What's in your "Pit Stick"?

 

     A few months ago I was preparing for my pilgrimage to San Diego for the Nerd Mecca, Comic Con.  Unfortunately, I have a tendency to do the opposite of packing light and knowing this I set out to find "travel size" personal care products.  When a Canadian thinks about California, they usually think, "hot"; so, naturally I needed to find a travel size deodorant for my trip.  I have been using natural deodorant ever since I started to sweat and my go-to product has always been Tom's of Maine.  My Mom introduced me to Tom's of Maine deodorant when I was very young, and it was explained to me that the reason why she used it was because other brands contained too many chemicals.  I remember quite clearly that the first Tom's of Maine deodorant was a roll-on product with alcohol in it.  Well, I can only assume it was alcohol because it stung when I would apply it after shaving my underarms - Ouch!.  Now that I am older and branching out to discover new products, this has prompted me to looking at the labels with a discriminating eye.  Deciding to leave my Tom's of Maine at home, the question I asked myself when seeking out that travel size pit-stick was, "What are those chemicals my Mom was mentioning and are they really in ALL non-natural pit sticks?".

First up,

Triclosan

     Triclosan is a common ingredient in many deodorants/antiperspirants for both men and women.  It can also be found in hand sanitizers, laundry detergents, facial tissues, antiseptics for wounds, and cleansers as a anti-fungal/antibacterial preservative.  Triclosan can also be found in many items which can be advertized as "anti-bacterial", these may include garbage bags, toys, linens, mattresses, toilet fixtures, clothing, furniture fabric, and paints.

   "On March 30th, 2012,  The Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of Environment, and the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, today announced that the Government of Canada completed its preliminary assessment of triclosan under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), 1999 and the Pest Controls Products Act.   It has been proven to provide health benefits in some products, such as its use in toothpaste to protect against gingivitis.  The preliminary assessment shows that current levels of triclosan in products such as toothpaste, shampoo and soap do not pose a risk to human health and Canadians can continue to safely use these products.  However as toothpastes, soaps and other items are rinsed off and washed down the drain, the amount of triclosan that is released into the environment can affect plants and animals in lakes, streams and rivers.
     'This preliminary assessment confirms that Canadians can continue to safely use products such as toothpaste, shampoo and soap containing triclosan,' said Minister Aglukkaq. 'The assessment re-affirms that the guidance we have in place on maximum levels of triclosan in a variety of products help protect human health.'
    
     The health assessment took into account a review of biomonitoring data for Canadians, as well as data from the United States. Human biomonitoring provides an estimate of people's exposure to chemicals. 
     The Government also took into consideration concerns that triclosan is linked to antibacterial resistance.  Based on available information, there is no clear link between use of products containing triclosan and antibacterial resistance 1".

   While the Government assessment comity did not find any risk to human health with respect to shampoos and soaps which can be washed down the drain, no research was done on the affects of triclosan on broken skin, for example: On the underarms after shaving.  Further testing needs to be done.

     In spite of the lack of evidence that triclosan does not appear to contribute to the ever increasing problem with anti-biotic resistant bacteria, it does; however appear to definitely affect the chain of microbial aquatic bacterias. Stuart Levy in the August 6, 1998 issue of Nature, stated that, "degradation of an ecosystem may rearrange the competitive hierarchy" 2.  In a 2010 article by Ricart M, Guasch H, Alberch M, et al., entitled "Triclosan persistence through wastewater treatment plants and its potential toxic effects on river biofilms"; it was documented that: "Triclosan inhibits photosynthesis in diatom algae which are responsible for a large part of the photosynthesis on Earth".  Triclosan may also be an endochrine disruptor in amphibians.  A 2006 study concluded that low doses of triclosan act as an endochrine disruptor in the North American Bullfrog.  The hypothesis proposed is that triclosan blocks the metabolism of thyroid hormone because it chemically mimics thyroid hormone and binds to the hormone receptor sites, blocking them, so that normal hormones cannot be used. A human study between 2003 and 2006 concluded that triclosan (as an endocrine disruptor) affects the immune system and showed a positive association with allergy or hay fever diagnosis 2.

