Rub-a-dub-dub! Are Toxic Chemicals In Your Tub?

Want the latest wrinkle curing moisturizer? How about laundry detergent that keeps your dark clothes dark? Take a look on the back of the product at the ingredients (if they are even listed) and you might think twice before covering your face with latest L'Oréal product.


It's not just what you put into your body, it's also what you put on it and the effects it has on your body and the planet.

Potential risks that are associated with personal and household care products can be overwhelmingly scary, along with the intimidating ingredient lists on the backside of products, sometimes products will not list the ingredients but simply the "active" ingredient. According to Green Clean Certified there are three essential categories into which most of the hazardous ingredients in household cleaning products fall are:

1. Carcinogens– Carcinogens cause cancer and/or promote cancer’s growth. 

2. Endocrine disruptors – Endocrine disruptors mimic human hormones, confusing the body with false   signals. Exposure to endocrine disruptors can lead to numerous health concerns including reproductive, developmental, growth and behavior problems. Endocrine disruptors have been linked to reduced fertility, premature puberty, miscarriage, menstrual problems, challenged immune systems, abnormal prostate size, ADHD, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and certain cancers.

3. Neurotoxins – Neurotoxins alter neurons, affecting brain activity, causing a range of problems from headaches to loss of intellect

 

I picked a product that I use on daily bases and did some research. The product is Crest ProHealth Clinical Rinse which contains Poloxamer 407, a common ingredient in oral care and CPC (cetylpyridinium chloride) a antiseptic used in dental hygiene. Which were both not listed on the bottle itself, I had to write an email to P&G requesting a complete listing of the ingredients.

Purified Water,USP
Glycerin,USP
Flavor
CPC (cetylpyridinium chloride)
Poloxamer 407, NF
35% Hydrogen Peroxide, cosmetic grade
Sucralose

Poloxamer 407: According to livestrong.com  "may cause renal, or kidney, toxicity. In addition, PharmaGateway.net explains that this ingredient may cause changes in your blood lipid profile"

CPC (cetylpyridinium chloride):  According to the Dictionary of Substances and their Effects
 Cetylpyridinium chloride is toxic if swallowed or inhaled and reports reports the results of toxicity tests in which lab rats inhaled 0.05, 0.07, 0.13 and 0.29 mg of cetylpyridinium chloride. Fourteen days after the initial exposure, signs of toxicity included nasal discharge, respiratory difficulty, weight loss, bloody tears, and inflammation of the iris, cornea and aqueous humor (the fluid part of the eye). Other adverse effects in animals include nervous depression, convulsions and limb paralysis.

 

Reading the side effects of both ingredients shocked and scared me. I immediately looked into healthier alternatives which included a homemade version of a mint mouthwash:

1 cup aloe vera juice (fairly inexpensive at Trader Joe’s among other places)
1/2 cup distilled water (I just used filtered)
1 tbsp. witch hazel
2 tsp. baking soda
20 drops peppermint essential oil

Itry and use DIY cleaning materials on my home versus toxic household chemicals. I use a vinegar solution with floors, olive oil on wood products, and baking soda and vinegar combo for sinks, toilets, etc. It feels pretty good to not use toxic cleansers and its cheaper too! Give it a try!