It should be obvious that toxic chemicals have invaded and permeated every aspect of our lives, and unless we as consumers raise warning flags to the manufacturers of our everyday household and personal care products, the growing number of toxic chemicals will continue to rise and set the backdrop for greater incidents of autoimmune disorders, illnesses, allergies, and medical situations.

As someone who spent the past forty eight years working in the Professional Salon industry, I am the first to admit to the multitudes of chemicals that impact professional stylists and their client consumers every day. From the numerous chemicals found in hair color, permanent waves, straighteners, relaxers, bleaches, shampoos, nail polish, and on and on, it is a wonder that more professionals do not come down with major issues related to these toxic chemicals.

It is said that daily, from your shampoo to lipstick, the average American woman applies up to 12 personal care items, and the average man up to six, on their skin each day. That adds up to roughly 126 unique ingredients, according to the Environmental Working Group, a public health advocacy organization.

I cite the following from my article, “Earth’s Prognosis – Critical Condition”, as where the large scale chemicals are winding up and causing major problems for us, our kids, and future generations.

Over 180M Tons of Toxic Waste are dumped Into World’s Oceans, Rivers, and Lakes each Year. The 313 million people who live in the United States send about 120 million tons of trash to landfills every year.

The number pales in comparison with the amount of waste that mining corporations dump into oceans, rivers, and lakes around the world each year, topping 180 million tons. Over 85 percent of this waste comes from just 4 mines: the Grasberg mine in West Papua, the Batu Hijau mine in Indonesia, the Ok Tedi mine in Papua New Guinea, and the Wabash/Scully mine in Labrador, Canada. These wastes can contain arsenic, lead, mercury, cyanide and over thirty other dangerous chemicals.

Ten companies are currently dumping their waste into our waterways, and 27 more are proposing to do so.  This list includes some of the largest, most profitable mining corporations in the world — Canada’s Barrick Gold, US-based Newmont Mining Co., and Freeport McMoRan, and Brazilian-owned Vale.          

Here is a short list of the many toxic chemicals being used by manufacturing companies and need to be questioned, as to why they are still being used, when alternative, more natural ingredients are available. Some will argue that cost is the overriding factor, as any added cost to the ingredient deck, adds to the overall formula’s cost, and guess what, that drives up the retail price paid by the consumer, who want the biggest and the best, yet want the lowest prices possible.

These are not in any particular order, although I did place fragrance first, as this simple word may contain thousands of ingredients that do not have to be listed individually by law. Use this list to question any product still listing them and hopefully the number of people questioning any of these chemicals, will start impacting the manufacturers using them.

Fragrance / Synthetic fragrances

Fragrance is present in most deodorants, shampoos, sunscreens, skin care, body care, and baby products. Many of the compounds in fragrance are carcinogenic or otherwise toxic. Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to 4,000 separate ingredients. Most of all of them are synthetic. Symptoms reported to the FDA have included headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and allergic skin irritation. Clinical observation by medical doctors have shown that exposure to fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes.

Fragrance often contains phthalates (pronounced THAY-lates), synthetic chemicals commonly used to stabilize fragrances and make plastic more pliable. These endocrine disrupters mimic hormones and may alter genital development.

Parabens

Parabens, ubiquitous in hair and skin care products and even food, preserve other ingredients and extend a product’s shelf life, but these antimicrobial chemicals also have hormone-disrupting effects. They are  commonly used preservatives in cosmetics such as moisturizers, shampoos and conditioners, and many types of makeup. Parabens are known to disrupt hormone function, which is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer and reproductive fertility. Parabens are linked to early puberty in children and early menopause in women.

Ureas

These compounds are just a few of the many preservatives found in personal care products that are known to release formaldehyde,  which has been shown to damage the respiratory system and cause heart palpitations, Other complications brought on by exposure include rash, joint pain, depression, headaches, chest pains, and sleep loss, to name a few. Exposure has also been shown to weaken the immune system, known to increase the risk of cancer.

Unfortunately, these compounds are still found in nearly all brands of skin and hair care products. Formally known as diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, or DMDM hydantoin and sodium hydroxymethyl-glycinate, are preservatives that have the potential to release formaldehyde in very small amounts and are a primary cause of contact dermatitis. Formaldehyde a known human carcinogen, it’s toxic to the immune system and respiratory track.

Health Hazards: The European Union has banned the use of formaldehyde, in cosmetics and personal care products. It is associated with multiple health concerns, such as respiratory tract and eye irritation, cancer, immune system damage, genetic damage, and triggering asthma.

