(Proposition 65) list of chemicals known or suspected by the state to cause cancer or birth defects.
U.S. federal regulators, particularly the Integrated Risk Information System, consider 1,4-Dioxane’s
potency to be equivalent or greater than many pesticides (EPA 1992, 2000).
This carcinogen forms during a procedure called ethoxylation, a cheap shortcut that companies use
to provide mildness to harsh ingredients. This process requires the use of the cancer-causing
petrochemical ethylene oxide, which generates 1,4-Dioxane as a byproduct.
This is why you will never find 1,4-Dioxane in ingredient lists. No warnings are given either.
Because this contaminant is produced during manufacturing, the U.S. Department ofAgriculture does
not require 1,4-Dioxane to be listed as an ingredient on product labels, and the practice of assessing
risk one chemical at a time does not account for the combined effects of very low levels of hidden
contaminants in personal care products and from other sources.
The FDA has been measuring 1,4-Dioxane levels since 1979, but because the agency has little
authority over the cosmetic industry, it has no power to make the manufacturers reduce levels of 1,4-
Dioxane. All you can do at this point is carefully scan the ingredient label. Check product labels for
ingredients that contain “eth” in their name, such as sodium laureth sulphate, (PEG) polyethylene
glycol, oleth, myreth, ceteareth—basically, any ingredient that has an eth in its name most likely tests
positive for 1,4-Dioxane. Unfortunately, many so-called “natural” and “organic” beauty products
contain ethoxylated synthetic ingredients, and many well-known shampoos, baby products, and even
dish detergents bearing words “organic” and “eco-friendly” on their labels revealed whopping
amounts of toxin during tests carried out by the Organic ConsumersAssociation. For more
information, check http://www.the greenbeautyguide.com.
Some Greenwashed Products Are Contaminated, Too
The shocking results of the recent study by the Organic Consumers Association revealed that many
personal care and household cleaning products claiming to be “natural” or “organic” are
contaminated with traces of 1,4-Dioxane. Astonishing amounts of 1,4-Dioxane were found in
“natural” dishwashing liquids and other so-called earth-friendly products.
In June 2008, the attorney general of California filed a major lawsuit against Avalon Natural
Products (manufacturer of the Alba brand),Whole Foods Market California (manufacturer of the
Whole Foods 365 brand), Beaumont Products (manufacturer of the Citrus Magic brand), and
Nutribiotic, the manufacturer of well-known shampoos and conditioners, whose products tested
highest for 1,4-Dioxane. The lawsuit alleges that these companies should have put warning labels on
products containing high levels of 1,4-Dioxane, stating that they may cause cancer. As the
investigation continues, check http://www.thegreenbeautyguide.com for more information.
what
science
says
When laboratory animals were tested with 1,4-Dioxane at the lowest parts per billion level—over
the animal’s lifetime—they developed cancer. However, the levels of 1,4-Dioxane found in many
personal care products are often thousands of times higher than those found to cause cancer in