Some leading "Natural or Organic" personal care products contain this carcinogen

If you're trying to reduce your exposure to chemicals as I am, and have been switching to organic or natural personal care products, read the following article I found at Mercola.com to be sure your products don't contain the carcinogenic chemical Dioxane:

"A new study commissioned by the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) found that many leading "natural" and "organic" brand shampoos, body washes, and lotions contain the carcinogenic contaminant 1,4-Dioxane.

1,4-Dioxane is considered a chemical "known to the State of California to cause cancer.” It is a byproduct of the cancer-causing petrochemical Ethylene Oxide, which is used as part of a short-cut process called Ethoxylation, which makes harsh ingredients milder.

1,4-Dioxane is also suspected of being a kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant and respiratory toxicant, among others, according to the California EPA. It is also a leading groundwater contaminant.

Some of the leading organic and natural brands found to contain 1,4-Dioxane include:

* JASON Pure Natural & Organics
* Giovanni Organic Cosmetics
* Kiss My Face
* Nature’s Gate Organics

To avoid 1,4-dioxane, OCA recommends reading ingredient labels and avoiding products with indications of ethoxylation, which include: "myreth," "oleth," "laureth," "ceteareth," any other "eth," "PEG," "polyethylene," "polyethylene glycol," "polyoxyethylene," or "oxynol," in ingredient names."
Sources:

* Organic Consumers Association March 14, 2008

Safe alternatives to antiperspirants

There has been some question as to whether ingredients in antiperspirants, namely aluminum chlorhydrate and aluminum zicarnium, could contribute to alzheimers and breast cancer. They are synthetic compounds that block the pores and keep them from doing what they are supposed to do - perspire.

Here's an article from Health Sciences Institute on the subject. The article also offers some safe natural alternatives to antiperspirants.

My husband and I stopped using our antiperspirants about 2 years ago, and have had good luck with a holistic formula called "Real Purity deodorant." The ingredients are simply purified water, minerals, guar gum, irish moss, glycerin, aloe, seaweed, vegetable silica, grapefruit seed extract, olive leaf extract, vitamins A & E, sandalwood oil, lavender oil and grapefruit. It rolls on very nicely, dries fast, has no fragrance, and it really works all day, with no reapplying. If you're interested in checking it out along with their other natural products, here's their website: Real Purity
(this blog has been featured in "Adverse Health Affects of Chemicals" at Blog Carnival)