1,4-Dioxane

These toxic ingredients are a chemical carcinogen, created when ingredients are processed with petroleum-derived ethylene oxide. Common ethoxylated compounds include sodium laureth sulfate and polyethylene glycol (often listed as PEG). To avoid it, skip any product with the following ingredients: myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth, or any other - eth, PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or oxynol.

DIOXANE is a petrochemical solvent found in cosmetics and products that foam, such as bubble bath, baby shampoo, laundry detergent. Dioxane is a contaminant produced during manufacturing, and the FDA does not require 1,4-dioxane to be listed as an ingredient on product labels. However, if you look closely you’ll see ingredients such as PEG, polysorbates, laureth, ethoxylated alcohols which are all dioxanes. Dioxin is linked to cancer. 1,4 dioxane is known to cause cancer in animals and has a high probability of carcinogenicity in humans.

Petrochemicals

These ingredients are derived from crude oil. Petroleum-based ingredients such as petrolatum, mineral oil, and paraffin (derived from nonrenewable sources) form a barrier when applied to the skin that does not allow it to breathe and can clog pores.

Mineral Oils & Paraffin, are used as the base for creams, baby rash ointment and many other personal care products Petrolatum coats the skin like plastic, clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins. They can slow cellular development, creating earlier signs of aging. They’re implicated as a suspected cause of cancer. Plus, they can disrupt hormonal activity.”

MEA/DEA/TEA

These ingredients are “amines” (ammonia compounds) and can form harmful nitrosamines when they come in contact with nitrates. Used as foaming agents, synthetic stabilizers, and to adjust the pH of cosmetics, they can cause allergic reactions, eye irritation, and dryness of the hair and skin.

DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (momoethanolamine) and TEA

(triethanolamine) are  acronyms listed in conjunction with other ingredients on product labels. These chemicals are carcinogens and known as hormone-disrupting chemicals. They, too, are frequently found in products that foam, such as bubble baths, body washes and shampoos.

Health Hazards: DEA can be absorbed into the body through the skin. It can act as a carcinogen and can be converted to nitrosamines, which are also carcinogenic. DEA is a hormone disruptor, and robs the body of choline needed for fetal brain development.

Sulfates

Ingredients such as sodium lauryl and sodium laureth, are harsh detergents that give cleansers, soaps, and shampoos their latherability. Often derived from petroleum, sulfates can also come from coconut and other vegetable oils that can be contaminated with pesticides. Sulfates can cause eye irritation and skin rashes.

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), are closely related chemicals that pop up in everything from industrial soaps to toothpaste, and are contained in nearly all shampoos and foaming products. They are known to cause skin irritation, serious eye damage, diarrhea, breathing difficulty – even death – in laboratory animals. The manufacturing of SLS creates ethoxylation which is contaminated with dioxane, a carcinogen. Research has shown that SLS, combined with other chemicals can be transformed into nitrosamines, a potent class of carcinogens, which causes the body to absorb nitrates at higher levels than eating nitrate-contaminated food.

Chemical Sunscreens

Ingredients such as oxybenzone and octyl methoxycinnamate have been shown to disrupt endocrine activity. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are safer alternatives.

Research on animals suggests that chemicals in some sunscreens, including oxybenzone, may cause health problems when they penetrate the skin. The safest sunscreens are made from minerals such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, but they can be very expensive. In general, avoid aerosol spray sunscreens, which you can accidentally inhale, as well as sunscreens containing chemical ingredients such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, retinyl palmitate (a form of vitamin A), and fragrances.

Antibacterial compounds

Ingredients, such as triclosan and chlorphenesin, do not break down in the environment and may contribute to bacterial resistance. A lot of hand cleaners may contain Triclosan, which absorption through the skin can be tied to liver damage.

Synthetic polymers

Ingredients, such as sodium polyacrylate and carbomer, come from petroleum and give viscosity to skin care products. They are highly processed and their manufacture creates toxic by-products.

Synthetic colors

These colors are made from coal tar. They contain heavy metal salts that may deposit toxins onto the skin, causing skin sensitivity and irritation. Animal studies have shown almost all of them to be carcinogenic. They will be labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number.

