Baby Shampoo and Lotions that Contain Carcinogens

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

18 Mar 2009 01:55 PM

If we didn't have enough to worry about concerning the BPA plastics that hold baby shampoo, baby bath and baby lotion causing developmental issues in our children, now we have to be concerned about the products themselves causing cancer.

The report I was recently made aware of through an article posted in the Boston Globe scares me to no end, since we are regular users of some of these products. In fact, my own parents used some of these same products on me throughout my baby hood and childhood. What I thought was gentle and safe for my babies may actually give them cancer. Scary.

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the Alliance for a Healthy tomorrow tested common baby care products and found that they are tainted with two known carcinogens, formaldehyde and 1,4 dioxane.While some other nations ban the use of these chemicals in any skin care products, the United States has no such regulation about them. Not only that, but because these chemicals are considered contaminants instead of ingredients, manufacturers aren't even required to list them on their product labels.

Is anyone else as angry as I am?

Manufacturers are allowed to sell us these poisons that they know we will use on our children. It is time for the FDA to step up and protect consumers, or at least allow them to be informed. Johnson and Johnson, one of the manufacturers that make some of these contaminated products says that the amounts of these chemicals in these products are too small to make a difference. As far as I understand it, no studies have determined a safe level of exposure in baby products to babies.

This weekend, I am going to do some serious cleaning out of our skin care products, especially the ones used for our children.

You can read more about this issue from the Boston Globe article here.

Meanwhile, some of the offending products include:

Johnson's Baby Shampoo, Sesame Street Bubble Bath, Grins & Giggles Milk & Honey Baby Wash, Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea Baby Wash. Baby Magic Baby Lotion, American Girl shower products.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right.

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Long Island, NY Getting Ready to Ban BPA

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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