Some chemicals to check for in products used at home

The skin is the quickest route for absorption of chemicals into the bloodstream - undiluted - hence nicotine and HRT patches.

CAP (Consumer's Association of Penang - Malaysia) have published a booklet detailing the findings of their ground-breaking study to reveal "Cancer-Causing chemicals in Cosmetics and Daily Use Products"

CAP's study was prompted by a 496% increase in the number of reported cancer cases which rose from 6,254 in 1970 to 37,294 in 1996 - during which time Malasian society was becoming "modernised" in the mould of Western Societies. Their death rate from cancer had risen to match ours in the UK - 103 a day!

Below are some of the chemicals they named:

- It is a mutagen (it can alter the DNA).

Found in toothpaste, body & facial washes.

Made from coconut oil - industrial degreaser for engines

and garage floors.

It denatures protein so it damages the mucosal lining of the mouth

and vagina making them susceptible to infections - ulcers, urinary

tract, bladder & kidney infections

SLES was used to make “Agent Orange” to defoliate the trees

during the Vietnam war and large numbers of veterans have died

or are dying from various kinds of cancer.

It is also found in children’s bubble bath as it creates more

bubbles. It is even more dangerous than SLS.

Research has shown that it prevents proper development of the

eyes in young mammals and causes cataracts in older people.

Found in baby wipes and moisturisers, it is also the main ingredient in brake fluid

and anti-freeze.

It sits on the skin's surface producing the "plastic bag" effect --the skin cannot respire--but it feels smooth and healthy. It is, in fact, drawing water from up from the living cells, thus damaging them.

Found in moisturisers. (Alias Petroleum, Petrolatum, Paraffin, Paraffin Oil,

Parafinium Liquidium)

Found in toothpaste. Sodium Monofluorophosphate, better known as Sodium Fluoride is used

to make rat poison and is also used as an insecticide for ants and cockroaches.

This is a waste product from the phosphate fertilizer industry, a poison similar to cyanide, known to cause very dense brittle bones and dental fluorosis - the first visible sign of fluoride poisoning.

It is so corrosive that it is transported in glass-lined tankers.

A 1997 survey found that the average person who brushes his/her teeth with a pea-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste ingests between 0.3 and 0.4mg of fluoride each time they brush - almost half our daily tolerable limit of fluoride.

It is also added to drinking water and school milk in certain areas of the UK.

It is also called fluorosilicic acid.

See the National Pure Water Association website for more details:www.npwa.org.uk

Found in mouthwashes. Derived from coal tar. This caused bladder cancer in animal studies

and research shows that it promotes the cancer-causing effects of other carcinogens.

It is used as an artificial sweetener and can also be found in processed foods.

Type of alcohol from petroleum. Mouthwashes typically contain higher concentrations of

alcohol than beer and wine. An alcohol content of 25% has been implicated in mouth, tongue

and throat cancers. It has a similar effect on mouth tissues as SLS.

Used to embalm the dead.

Found in deoderant, shampoo, mouthwash, toothpaste, nail polish, aftershave, perfume.

Causes cancer in animals and suspected of causing it in humans.

In all anti-perspirants. It blocks the sweat glands. (A bad idea as it traps toxins inside

the body so it is implicated in breast cancer).

Linked to brain disorders such as dementia, Alzheimer's, behaviour abnormalities, impaired poor memory, impaired visual-motor co-ordination.

Baby Powder, cosmetics. It is the same molecular structure as asbestos.

Causes cancer. Keep away from female genital area. Do not breathe it in.

www.squidoo.com/toxicorsafeproducts

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