B.A.L.L.S.: Chemical warfare on ourselves
Ask yourself this: how many bathroom
products do you use on a daily basis? You
know, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant,
shaving cream, toothpaste, perfume,
cologne, eyeliner, lipstick, aftershave,
mascara, nail polish, zit stuff, cover-up,
wart remover, soap, gel, moisturizer,
mouthwash, mousse, hair spray, body
spray, Kwellada-P lotion; a whole room
dedicated to chemical warfare. How many
do you use every day? I use seven, but six
of those are wart removers. Based on the
Environmental Working Group's June
2004 survey of 2,300 people, women use
an average of 12 personal care products a
day containing about 180 chemicals; men
use an average of six products containing
about 85 chemicals.
You ever hear of this ingredient before: Methylisothiazolinone? You rub it on your scalp every time you wash and condition your hair. It is used as a biocide and preservative in most shampoos and body care products. It is a known neurotoxin; that means it kills brain cells. It is especially effective on retarding the growth and health of developing neurons in children. That's right, there are actual carcinogens and neurotoxins in baby shampoo. That might explain a few things. We are cleaning our hair back to the Bronze Age. We may be stupid, but man, are we shiny.
According to Annie Leonards' The Story of Cosmetics, less than 20 per cent of the dozen or more chemicals in our daily personal products have been tested for health effects on humans, let alone the synergetic effects when these chemicals combine. It also poses another question: Why are we putting so much trust into the products that we rub, spray and knead onto our bodies every day?
One reason may be a lack of regulation. According to the list of prohibited and restricted ingredients by FDA regulations (last updated in 2009), since 1938, only eight chemicals in 12,000 have been banned from the personal care products that we use on a daily basis. All too many cosmetic and consumable goods companies are claiming that doses of poison in their products are small enough to not be harmful. That may be true if you use these products or eat a Big Mac once a year, but we don't; we smear, rub, shovel and stuff this stuff on and in us every day.
Take a look sometime at the ingredients of a hamburger bun from McDonalds. There are 32 ingredients and one of them really sucks: azodicarbonamide. This chemical is used as a food additive and flour-bleaching agent. According to the EU regulatory board, this chemical is listed as hazardous. It is banned in Australia and Europe, and according to foodfacts.com, in Singapore the use of azodicarbonamide can result in up to 15 years imprisonment and a fine of $450,000. Again, in small doses this poison is apparently not harmful, but who ever had a small dose of Big Mac?
I think it comes down to a matter of trust. Who is looking out for us? Who is making sure that what we eat and what we use is not toxic and harmful? Cosmetic companies can tell us that small doses of lead in their lipstick is not harmful — and that might be true, but why is it in there in the first place? Why does there have to be a regulatory body deciding how much of a poison and neurotoxin and carcinogen is acceptable? How about this: NONE. That makes it easier, doesn't it?
B.A.L.L.S. is Bitching About Life in London and Society
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
You ever hear of this ingredient before: Methylisothiazolinone? You rub it on your scalp every time you wash and condition your hair. It is used as a biocide and preservative in most shampoos and body care products. It is a known neurotoxin; that means it kills brain cells. It is especially effective on retarding the growth and health of developing neurons in children. That's right, there are actual carcinogens and neurotoxins in baby shampoo. That might explain a few things. We are cleaning our hair back to the Bronze Age. We may be stupid, but man, are we shiny.
According to Annie Leonards' The Story of Cosmetics, less than 20 per cent of the dozen or more chemicals in our daily personal products have been tested for health effects on humans, let alone the synergetic effects when these chemicals combine. It also poses another question: Why are we putting so much trust into the products that we rub, spray and knead onto our bodies every day?
One reason may be a lack of regulation. According to the list of prohibited and restricted ingredients by FDA regulations (last updated in 2009), since 1938, only eight chemicals in 12,000 have been banned from the personal care products that we use on a daily basis. All too many cosmetic and consumable goods companies are claiming that doses of poison in their products are small enough to not be harmful. That may be true if you use these products or eat a Big Mac once a year, but we don't; we smear, rub, shovel and stuff this stuff on and in us every day.
Take a look sometime at the ingredients of a hamburger bun from McDonalds. There are 32 ingredients and one of them really sucks: azodicarbonamide. This chemical is used as a food additive and flour-bleaching agent. According to the EU regulatory board, this chemical is listed as hazardous. It is banned in Australia and Europe, and according to foodfacts.com, in Singapore the use of azodicarbonamide can result in up to 15 years imprisonment and a fine of $450,000. Again, in small doses this poison is apparently not harmful, but who ever had a small dose of Big Mac?
I think it comes down to a matter of trust. Who is looking out for us? Who is making sure that what we eat and what we use is not toxic and harmful? Cosmetic companies can tell us that small doses of lead in their lipstick is not harmful — and that might be true, but why is it in there in the first place? Why does there have to be a regulatory body deciding how much of a poison and neurotoxin and carcinogen is acceptable? How about this: NONE. That makes it easier, doesn't it?
B.A.L.L.S. is Bitching About Life in London and Society
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