They may seem like harmless colorants, but the many pigments finding their way into personal care products can damage the skin. In addition, it’s been shown that absorption of some of these colorants can deplete the body of oxygen, and in extreme cases, lead to death. The majority of these pigments is made from coal tar, a substance known to cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Chelators

Ingredients such as disodium EDTA and tetrasodium EDTA, are used in personal care products to remove impurities from low-quality raw materials. They do not readily bio-degrade in the environment.

Animal testing

A grim history of cruelty to animals lies behind many cosmetic ingredients. Scientists are developing new technologies to test cosmetics before a European Union ban began on animal testing in March 2009.

Isopropyl alcohol

This chemical is listed on the ingredients of lotions, fragrances, cosmetics and similar products. You might think because of its widespread use that isopropyl alcohol is safe. In reality, this petroleum-derived substance is the same chemical used in antifreeze and as a solvent in shellac. Both inhalation and ingestion are dangerous – leading to dizziness, depression, vomiting, nausea and coma.

Isopropyl alcohol is found in hair color rinses, body rubs, hand lotions, after shave lotions, fragrances and many other cosmetics. This petroleum derived substance is also used in antifreeze and as a solvent in shellac.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG)

These hard-working chemicals are used to dissolve oil and grease, as well as thicken products. They are even used as oven cleaners. PEGs also find their way into many of the personal care products you use every day. Potentially carcinogenic, PEGs are known to damage the immune system and exposure can lead to cancer.

PEG is an abbreviation for polyethylene glycol that is used in making cleansers to dissolve oil and grease as well as thicken products. Because of their effectiveness, PEG's are often used in caustic spray-on oven cleaners and yet are found in many personal care products. PEG's contribute to stripping the natural Moisture Factor, leaving the immune system vulnerable.

Chlorine

Despite being used in swimming pools, laundry products, sewage systems and tap water, among other applications, chlorine is far from harmless. This chemical is widely known to cause delirium, diabetes, high blood pressure, circulatory collapse, and a host of other serious conditions. It is also a likely carcinogen. While you may not see chlorine on product labels, it’s important that you protect your skin from contact with it.

Exposure to chlorine in tap water, showers, pool, laundry products, cleaning agents, food processing, sewage systems and many others, can affect health by contributing to asthma, hay fever, anemia, bronchitis, circulatory collapse, confusion, delirium, diabetes, dizziness, irritation of the eye, mouth, nose, throat, lung, skin and stomach, heart disease, high blood pressure and nausea.

Mineral oil and Baby oil

What can be more harmless than something known as baby oil, marketed to protect an infant’s skin? Baby oil is still 100 percent mineral oil, a commonly used petroleum-based ingredient that is also used to make plastic wrap. Like plastic wrap, it robs your skin’s natural ability to breathe and release toxins. It can also slow down cell development, leading to breakdown of cells and premature aging.

Propylene glycol (PG)

Commonly found in products as a “wetting” agent or solvent, you may be surprised to learn that PG is also the active component in antifreeze. In fact, there is no difference in the industrial product and the personal care product ingredient. While known to break down protein and cellular structure, it is still found in a multitude of skin and hair products, including cosmetics.

By the way, did you know that the EPA requires that workers wear protective gear when working around these chemicals – to guard against brain, liver and kidney damage?

The Material Safety Data Sheets warn against skin contact, as PG has systemic consequences such as brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities. Consumers are not protected not is there a warning label on products such as stick deodorants, where the concentration is greater than that in most industrial applications.

Butyl acetate

Butyl acetate is found in nail strengtheners and nail polishes.

Health Hazards: Butyl acetate vapors may cause dizziness or drowsiness. Continued use of a product containing butyl acetate may cause skin to crack and become dry.

Butylated hydroxytoluene

Butylated hydroxytoluene is found in a variety of cosmetics and personal care products. It is an antioxidant, which helps slow the rate at which a product changes color over time.

Health Hazards: Butylated hydroxytoluene may cause skin and eye irritation.

Phthalates

Phthalates (pronounced "thay-lates") are chemical plasticizers that have been widely used since the 1950s to soften plastics that would otherwise be brittle and crack when bent. Because phthalates are not chemically bound to the plastics they're added to, they are continually released into the air or food or liquid.

Phthalates are found in an amazing array of products. In personal care items, they're used to help lubricate other substances, help lotions penetrate and soften the skin, and help fragrances last longer. They're also used in toys, electronics, such as personal computers, car-care products, insecticides, and many household products, including adhesives, plastic wrap, plastic containers, flooring, furniture, wallpaper, shower curtains, and other things made of vinyl or PVC.

