4 Cancer causers in your bathroom
BY Lindsay Kneteman
Photography by Sandy Jones
1. Coal-tar dyes
Where would the hair-dye industry be without coal-tar dyes? Probably under a lot less scrutiny. Recognized by the American Cancer Society as carcinogens and banned from certain cosmetic products in Canada after being linked to blindness, coal-tar dyes have also long been suspected of causing cancer in people who regularly use permanent hair dye. While some studies have linked coal-tar dyes to blood and bladder cancers, no study has yet found a link between cancer and the ostensibly more benign blend of coal-tar dyes used in the last couple of decades. Still, if you want to play it safe, avoid using any hair dye that contains p-phenylenediamine, a popular coal-tar dye that can be found in many drugstore products.
2. Formaldehyde
There’s a reason your high school biology teacher told you not to sniff this stuff. While it’s sometimes listed as an ingredient in items such as nail hardeners, formaldehyde usually ends up in shampoos and lotions under the name of popular chemical preservatives such as quaternium 15 and bronopol. While studies have found exposure to formaldehyde on an industrial level can increase risk of cancers such as leukemia, the risk posed by long-term, low-dose exposure is unknown.
3. 1,4-dioxane
Don’t bother looking for this substance on any ingredient lists. Instead, watch for PEG (polyethylene glycol), polyethylene, polysorbates and laureths, all chemicals that can be found in everything from cleaning products to face wash, and can break down to form the contaminant 1,4-dioxane. Easily absorbed through the skin, it’s been linked in studies to nasal cancer. While 1,4-dioxane is on Health Canada’s list of prohibited and restricted cosmetic ingredients, the U.S. still allows it, so check American products on shelves here.
4. Talc
A common makeup ingredient, talc is a known lung irritant that can cause coughing and even respiratory failure. Health Canada now requires that all baby products containing talc warn users to keep the product away from a child’s face. It might also be a good idea to avoid using talc on genitals, as some studies, such as a 14-year-long one at the University of Melbourne, have found a modest link between that activity and a subtype of ovarian cancer. If you truly feel the need, try switching to a cornstarch-based product.
