List of known cancer causing ingredients everyone should avoid

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Cancer Group and Ralph Nader Release “Dirty Dozen” Consumer Product List

Published by the Cancer Prevention Coalition

“Dirty Dozen” list released by Dr. Epstein and Cancer Prevention Coalition

On Sept. 21, 1995,  the Cancer Prevention Coalition (CPC) and Ralph Nader released a “Dirty Dozen” list of consumer products used in most American homes which is still useful today.  Brand named “Dirty Dozen” products include: Ajax Cleanser®, Clairol® Nice n’ Easy Haircolor and Lysol® Disinfectant.

The “Dirty Dozen” products contain a wide-range of carcinogenic and other toxic ingredients and contaminants to which most of us are exposed daily.

CPC Chairperson Samuel Epstein, M.D., and investigative journalist, David Steinman, compiled the “Dirty Dozen” from data on over 3,500 consumer products analyzed and ranked in their recently published The Safe Shopper’s Bible. The good news is that safer alternatives are available for all the “Dirty Dozen”.

The Dirty Dozen List

Click here to view the ‘Dirty Dozen’ list on the Cancer Prevention Coalition Site

Following is a list of consumer products used in most American homes and manufactured by giant U.S. corporations, according to a report by the Cancer Prevention Coalition (CPC) and Ralph Nader — released back in 1995 but still just as timely today. The first “Dirty Dozen” list products included: Ajax Cleanse®, Clairol® Nice n’ Easy Haircolor and Lysol® Disinfectant.

According to the report, these “Dirty Dozen” products contain a wide-range of carcinogenic and other toxic ingredients and contaminants to which most of us are exposed daily.

FOOD

Beef Frankfurters — (eg. Oscar Mayer Foods Corporation)

Unlabeled Toxic Ingredients:

  • BENZENE HEXACHLORIDE, Carcinogenic.
  • DACTHAL, Carcinogenic (can be contaminated with dioxin); irritant; strong sensitizer.
  • DIELDRIN, Carcinogenic; xenoestrogen.
  • DDT, Carcinogenic; xenoestrogen.
  • HEPTACHLOR, Carcinogenic; neurotoxic; reproductive toxin; xenoestrogen.
  • HEXACHLOROBENZENE, Carcinogenic; neurotoxic; teratogenic.
  • LINDANE, Carcinogenic; neurotoxic; damage to blood forming cells.
  • HORMONES: Carcinogenic and feminizing.
  • ANTIBIOTICS: Some are carcinogenic, cause allergies and drug resistance.
  • Labeled Ingredient:
  • NITRITE, Interacts with meat amines to form carcinogenic nitrosamines which are a major risk factor for childhood cancers.

Safer Alternative:

  • Nitrite-Free Organic hot dogs or tofu franks.

Whole Milk — (eg. Borden or Lucerne)

Unlabeled Toxic Ingredients:

  • DDT, Carcinogenic; xenoestrogen.
  • DIELDRIN, Carcinogenic; xenoestrogen.
  • HEPTACHLOR, Carcinogenic; neurotoxic; reproductive toxin; xenoestrogen.
  • HEXACHLOROBENZENE, Carcinogenic; neurotoxic; reproductive toxin.
  • ANTIBIOTICS: Some are carcinogenic, cause allergies and drug resistance.
  • RECOMBINANT BOVINE GROWTH HORMONE and IGF-1: Also, risk factor for breast, colon and prostate cancers.

Safer Alternative:

  • rBGH-free Organic skim milk

COSMETICS AND PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS

Talcum Powder — (Johnson & Johnson. Inc.)

Labeled Toxic Ingredient:

  • TALC, Carcinogenic and a risk factor for ovarian cancer; lung irritant.

Safer Alternative:

  • Corn Starch — (Johnson & Johnson, Inc.)

Cover Girl Replenishing Natural Finish Make Up (Foundation) (Procter & Gamble. Inc.)

Labeled Toxic Ingredients:

  • BHA, Carcinogenic.
  • TALC, Carcinogenic; Lung Irritant.
  • TRIETHANOLAMINE (TEA), Interacts with nitrites to form carcinogenic nitrosamines.
  • LANOLIN, Often contaminated with DDT and other carcinogenic pesticides.
  • PARABENS, Contact dermatitis.
  • FRAGRANCE, Wide range of unlabeled, untested, and toxic ingredients; contact dermatitis.

Safer Alternative:

  • Max Factor Pan-Silk Ultra Creamy Makeup (Max Factor, Inc.) — Note: Max Factor has stopped selling in the U.S. Max Factor is still offering these items in their store at : http://www.maxfactor.com/index.jsp. Drugstore.com, Amazon, Sears, and a great many stores on the Internet still have some Max Factor products left, as well.

Crest Tartar Control Toothpaste — (Procter & Gamble. Inc.)

Labeled Toxic Ingredients:

  • FD&C BLUE #1, Carcinogenic.
  • SACCHARIN, Carcinogenic.
  • FLUORIDE, Possibly carcinogenic.

Safer Alternative:

  • Tom’s of Maine Natural Non-Fluoride Toothpaste

Alberto VO5 Conditioner (Essence of Neutral Henna) (Alberto-Culver USA. Inc.)

