Much attention has been paid to the chemicals ever present in water and food, but did you know that what you put in Your body can be as dangerous as what you put into it. in he.
There is a wide range of cosmetic and personal hygiene products that Americans use to prevent sweating, shave beards, and remove pesky popcorn seeds from their teeth.
But dozens of these (and similar) products have been revealed to contain harmful PFAS, “permanent chemicals,” and other cancer-causing ingredients.
Consumer watchdog group Mamavation and the Environmental Working Group have tested hundreds of products and analyzed their ingredients, from foods to sunscreen, makeup, body washes and contact lenses.
They found dangerously high levels of harmful ingredients in items across all categories.
Below, a DailyMail.com graphic reveals which of Americans’ favorite products could be slowly poisoning them.
Hundreds of products have been revealed to contain PFAS, ‘permanent chemicals’ and other cancer-causing ingredients.
PFAS, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of thousands of substances known as forever chemicals. They are microscopic compounds that take thousands of years to decompose in the environment or in the human body.
They are found in textiles, nonstick cookware, clothing, grease-resistant food packaging, and personal care products. These products can easily enter the body after contact with them.
Other types of permanent chemicals include thousands that do not exist in nature and are almost impossible for the body to eliminate.
There is no safe level of exposure to permanent chemicals or PFAS and they have been linked to multiple cancers, asthma, fertility problems, obesity, birth defects, diabetes and autism.
One of the most common ways to test for the presence of PFAS in products is to measure the presence of organic fluorine, a chemical that contains known PFAS.
For people who use tampons or menstrual pads, Mamavation found that the popular Playtex tampons, Always liners, and Carefree liners tested positive for organic fluoride.
Bandages manufactured by popular brand Band Aid were found to contain between 188 ppm and 262 ppm of organic fluoride.
Most people start their days by brushing their teeth, showering, or putting on makeup, but with each step of their routine, exposure to harmful chemicals increases.
Putting in contact lenses is the first step in the morning routine for tens of millions of Americans.
But eyewear wearers should be warned that some of the most popular brands on the market contain worryingly high levels of PFAS.
Of the eight contact lens brands Mamavation tested, the parts per million of organic fluoride reached almost 21,000.
The values ranged from 4,700 ppm for the Coopervision lenses to 20,700 ppm for the Alcon colored lenses.
The effects of PFAS on the eyes are still unclear, although some studies suggest it may increase the risk of vision problems and some eye diseases.
Maintaining oral health is next in a typical morning routine, but flossing twice a day could expose you to cancer-causing chemicals.
Testing of Oral B’s Pro-Health Deep Clean dental floss revealed that the product had more than 70,000 ppm of organic fluoride.
After taking care of your teeth, you get in the shower, squeeze the body wash onto a loofah, and start lathering.
But if soaps from the popular Olay brand are your first choice, you’re exposing yourself to an irritant called methylisothiazolinone.
This ingredient is a chemical preservative similar to PFAS that is used to kill or control harmful microorganisms. However, it can cause chemical burns and severe skin irritations.
A common ingredient in sunscreen is homosalate, which is found in Banana Boat kids’ sunscreen and Hawaiian Tropic’s Weightless Hydration sunscreen.
For people looking to smell fresh all day, turning to an antiperspirant or deodorant carries risks.
Popular brands of products, including Degree, Right Guard, and Secret, contain PFAS and the carcinogenic ingredients talc, BHT, and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane, also known as cyclopentasiloxane or D5.
D5 can release formaldehyde, which in some studies has been shown to contribute to leukemia and nasopharyngeal cancer. BHT has been linked to liver, thyroid, and kidney problems, as well as lung function problems in animal studies.
And talc is the central ingredient in the Johnson & Johnson lawsuits, in which plaintiffs allege that the company’s talc-based products caused a wide range of cancers.
For people who use tampons or menstrual pads, Mamavation found that the popular Playtex tampons, Always liners, and Carefree liners tested positive for organic fluoride.
Playtex sport contained 19 ppm, while the Always liners had 21 ppm of chemicals and the Carefree product had 17 ppm.
Other products for women with dangerous ingredients include mascaras from Covergirl and Maybelline, which contain Teflon, a type of permanent chemical, and the hormone-disrupting chemical propylparaben.
Your first aid kit may also contain some dangerous chemicals.
Bandages manufactured by the popular brand Band-Aid were found to contain between 188 ppm and 262 ppm of organic fluoride.
And any doctor will tell their patients the importance of applying SPF to protect against skin cancer or melanoma.
But some popular brands also contain potentially harmful chemicals.
For example, a common ingredient in sun lotions is homosalate, which is found in Banana Boat children’s sunscreen and Sport Ultra, as well as Hawaiian Tropic’s Weightless Hydration sunscreen.
Homosalate is a UV filter and, while it protects against the sun, it acts as a potential endocrine disruptor, and some studies suggest it affects hormones.
In particular, homosalate affects the estrogen system, which could cause breast cancer cells to grow and multiply.
PFAS and permanent chemicals are ubiquitous in people’s lives around the world.
They are even found in clothing and bedding, and although it may seem impossible to avoid them, experts offer several tips to reduce exposure.
Dr. Mark Howell, disease burden researcher at the University of South Florida, wrote Consumer Advisory to look for “PFAS-free” labels on beauty and personal care products, reduce fast food consumption, and drink filtered water.
Other tips include avoiding fabrics that are promoted as stain-resistant and staying away from waterproof or “long-lasting” cosmetics.