Aluminum

     In my efforts to find a deodorant for my trip, I set off trying my best to find a "non-natural" deodorant which does not contain aluminum - and I couldn't find one.  I had heard that aluminum present in deodorants could lead to the eventual development of breast cancer and that it was also found in a higher concentration in the brain's of Alzheimer's patients.  True or False?.

     Aluminum-based compounds (aluminum chlorohydrate) are used as the active ingredient in antiperspirants. These compounds form a temporary plug within the sweat duct that stops the flow of sweat to the skin's surface.  In fact, Aluminium zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly, a common  antiperspirant ingredient, is a cause of "armpit stains" on clothing, reacting with sweat to create yellow stains.  In a recent study published in the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry found an increase of levels of aluminum in non-invasively collected nipple aspirate fluids from 19 breast cancer patients.  The article states:

     "In addition to emerging evidence, our results support the possible involvement of aluminum ions in oxidative and inflammatory status perturbations of breast cancer microenvironemnt, suggesting aluminum accumulation in breast microenvironment as a possible risk factor for oxidative/inflammatory phenotype breast cells", it goes on, "In 12 invasive cancer nipple aspirate fluid samples we found a significant positive linear correlation among aluminum carbonyls and pro-inflammatory monocyte chemoattractant cytokine".
     In spite of the medical research being done on the correlation between breast cancer an aluminum found in breast cancer patients.  According to the National Cancer Institute, "In 2006, researchers examined antiperspirant use and other factors among 54 women with breast cancer and 50 women without breast cancer. The study found no association between antiperspirant use and the risk of breast cancer; however, family history and the use of oral contraceptives were associated with an increased risk of breast cancer".  The webpage also ends with this statement, "Because studies of antiperspirants and deodorants and breast cancer have provided conflicting results, additional research is needed to investigate this relationship and other factors that may be involved".

     The jury is still out on testing this metal....HA!.  Keep reading....

Stereth-100 (and up)

     Stereth-100 (or any Stereth with a number attached to the other side of it) is a synthetic polymer composed of PEG (polyethylene glycol) and stearyl alcohol.    The Steareths are prepared by reacting ethylene oxide with stearyl alcohol. The numerical value in the name corresponds to the average number of units of ethylene oxide. For example, Steareth-2 is prepared using an average of 2 units of ethylene oxide reacted with stearyl alcohol 1.  Sereths can be found in a variety of personal care products including deodorants, cleaners, lotions and even food like salad dressings.  Primarily used for their emulsifying properties, meaning, they are placed in products to keep the ingredients from separating. 

     The danger of this product is from the ethylene oxide in the manufacturing of this compound.  Unless otherwise specified, our good friend 1, 4 Dioxane will be accompanying it as a bi-product of the manufacture. Stereth-100 is another ethoxylate like our other friend Sodium Laureth Sulphate.

     This item can also be found in many "natural" deodorants as well.

Propylene Glycol

     Propylene Glycol is an organic compound, a double alcohol, and can also go by the designation:  1, 2-propanediol or propane 1, 2-diol.  It is a viscous, colourless, oudorless liquid with a faint sweet taste.  It's commonly used as a preservative in food or tobacco products, one of the major ingredients in electronic cigarettes as an "e-liquid", and is used in personal care products.  It has a wide variety of applications spanning from industrial food to pharmaceutical production and clinical use.  Like PEG compounds, propylene glycol functions as a penetration enhancer and can allow harmful ingredients to be absorbed more readily through the skin. 