Phthalates are known as endocrine disruptors because they mimic the body’s hormones and have, in laboratory animal tests, been shown to cause reproductive and neurological damage.

Acrylamide

This ingredient is found in many face creams. You’ll find this in mammary tumors. Acrylamide is an industrial chemical known to increase infertility and neurological problems.

Phenol (Carbolic Acid)

This ingredient is found in skin lotions. Phenol was first extracted from coal tar, but today is produced from petroleum. It is corrosive to the eyes, the skin, and the respiratory tract causing lung edema. It’s harmful to the central nervous systems and heart and cause dysrhythmia, seizures, and coma. The kidneys may be affected as well.

Heavy Metals (lead, aluminum, arsenic, nickel, beryllium, mercury, cadmium & nickel)

The number one ingredient in most conventional deodorants is aluminum. One or more of these metals is probably in your makeup! Lead is an ingredient so toxic it isn’t allowed in paint or gasoline, but it’s in most lipsticks. Watch out for arsenic in eyeliner and cadmium and mercury in mascara!  

Lead typically occurs as a contaminant, such as hydrated silica, an ingredient in toothpaste. Lead acetate is added as an ingredient in some lipsticks and men's hair dyes.

Health Hazards: Lead is a neurotoxin. It can cause brain damage and developmental delays even at extremely low concentrations.  

The FDA permits the use of mercury compounds in eye makeup at concentrations up to 65 parts per million. The preservative thimerosol, found in some mascaras, is a mercury-containing product.

Health Hazards: Mercury is associated with a host of health concerns, including allergic reactions, skin irritation, toxicity, neurological damage, bioacculumation, and environmental damage. Mercury readily passes into the body through the skin, so normal use of the product results in exposure.  Mercury is a heavy, silvery metal that is liquid at room temperature.

Toluene

Toluene is found in nail polish and hair dye as a solvent, to improve adhesion, and to add gloss.

Health Hazard: Toluene is toxic. It is associated with reproductive and developmental damage. Toluene may be carcinogenic. In addition to decreasing fertility, toluene may cause liver and kidney damage.

Talc

Talc is used to absorb moisture and provide a hint of sparkle. It is found in eye shadow, blush, baby powder, deodorant and soap. Talc is known to act as a human carcinogen and has been directly linked to ovarian cancer. Talc can act similarly to asbestos when inhaled and may lead to the formation of lung tumors.

The point being made is that we have Chemicals Gone Wild, in our culture and unless we are united in getting them removed, we will just continue to add insult to injury.

I know the listing of these chemicals are seemingly getting longer and longer, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. These were listed to create awareness in the consumer. The intent of this article is to literally scare the consumer, who is the one using them on a daily basis, with everyday household and personal care products, we take for granted, as being clean and beneficial to our homes and well being.

Many people are not surprised to hear that household items like pesticides, cleaning products, and automotive supplies can be harmful to health and should be used with care. But toxic chemicals can be found in a wide range of common household products: for example, furniture and electronics may be treated with toxic flame retardants, (PBDES), plastic toys may contain phthalate plasticizers, lead, and baby bottles may contain the endocrine disruptor BPA (bisphenol-A). The toxicity of chemicals used in household products varies widely and toxic-free products are available, but chemicals linked with long-term health effects (such as hormone disruption, asthma, and neurological effects) have been detected not only in products themselves, but also in house dust and in people's bodies.

Plastic food containers

Ever wonder why clear plastic containers turn cloudy after running through the dishwasher a few times? Plastic breaks down over time, and this breakdown can release dangerous chemicals into your food. Many plastic containers are made from chemicals including phthalates, which act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs).  Use glass containers instead.

Nonstick pans

Many nonstick pans contain trace amounts of a chemical called perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. The pans’ non stick lining can scratch or chip off into your food. Instead, use cast iron or stainless steel cookware, and natural, non-stick sprays such as olive oil.

Air fresheners

Anything you breathe in eventually ends up in your bloodstream. Plug-in scents or synthetically scented candles many contain chemicals called phthalates, which have been linked to reproductive problems. Instead, choose candles made with essential oils and fresh flowers to scent your home.

Known toxic chemicals found in air fresheners: Formaldehyde: Highly toxic, known carcinogen. Phenol: When phenol touches your skin it can cause it to swell, burn, peel, and break out in hives.

