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Personal Care and Cosmetic Products May be Carcinogenic

There have been reports of acute health effects such as skin irritation resulting from triclosan exposure. But the more worrisome health effects of triclosan are more subtle. Researchers have raised concerns about triclosan and its link to dioxins, which are highly carcinogenic chemicals that can cause severe health problems such as:

• * weakening of the immune system,

• * decreased fertility,

• * altered sex hormones,

• * birth defects, and

• * cancer.

Girl Scouts Say No to Triclosan

A group of curious Girl Scouts in St. Paul, Minnesota found that when they tried to use triclosan to kill bacteria they were growing for a science fair project, the bacteria actually started growing. After a two-year investigation, the girls found that while anti-bacterial soap kills 99.6% of germs, regular soap kills 99.4% of germs. The Girl Scouts concluded that household anti-bacterial products are unnecessary, and that by not quite killing all the bacteria, they could actually create super-germs that will pose a threat to public health. Based on their findings, these young girls have met with local lawmakers who have submitted a bill on the girls' behalf that would ban the use of triclosan.

Even relatively small quantities of dioxins can have devastating effects. According to EPA, triclosan "could be" and is "suspected to be" contaminated with dioxins. Dioxins can be found in triclosan as impurities formed during the manufacturing process. Researchers who added triclosan to river water and exposed it to ultraviolet light found that a significant portion of the triclosan was converted to dioxins, raising fears that sunlight could transform triclosan to dioxins naturally.

http://www.grinningplanet.com/2005/10-04/triclosan-article.htm

Triclosan: It may not be a household word, but there is little to no chance that you haven't come into direct contact with it in your home- -while washing your hands, brushing your teeth or - applying deodorant  - or face cream.

The "antibacterial" soaps in which triclosan is often found may seem like a great idea. But hold it right there:

Here a list of additional products I found:

If you are not yet aware of the potential dangers of triclosan, you should know that this antibacterial agent has been strongly linked to the following effects on human health:

• * Abnormalities with the endocrine system,

• *particularly with thyroid hormone signaling

• * Weakening of the immune system

• * Birth defects

• * Uncontrolled cell growth

• * Unhealthy weight loss

Although triclosan is best known for its presence in many brands of antibacterial soap, it is also found in
a wide variety of personal care and household products. According to http://BeyondPesticides.org , triclosan
is found in the following products:

Soaps:

• * Dial® Liquid Soap

• * Clean & Clear Foaming Facial Cleanser

• * Softsoap® Antibacterial Liquid Hand Soap

• * DermaKleen™ Antibacterial Lotion Soap

• * Tea Tree Therapy™ Liquid Soap

• * Naturade Aloe Vera 80® Antibacterial Soap

• * Provon® Soap

• * CVS Antibacterial Soap

• * Clearasil® Daily Face Wash

• * pHisoderm Antibacterial Skin Cleanser

• * Dermatologica® Skin Purifying Wipes

Dental Care:

• * Colgate Total®; Breeze™ Triclosan Mouthwash

• * Reach® Antibacterial Toothbrush

• * Janina Diamond Whitening Toothpaste

Cosmetics:

• * Supre® Café Bronzer™

• * Blemish Cover Stick

• * TotalSkinCare Makeup Kit

• * Movate® Skin Litening Cream HQ

• * Garden Botanika® Powder Foundation

• * Paul Mitchell Detangler Comb

• * Mavala Lip Base

• * Revlon ColorStay LipSHINE Lipcolor Plus Gloss

• * Jason Natural Cosmetics

• * Dazzle

Deodorant:

•  Old Spice High Endurance Stick Deodorant

• DeCleor Deodorant Stick

• Right Guard Sport Deodorant

• * Epoch® Deodorant with Citrisomes

• * Queen Helene® Tea Trea Oil Deodorant and Aloe Deodorant

• * X Air Maximum Strength Deodorant

• * Nature De France Le Stick Natural Stick Deodorant

Other Personal Care Products:

• * Gillette® Complete Skin Care MultiGel Aerosol Shave Gel

• * Murad Acne Complex® Kit®

• * Diabet-x™ Cream

• * T.Taio™ sponges and wipes

• * Aveeno Therapeutic Shave Gel

First Aid:

• * SyDERMA® Skin Protectant plus First Aid Antiseptic

• * Nexcare™ First Aid - First Aid/Burn Cream

• * Nexcare™ First Aid - Skin Crack Care

• * Solarcaine®

• * HealWell® Night Splint

• * First Aid Medicated Spray

• * 11-1X1: Universal Cervical Collar with Microban

Kitchenware:

• * Farberware® Microban Steakknife Set and Cutting Boards

• * Franklin Machine Products FMP Ice Cream Scoop SZ 20 Microban

• * Hobart Semi-Automatic Slicer

• * Chix® Food Service Wipes with Microban

• * Compact Web Foot® Wet Mop Heads

Computer Equipment:

• * Fellowes Cordless Microban Keyboard and Microban Mouse Pad

• Clothes:

• * Teva® Sandals

• * Merrell Shoes

• * Sabatier Chef's Apron

• * Dickies Socks

• * Fruit of the Loom Socks

• * Biofresh® Socks

Children's Toys - Playskool®:

• Stack 'n Scoop Whale

• Animal Sounds Phone

• Rockin' Radio

• Busy Beads Pal

• Hourglass

• Pop 'n' Spin Top

• Sounds Around Driver

• Lights 'n' Surprise Laptop

• Roll 'n' Rattle Ball

Other:

• * Bionare® Cool Mist Humidifier

• * Blue Mountain Wall Coverings

• * Microban® All Weather Reinforced Hose

• * California Paints®*

• Thomasville® Furniture

• * EHC AMRail Escalator Handrails

• * Deciguard AB Ear Plugs

• * Dupont™ Air Filters

• * Bauer® 5000 Helmet

• * Durelle™ Carpet Cushions

• * Aquatic Whirlpools

• * Advanta One Laminate Floors

• * Miller Paint Interior Paint

• * San Luis Blankets

• * QVC® Collapsible 40-Can Cooler

• * J Cloth® towels

• * Holmes Foot Buddy™ Foot Warmer

• * JERMEX mops

Source: http://BeyondPesticides.org 

Also on

http://drbenkim.com/articles/triclosan-products.htm 
Please share this information with your families and groups of friends, particularly those that include young children and pregnant women.