     Prolonged contact with propylene glycol is non-irritating to the skin.  Exposure to mists may cause eye and upper respiratory tract irritation. Inhalation of the propylene glycol vapors appears to present no significant hazard in ordinary applications; however, limited human experience indicates that inhalation of propylene glycol mists could be irritating to some individuals.  Propylene glycol does not cause sensitization and it shows no evidence of being a carcinogen.  However, according to a 2010 study by Karlstad University, the concentrations of PGEs (counted as the sum of propylene glycol and glycol ethers) in indoor air, particularly bedroom air, has been linked to increased risk of developing numerous respiratory and immune disorders in children, including asthma, hay fever, eczema, and allergies, with increased risk ranging from 50% to 180%. This concentration has been linked to use of water-based paints and water-based system cleansers3.

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)

     Polyethylene Glycols or PEGs are petroleum-based compounds used in cosmetics as thickeners, solvents, softeners, and moisture-carriers. PEGs are commonly used as cosmetic cream bases. They are also used in pharmaceuticals as laxatives.  A carcinogen called, ethylene oxide is used to manufacture polyethylene glycol and of course, it's bi-product, 1,4 dioxane, a suspected carcinogen, usually contaminates the substance.  PEGs function as "penetration enhancers," increasing the permeability of the skin to allow greater absorption of the product.  According to an article published in the International Journal of Toxicology This characteristic makes them very dangerous to use, especially on broken skin, as they can cause irritation and system toxicity.  Ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane are prohibited on Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. However, when these chemicals are present in a product as a contaminant (i.e., an unintentional ingredient), the Hotlist restrictions do not apply.  1,4-dioxane does not easily degrade and can remain in the environment long after it is rinsed down the shower drain. 1,4-dioxane can be removed from cosmetics during the manufacturing process by vacuum stripping, but there is no easy way for consumers to know whether products containing PEGs have undergone this process.  The OCA (Organic Consumer Association) posted a "Consumer Alert" regarding 1,4 dioxane contamination in products labeled "natural" and "organic" (the organics had not been certified by the USDA).  According to the findings, 1,4-dioxane was a contaminant in 46 of 100 products analyzed.  For more on that research click here.

Parabens

     According to the National Cancer Institute, aluminum is not the ingredient you should be most concerned about in your deodorant.  Parabens are a potent endochrine disruptor and are a widely used preservative in cosmetics.  They are very easily identifiable as: methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben, ethylparaben, or benzylparaben.   The European Commission on Endocrine Disruption has listed parabens as "Category 1" priority substances, based on evidence that they interfere with hormone function.  The belief that parabens build up in breast tissue was supported by a 2004 study in the Journal of Applied Toxicology, which found parabens in 18 of 20 samples of tissue from human breast tumors.  Another more recent study, July 2008, provides evidence that Parabens also contribute to male reproductive function, for that article click here.  Furthermore, there have been studies in the Toxicology Journal and the New Scientist which state that methylparaben applied on the skin reacts with UVB leading to increased skin aging and DNA damage.  Parabens occur naturally at low levels in certain foods such as barley, strawberries, currents, vanilla, carrots, and onions, although a synthetic preparation derived from petrochemicals is used in cosmetics. Parabens in foods are metabolized when eaten, which reduces the potency of the estrogen.  In contrast, when applied to the skin and absorbed into the body, parabens in cosmetics bypass the metabolic process and enter the blood stream and body organs intact.

    Currently, there are not restrictions on the usage of parabens in Canada; however, international regulations are strict as the European Union restricts the concentration of parabens in cosmetics.

      In the end, I did not find any travel size "non-natural" deodorant which did not contain any of the above ingredients.  The product I took with me to California was a travel size of "Secret" antiperspirant which turned the white cloths at the hotel yellow, after I washed my underarms.  In spite of my failure, I hope that I have provided you, my readers, with some more good information which will help you to make better educated choices when choosing your personal care products.  It's best to keep in mind, even though all of these soaps, shampoos, and body care products contain small amounts of these chemicals, over time they will compound themselves in your body and in our environment.  No, I do not believe you can avoid all of them; but, you can at least reduce the amount you take in yourself by limiting your exposure.  For more information about the scents that you come into contact with when using deodorants, please click here.

     My trek continues as I seek out new products and their information - To go boldly where most consumers have not gone before.