Comments on: Cancer Chronicles: chemical conundrums

By: Pamela Dean

Pamela Dean — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 02:24:26 +0000

This is the url of the Environmental Working Group.

http://www.ewg.org/

They rate cosmetic products for toxicity. Their standards are very draconian — they downgrade products for having fragrance, because some people are allergic — but they provide a huge amount of information, so you can look up a product and decide that you don’t want carcinogenic stuff in it but you don’t care about neurotoxicity in rats. You can also search for ingredients you know you want to avoid.

By: Reesa

Reesa — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 01:33:54 +0000

@Julie - ahha, you found one! I gave up deodorant years ago except for business occasions, have been using the same contact solution since I started wearing contacts (opti-free) so I should probably sheck on that, but sunscreen ding ding ding! I have already had two pre-cancerous moles removed so sunscreen is definitely NOT optional summer wear (or really all year if I’m smarter from now on), how toxic is your average sunscreen? And what are the alternatives, and how effective in UV prevention are they comparatively?

By: Reesa

Reesa — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:24:02 +0000

@Mary - good point! I haven’t switched over to luna pads or a cup or anything yet, but do have a menstrual routine that usually only involves tampons when I want to leave the house — which yes, will get more relevant as I continue to heal. I’ve been using “Liquid Silk” for years, an imported sugars-free silicone-friendly lube, so I think I’m ok there (but good to double check). Can’t think of other “feminine products” I use, except yeast infection treatment which happens maybe 1-2 times per year at most. Occasional cocoa butter as moisturizer if needed.

By: Julie Olivier

Julie Olivier — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 04:37:40 +0000

Interesting coincidence, but I recently found a website about chemicals in beauty products http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com and one of the items I seemed most interested in was nail polish. They said that OPI has caved in to pressure in the past few years and has removed many of the key offenders. http://www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=224

Other areas: deodorant, contact solution, sunscreen (one of the worse offenders)

By: Mary Dell

Mary Dell — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 01:25:15 +0000

I can’t even think of where else I’d be coming into contact with chemical beauty-product or personal care things, am I forgetting something?

Tampons, lube, and other coochie products?