Many consumers are unaware of the potentially harmful effects common personal care products can cause when absorbed through the skin. Chemicals such as petroleum, sodium laurel sulfate, and propylene glycol are commonly used in soaps, body washes, and hand lotions. Continued use of these products can cause industrial chemical ingredients to build up in the body and can increase the risk of cancer and harm the endocrine system. They can also have a detrimental effect on future generations. An initial study by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine revealed that children were 2.5 times more likely to have “clinically significant” behavior problems if their mothers were exposed to high levels of phthalates through cosmetics. Interestingly, these results did not match phthalates in plastics, but only personal care products.
Most grocery store personal cleansing products do not have the term “soap” on their labels. Often called beauty bars, moisturizing bars, or body bars, these bars cannot legally claim to be soap. Manufacturers have removed most of the good ingredients that make up real soap; therefore, they must market it using alternative names and labels. Even real soap can contain harmful synthetic materials. Supermarket brand soaps and detergent bars are not only potentially harmful to the body; they can also release harmful chemicals into the environment.
Most commercially produced bars are actually detergents. They are petroleum-based products like gasoline and kerosene. These bars contain synthetic foaming agents, artificial colors, and a host of chemicals, including carcinogens and other toxins. For example, antibacterial and antimicrobial soaps often contain triclosan, which is a toxic chemical known to cause cancer. According to the National Coalition Against Pesticide Misuse (NCAMP), manufacturers of a number of products containing triclosan claim that the active ingredient continues to work for up to 12 hours after use. Therefore, consumers are exposed to triclosan for much longer than the 20 seconds it takes to wash their hands or face. Chronic use of chemical-laden products can result in the body storing the chemicals in body fat or even in the brain. When the accumulation of toxins becomes sufficient, disease can occur.
In addition to the harm they can cause to the consumer, industrial chemicals and toxins can harm the environment. A recent study by the UK’s Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) revealed that synthetic chemicals in soap, shower gels, shampoos and other personal care products seeped through the filters in production plants. water purification. Chemicals including phthalates (which are linked to reproductive disorders in both humans and animals), parabens (preservatives linked to cancer), and other toxins were found unfiltered. These chemicals are found in bodies of water and harm flora and fauna in their natural habitats.