Fabric and upholstery protection sprays

Stain blockers essentially create an invisible plastic barrier over your furniture. This plastic will eventually wear off and be released into your home environment. Instead, simply clean stains as necessary rather than trying to prevent them.

Cleaning products

Check the labels of cleaning products for chemical ingredients such as phthalates and chemical surfactants. Natural products like baking soda, Borax, soap powder, vinegar, lemon and hot water work as well, without coating your home in toxins.

Perchloroethylene or “PERC”

Found in: Dry-cleaning solutions, spot removers, and carpet and upholstery cleaners.

Health Risks: Perc is a neurotoxin, according to the chief scientist of environmental protection for the New York Attorney General’s office. People who live in residential buildings where dry cleaners are located have reported dizziness, loss of coordination and other symptoms. While the EPA has ordered a phase-out of perc machines in residential buildings by 2020, California is going even further and plans to eliminate all use of perc by 2023 because of its suspected health risks.

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, or “QUATS”

Found in: Fabric softener liquids and sheets, and most household cleaners labeled “antibacterial.”

Health Risks: Quats are another type of antimicrobial, and thus pose the same problem as triclosan by helping breed antibiotic-resistant bacteria. They’re also a skin irritant; one 10-year study of contact dermatitis found quats to be one of the leading causes. They are also suspected as a culprit for respiratory disorders.

2-Butoxyethanol

Found in: Window, kitchen and multipurpose cleaners.

Health Risks: 2-butoxyethanol is the key ingredient in many window cleaners and gives them their characteristic sweet smell. It belongs in the category of “glycol ethers,” a set of powerful solvents that don’t mess around. The Law does not require 2-butoxyethanol to be listed on a product’s label.

Ammonia

Found in: Polishing agents for bathroom fixtures, sinks and jewelry; also in glass cleaner.

Health Risks: Because ammonia evaporates and doesn’t leave streaks, it’s another common ingredient in commercial window cleaners. Ammonia is a powerful irritant. It’s going to affect you right away. The people who will be really affected are those who have asthma, and elderly people with lung issues and breathing problems.

Chlorine

Found in: Scouring powders, toilet bowl cleaners, mildew removers, laundry whiteners, household tap water, oven cleaners and drain openers.

Health Risks: Otherwise known as lye, sodium hydroxide is extremely corrosive: If it touches your skin or gets in your eyes, it can cause severe burns. Routes of exposure are skin contact and inhalation. Inhaling sodium hydroxide can cause a sore throat that lasts for days.

Bleach

It is a strong corrosive. It will irritate or burn the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. It may cause pulmonary edema or vomiting and coma if ingested. WARNING: never mix bleach with ammonia, as it may cause fumes which can be DEADLY.

Carpet and Upholstery Shampoo

Most formulas are designed to over power the stain itself, they accomplish the task but not without using highly toxic substances. Some include: Perchlorethylene: Known carcinogen damages liver, kidney and nervous system damage. Ammonium Hydroxide: Corrosive, extremely irritable to eyes, skin and respiratory passages.

Dishwasher  Detergents

Most products contain chlorine in a dry form that is highly concentrated. Number one cause of child poisonings, according to poison control centers.

Drain Cleaners

Most drain cleaners contain lye, hydrochloric acid or trichloroethane. Lye: Caustic, burns skin and eyes, if ingested will damage esophagus and stomach. Hydrochloric acid: Corrosive, eye and skin irritant, damages kidneys, liver and digestive tract. Trichloroethane: Eye and skin irritant, nervous system depressant; damages liver and kidneys.

Furniture Polish

Petroleum Distillates: Highly flammable, can cause skin and lung cancer. Phenol: (see Air fresheners, Phenol.) Nitrobenzene: Easily absorbed through the skin, extremely toxic.

Mold and Mildew Cleaners

Chemicals contained are: Sodium hypochlorite: Corrosive irritates or burns skin and eyes, causes fluid in the lungs which can lead to coma or death. Formaldehyde: Highly toxic, known carcinogen. Irritant to eyes, nose, throat, and skin. May cause nausea, headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, memory loss and shortness of breath.

Oven Cleaners

Sodium Hydroxide (Lye): Caustic, strong irritant, burns to both skin and eyes. Inhibits reflexes, will cause severe tissue damage if swallowed.

Laundry Room Products

Sodium or calcium hypocrite: Highly corrosive irritates or burns skin, eyes or respiratory tract. Linear alkylate sulfonate: Absorbed through the skin. Known liver damaging agent. Sodium Tripolyphosphate: Irritates skin and mucous membranes, causes vomiting. Easily absorbed through the skin from clothes.

