Cancer treatment methods have been forging ahead in recent years, with billions of dollars now devoted to searching for a cure for cancer worldwide. One in three women, and one in two men in some countries will develop cancer over the course of their life, with heart cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer the most common.
Child cancer is on the increase also, and all would agree that it is infinitely preferable to learn how to prevent cancer, than to constantly be treating it. One possible major cause has recently been discovered, with the fact that many cosmetics and personal care products are contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a cancer causing chemical.
The study was conducted by the Organic Consumers Association, in conjunction with Dr Bronners, a major organic personal care company. It found that of 100 products ;labelled as natural or organic, there were fifty contaminated with 1,4-dioxane. Brands that were affected included Nutribiotic, Kiss My Face, Alba, Sea-Chi Orgnaics, Lifetree, Earth Friendly Products, Jason, Ecover and more.
Products like Johnsons and Huggies Baby Wash, Hello Kitty and Sesame Street bubble bath have been found to contain this chemical in related studies – possibly contributing to our high child cancer rates. Thailand cancer centers that provide bone cancer treatment, heart surgery for cancer and breast cancer treatment all recommend that to be safe, consumers should choose alternative brands.
1,4-dioxane is an ether, a known eye and respiratory tract irritant that is used as a solvent during the manufacturing process of personal care products. It appears quite often as a by-product of ethyoxylation in manufacturing of cosmetics. Thailand skin cancer and Thailand breast cancer treatment centers recognize that 1.4 dioxane is readily absorbed by the skin, which is supported by scientific tests.
It is a known animal carcinogen, however due to the fact that deliberately giving humans a potential cancer-cause for study purposes would be highly unethical, no studies have been carried out on humans. The EPA in the United States classifies it as a probable carcinogen for humans, and it is on California’s proposition list of chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer, including heart cancer and child cancer.
Due to the fact that it cannot be conclusively proven to cause cancer in humans, this known carcinogen is widespread in personal care products. The fact that it is present in 57% of baby soaps, and 34% of body lotions has been linked to child cancer rates by Thailand cancer centers, while breast cancer rates could be increased by the fact that 66% of hair removers, 43% of body firming lotions and 35% of anti-aging prodycts contain 1,4-dioxane.
A February 2007 EWG press release said that related studies had found the chemical in Huggies and Johnsons Baby Wash, Hello Kitty, Sesame Street and Scooby-Doo Bubble Baths, Clairol Herbal Essences Shampoo and Olay Complete Body Wash.
As 1,4-dioxane is known to be a by-product of ethyoxylation, Thailand cancer centers and international hospitals in Thailand recommend that consumers avoid products containing the following ingredients, in order to be sure of avoiding 1,4-dioxane:
– Myreth
– Laureth
– Cateareth
– PEG
– Polyethylene
– Polyoxyethylene
– Oxynol
– Oleth
– Any other ingredient with ‘eth’ in the title