Labeled Toxic Ingredients:

  • FORMALDEHYDE, Carcinogenic; neurotoxic; contact dermatitis and sensitizer.
  • POLYSORBATE 80, Generally contaminated with the carcinogen 1,4-dioxane.
  • FD&C RED #4, Carcinogenic.
  • FRAGRANCE, Wide range of undisclosed ingredients; contact dermatitis.

Safer Alternative:

  • Earth Preserv Hair Vitalizer (all scents, but with fragrances) (Earth Preserv, Inc.)

Clairol Nice ‘n Easy (Permanent Haircolor) (Clairol. Inc.)

Labeled Toxic Ingredients:

  • QUATERNlUM-15, Formaldehyde-releaser; carcinogenic; neurotoxic; contact dermatitis and sensitizer.
  • DIETHANOLAMINE (DEA), Carcinogenic; also interacts with nitrites to form a carcinogenic nitrosamine.
  • PHENYLENE-DIAMINES, Includes carcinogens and other ingredients inadequately tested for carcinogenicity; contact dermatitis.
  • PROPYLENE GLYCOL, Contact dermatitis.
  • FRAGRANCE, Wide range of undisclosed ingredients; contact dermatitis.
  • NOTE: Also evidence of causal relation to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma and other cancers.

Safer Alternatives:

  • Igora Botanic — Schwarzkopf, Inc. or Logona Henna Black — Natur Kosmetik

HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

Ajax Cleanser (Colgate-Palmolive. Inc.)

Unlabeled Toxic Ingredients:

  • CRYSTALLINE SILICA, Carcinogenic; eye, skin and lung irritant.
  • WASHING SODA,Caustic.
  • NOTE: Carcinogenicity of silica is admitted in 1994 Material Safety and Data Sheet (MSDS). (Manufacturer claims to have reduced silica levels since 1993.)

Safer Alternative:

  • Comet Cleanser (Procter & Gamble, Inc.)

Zud Heavy Duty Cleanser (Reckitt & Colman. Inc.)

Unlabeled Toxic Ingredient:

  • CRYSTALLINE SILICA, Carcinogenic; eye, skin and lung irritant. (Carcinogenicity is denied in Material Safety and Data Sheet.)

Safer Alternative:

  • Comet Cleanser (Procter & Gamble, Inc.)

Lysol Disinfectant Spray (Reckitt & Colman. Inc.)

Labeled or Unlabeled Toxic Ingredient:

  • ORTHOPHENYLPHENOL (OPP): Carcinogenic; irritant. (Carcinogenicity is denied in Material Safety and Data Sheet.)

Safer Alternative:

  • Airwick Stick Up (Reckitt & Colman, Inc.)

Zodiac Cat & Dog Flea Collar (Sandoz Agro. Inc).

Labeled Toxic Ingredient:

  • PROPOXUR, Carcinogenic; neurotoxic.

Safer Alternative:

  • Trader Joe’s Herbal Flea Collar for cats or dogs

Ortho Weed-B-Gon Lawn Weed Killer (Monsanto Co.)

Labeled Toxic Ingredient:

  • SODIUM 2,4-DICHLOROPHENOXYACETATE (2,4-D), Carcinogenic with evidence of casual relation to lymphoma, soft tissue sarcoma and other cancers ; neurotoxic; reproductive toxin.

Safer Alternative:

  • Organic pesticides

See September 21, 1995 press release: Cancer Group and Ralph Nader Release First Annual “Dirty Dozen” Consumer Product List: www.preventcancer.com

Carcinogen Information from ‘Every Child Healthy, Building Champions for Life‘

We’re guessing if we saw Skittles naked, without their coloring, we probably wouldn’t want to eat them as much. Same goes for a lot of food — if it were brown, or, even worse, grey, it definitely wouldn’t be as appetizing. This is where food dyes come in. While we can thank dyes for making our food more attractive, there are also some hefty health risks that dyes create.

The most widely used dyes — Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 — are contaminated with cancer-causing substances, according to The Center for Science in the Public Interest. Red 3 is classified by the FDA as a carcinogen, but it’s still widely used in foods. Besides cancer, the dyes can also cause hyperactivity and children, as well as allergic reactions.

This isn’t just a radical nonprofit that’s trying to eliminate dye usage. The British government asked manufacturers to stop using food dyes last year, and the European Union is putting a warning notice on foods containing dyes starting in July. If the same type of system is implemented in the U.S., we’re assuming some companies will try to find a new way to color our food. We have a suggestion: natural ingredients. Last we checked, fruits come in all colors of the rainbow.

LEGISLATIVE ANALYSIS

Congress Must Protect People from Toxic Chemicals Known to Cause Harm:

Some of the ingredients in beauty products aren’t that pretty. U.S. researchers report that one in eight of the 82,000 ingredients used in personal care products are industrial chemicals, including carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, and hormone disruptors. Many products include plasticizers (chemicals that keep concrete soft), degreasers (used to get grime off auto parts), and surfactants (they reduce surface tension in water, like in paint and inks). Imagine what that does to your skin, and to the environment.

Click here to read a list of cosmetic chemicals to avoid