Toilet Bowl Cleaners

Hydrochloric acid: Highly corrosive, irritant to both skin and eyes. Damages kidneys and liver. Hypochlorite Bleach: Corrosive, irritates or burns eyes, skin and respiratory tract. May cause pulmonary edema, vomiting or coma if ingested. Contact with other chemicals may cause chlorine fumes which may be fatal.

Pesticides

Most pesticides have ingredients that affect the nervous system of insects. Dimpylate: Better known as Diazinon, extremely toxic. Impairs the central nervous system. Chlorinate Hydrocarbons: Suspected carcinogen and mutantagen. Accumulates in food and in fatty tissue. Will attack the nervous system. Organophosphates: Toxic and poisonous.

Flea Powders

Carbaryl: Very toxic, causes skin, respiratory and cardiovascular system damage. Chlordane: Accumulates in the food chain, may damage eyes, lungs, liver, kidney and skin. Dichlorophene: Skin irritation: May damage liver, kidney, spleen and central nervous system.

Lice Shampoo

Especially vulnerable are children. Lindane: Inhalation, ingestion, or ABSORPTION through the SKIN causes vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions and circulatory collapse. May cause liver damage, stillbirths, birth defects and cancer.

Vinyl Products

You know the smell that seeps out when you take a brand new plastic or vinyl shower curtain out of its package? That's due to the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) it's made out of.

This is a significant source of exposure to chemicals known as phthalates, which are used as plasticizers in everything from vinyl flooring to detergents, hoses, raincoats, adhesives, air fresheners, and toys — and even in some soaps, shampoos, lotions, and nail polish.

Bisphenol-A (BPA)

BPA, widely used in plastics, cash register receipts, and canned goods, has been linked to a number of health concerns, particularly in pregnant women, fetuses, and young children, but also in adults, including: Structural damage to your brain, Hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, and impaired learning, Increased fat formation and risk of obesity, and Altered immune function.

BPA coats about 75 percent of cans in North America, which means if you eat canned foods, it's likely a major source of BPA exposure.

PBDEs

Used as flame retardants, PBDEs can be released into the environment from degrading foam in furniture cushions and mattresses. PBDEs are endocrine disruptors, and while little data currently exists related to breast cancer, this class of chemicals continues to be of concern.

Alkylphenols

Alkylphenols are industrial chemicals used in the production of detergents and other cleaning products. They're also found in personal care products, especially hair products, and are an active component in many spermicides, and have been shown to alter mammary gland development in rats.

PFOA

Perfluorooactanic acid (PFOA), is part of a larger class of chemicals known as perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). PFCs, and PFOA in particular, are the bases for non-stick coatings on cookware; stain guards on clothing, upholstery and carpet; and waterproof clothing. Waterways and ground water near manufacturing plants tend to have high PFOA concentrations. Exposure to the compounds has been associated with delayed menstruation, later breast development and increased incidence of breast cancer.

Cadmium

Cadmium is another metal, used in rechargeable batteries and until recently was widely used in the manufacture of pigments, metal coatings and plastics. It is an estrogen mimicking chemical that has been linked to early puberty and differences in mammary tissue structure.

This list could be a lot longer, but the intent in writing the article, was to create a state of awareness, that created action. If we acknowledge the listing to be true and we do nothing about it, it was wasted effort on my part.

My research points out the countless toxic chemicals, making their way into our waterways, atmosphere, and the environment, are the cause of many of the allergies, physical manifestations of disease, autoimmune disorders, and sickness in general. The situation will only get worse, unless we look to twenty first century thinking companies that have acknowledged the crisis and started taking the chemicals out of their products. There are not many around, but I am fortunate to have found one that I have aligned with, to start changing the world, one consumer, one household at a time. If you are interested in joining our cause, contact me for complete details.

The Author, James Hobart, has been an industry leader in the Professional Beauty Industry for more than 48 years at every level and has certification in hypnotherapy. His insight and experience has helped many companies and individuals with their growth and development over the years. His books, Happiness Is Your Birthright, and Salon / Spa Retail – The Lost Revenue Stream, and his Blog: http://jameshobartmarketing.com, support his philosophy on life and are practical handbooks and articles to create positive change throughout one’s life. His support of the global Wellness movement is defined by his support of one major company that continues to define this trend’s activity. More information is available at http://makegreengogreen.com/jameshobart