hand and body lotions in concentrations ranging from trace amounts to nearly 3 percent of the product formulation. None of the 52 phthalate-containing products listed the offending chemical on its ingredient label.

In fact, major loopholes in federal law allow the $20-billion-a-year cosmetics industry to put unlimited amounts of phthalates into many personal care products with no premarket safety required testing, no required monitoring of health effects, and no required labeling, according to Poisoned Cosmetics, Not Too Pretty, the July 8, 2002, report based on the investigation. By federal law, the cosmetics industry is allowed to self-regulate and its own funded scientific review board has said that phthalates are safe as used in cosmetics.

Yet, in animal tests miniscule amounts of some phthalates damage the developing testes of offspring and cause malformations of the penis and other parts of the reproductive tract. Phthalate exposures damage the testes, prostate gland, epididymus, penis, and seminal vesicles in laboratory animals. Most of these troubling effects persist throughout the animal's life, according to the report.

In addition, phthalates appear to play a role in promoting premature breast development in girls as young as two or three, according to an investigation designed by researchers at the University of Puerto Rico and San Juan City Hospital to identify pollutants in the serum of Puerto Rican girls with premature thelarche. Forty-one serum samples from thelarche patients and 35 control samples were analyzed. No pesticides or their metabolite residues were detected in the serum of the study or control subjects. However, significantly high levels of phthalates were identified in 28 (68 percent) samples from thelarche patients. Of the control samples analyzed, only one showed significant levels of phthalates. The researchers concluded, "This study suggests a possible association between plasticizers with known estrogenic and antiandrogenic activity and the cause of premature breast development in a human female population."

The particular phthalates—dimethyl, diethyl, and dibutyl phthalates—linked to premature breast development are widely used in cosmetic products as plasticizers, solvents and perfume fixatives. Skin exposures allow these chemicals to proceed directly into the bloodstream at high concentrations of absorption. That might be more dangerous than oral ingestion. Because they are lipophilic, phthalates have a tendency to accumulate in fatty tissues such as breast tissue; they were linked with women's breast cancer as early as 1997 in the August issue of the journal Carcinogenesis.

So why hasn't the FDA done more to protect our health? According to the EWG report, "The Food and Drug Administration holds a substantial fraction of the power that could be used to reduce people's exposures to phthalates, through their authority to regulate food, drugs, cosmetics, and medical supplies, all of which can contain phthalates...Yet, more than four years after being confronted with this information, they have chosen to do almost nothing to mitigate exposures."

The same phthalates that cause permanent harm of the male reproductive system in laboratory studies and are now linked with premature secondary sexual characteristics in prepubescent girls are found particularly in hair spray, deodorant, and fragrances. Big-name products such as Revlon, Calvin Klein, Christian Dior, and Procter & Gamble all produce products with the undisclosed troubling ingredient. The laboratory found phthalates in Pantene Pro V "Healthy Hold" and Aqua Net hair sprays, Arrid and Degree deodorants, and fragrances like Poison by Christian Dior and Coty's Healing Garden Pure Joy Body Treatment, to name just a few.

Beauty Without Harm

There are excellent companies, fortunately, that have taken a leadership role and are providing consumers with real choices. Aubrey Organics, of Tampa, Florida, is a leader in organic and natural skin and hair care. Founder and CEO Aubrey Hampton is thought of as the father of organic skin and hair care in America. In fact, Aubrey has shown the global cosmetic industry it is possible to produce a high-end and diversified cosmetic and personal care line without the need for toxic petrochemical ingredients.

As we mentioned, 9 of the 14 deodorants tested contained phthalates. But Aubrey makes life simple, better. For total protection that lasts, E Plus High C Roll-On Deodorant herbal roll-on formula reduces odor and keeps you feeling clean all day. Instead of harsh aluminum compounds, this product uses natural calamine powder, oils of arnica, chamomile, sandalwood, and calendula, along with vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, organic aloe, and other skin soothers. This is considered by many customers who have tried lots of different products to be the best natural roll-on today.

Is it possible for women to add body and manageability to their hair without plastic? You wouldn't think so from all of the hair sprays (14 of 18) containing phthalates. Instead of plasticizers like phthalates, Aubrey's B-5 Design Gel, a styling gel and conditioner in one, uses vitamin B-5, a natural hair thickener and herbal gums with Rosa Mosqueta® oil, sulfur-rich amino acids, and organic aloe vera to combat the damaging effects of blow dryers, sun, and pollution.

Although only two of nine hand and body lotions contained phthalates, that's still 22 percent of products tested, especially of concern for a leave-on product like a lotion where absorption is maximized.

Rosa Mosqueta Luxurious Hand & Body Lotion is a fragrant, luxurious body lotion that leaves your skin incredibly soft and supple with organic Rosa Mosqueta oil, high in essential fatty acids, vitamin E, and other nutrients, plus organic jojoba oil and macadamia nut oil.

Sea Buckthorn with Ester-C® Nourishing Hand & Body Lotion with antioxidant-rich sea buckthorn oil and wrinkle lessening Ester-C, a long-lasting form of vitamin C, restores natural moisture balance and reduces lines and scars.

Ultimate Moist Green Tea Rosemary Mint Hand & Body Lotion gives women the power of green tea, which helps prevent skin cancer as well as free radical damage from the sun. This skin-pampering moisturizer is made with organic ingredients like evening primrose oil, shea butter and Rosa Mosqueta oil, with the antioxidant synergy of organic Matcha green tea to protect your skin from free-radical damage, and the perk-it-up fragrance of Aubrey's Rosemary Mint oil blend.

With amounts as high as 3 percent in formulations, it should not be up to consumers to play reproductive toxicity roulette at the drug store, not knowing what they are buying. According to officials at the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, activists this year will push Congress for hearings to revisit the issue of greater cosmetic industry regulatory oversight. Indeed, phthalates are but one problem ingredient in cosmetics. The use of carcinogenic chemicals and contamination with carcinogens is another problem. Most of these problems are caused by the cosmetic industry's extensive use of toxic petrochemicals. While we might not be able to avoid every problem ingredient all of the time, we can reduce our exposure to most by being smart shoppers and purchasing cosmetics from conscientious companies that are doing everything possible to eliminate the use of phthalates and other petrochemicals.

—David Steinman

References
Colón, I., et al. "Identification of phthalate esters in the serum of young Puerto Rican girls with premature breast development." Environmental Health Perspectives, 2000; 108(9):895-900.

Resources
Aubrey's extensive line is available at fine health food stores nationwide. Since they have so many great products, you might need to ask your retailer to let you see their store catalog. I wouldn't miss trying any of their products.
www.aubrey-organics.com.
Call them at 1-800-Aubrey-H. (282-7394).
Read the entire EWG report at http://www.ewg.org/reports/nottoopretty/.
Visit www.safecosmetics.org for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.

February 2007

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