the lowdown:
MINERAL OIL
Mineral oil is a by-product in the distillation of petroleum to produce petrol. Mineral oil SHOULD NOT BE USED IN ORGANIC PRODUCTS. Almost all baby products contain by-products of the petrochemical industry (baby oil is 100% mineral oil!). These are listed on product labels as petroleum jelly, mineral oil, petrolatum, paraffin oil as well as many others.
Mineral oils act as a barrier to the skin, therefore restricting absorption of herbs, vitamins and essential oils. The mineral oils remain on the surface and interfere with normal skin function by disrupting the oil balance and blocking the pores. It actually coats the skin just like plastic wrap, disrupting the skin?s natural immune barrier and inhibiting its ability to breathe and absorb moisture and nutrition. As the body?s largest organ of elimination, it is vital that the skin be free to release toxins.
SODIUM LAURYL SULPHATE (SLS)
SLS is an inexpensive, strong and harsh foaming or emulsifying agent, used in about 98% of all cosmetic and personal care products e.g. creams, lotions, shampoo, bubble bath, bath gels and soap. It is also used in floor cleaners, carwash soaps and engine degreasers! SLS is a skin irritant that has been widely used in laboratory testing on humans and animals to irritate the skin, so that other agents could be tested to see how they affect the irritated tissue.
Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES) is apparently considered much less of an irritant than SLS, but have you noticed how your children (or you!!) suffer genital irritation after bathing in bubble bath? This is the result of the sensitive mucous membranes being exposed to SLS or SLES. Many alerts, including governmental, have been released about the dangers and negative effects of SLS and SLES, yet it is abundant in many popular products. As far back as 1983 it was reported that SLS causes eye damage, depression, laboured breathing and severe skin irritation in animals. Due to its function as a ?penetration enhancer?, it breaks down barrier function of the skin, allowing potentially dangerous chemicals to penetrate deeper into the skin.
Most shampoos, even ones labelled "all natural" contain SLS. Don't be fooled by high prices or "natural" on the bottle. You must check the ingredients on the label if you want to avoid the harmful effects of SLS for yourself and your children.
PARABENS
Parabens are the most common preservatives which have been used in skincare products for decades.
A study in 1998 showed that parabens mimic the hormone oestrogen in the body. Sperm counts have fallen by half over the past 50 years and breast cancer has increased by more than 30% since 1980. In 2004, Dr. Darbre of Reading University showed that parabens were present in breast cancer tumours. Most breast cancer tumours need oestrogen to grow.
Why are parabens still used then? The answer is that the FDA and the European Cosmetic Corporation (ECC) cleared parabens for use decades ago! The link between smoking and cancer took 50 years to gain public support. Hopefully health concerns raised over the use of parabens will be recognised sooner.
FRAGRANCE / PARFUM
Most deodorants, shampoos, sunscreens, skin care, body care and baby products contain fragrance. Many of the compounds in fragrances have been linked to the possibility of immune and nervous system toxicity. ?Fragrance? on a label usually indicates the presence of 50 to 200 separate chemicals. 95% of chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum. Symptoms reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have included headaches, dizziness, rashes, skin discolouration, violent coughing and vomiting, and allergic skin irritation. Clinical observation by medical doctors has shown that hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioural changes can all be attributed to fragrance chemicals. There is no need for baby to have to put up with fragrance just because a mother thinks it smells better!!
PROPYLENE GLYCOL
PG is a synthetic compound derived from petroleum. PG is the active component in antifreeze. There is actually no difference between what is used in industry and what is used in personal care products.
PHTHALATES (Pron: Tha-lates)
Often listed simply as ?fragrance? on labels, these chemicals have been cited as potential carcinogens. They are used to extend the life of perfumes, and to enhance the penetration of skin lotions. One phthalate, DEHP, has been linked to premature breast development in girls. Growing evidence suggests they contribute to allergic disease, including asthma. Phthalates are also suspected hormone disrupters, chemicals that may mimic oestrogen and interfere with systems in the body that regulate sexual development and fertility. They are considered to cause feminisation of males, resulting in lower sperm counts and underdeveloped genetalia.
In a study by the University of Missouri in Columbia, urine samples were collected from pregnant women in four United States cities. All of the women were found to have levels of phthalate residues in their urine.
Phthalates are also used to soften plastics. They have been banned for use in teething rings and baby toys, as there are fears of future fertility of the children.
Chemical manufacturers insist exposure to phthalates in personal care products is extremely low. The EU, though, has banned phthalates from cosmetics, citing their reproductive toxicity. In response, some U.S. cosmetics firms including L'Oreal and Revlon have begun to formulate phthalate-free products.
This information does represent marketing guff from an organic baby website, so could be slanted. IMO, however, the facts speak for themselves ?