Manufacturers of children's bath products are the latest to earn the ire of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which accuses the likes of Johnson & Johnson, Gerber and Bath and Body Works of putting chemicals linked to cancer in products meant for children.
The CSC, which put out a scathing report last year on cancer-causing agents in lipsticks, has released a study this month dubbed "No More Toxic Tub," accusing major kids bath product manufacturers of using formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane to produce shampoos, soaps, sunscreen, bubble bath and lotions. Neither is listed on the labels, the CSC says, but actual tests of forty-eight products found trace amounts.
The Environmental Protection Agency classifies 1,4-Dioxane as a “Group B2, probable human carcinogen,” while it ranks formaldehyde as "a probable human carcinogen." According to the CSC, sixty-one percent of twenty-eight products tested contained both chemicals. Twenty-three out of twenty-eight products tested contained formaldehyde at levels ranging from fifty-four to six hundred ten parts per million. In the broader spectrum test of forty-eight products, thirty-two contained 1,4-dioxane with levels up to thirty-five parts per million.
So what should you avoid?
The products that tested positive for 1,4-dioxane include:
- American Girl Hopes and Dreams Glistening Shower and Bath Wash
- American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out Shower Gel – Apple Blossom (three samples)
- American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out Shower Gel – Sunny Orange
- Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Creamy Wash (three samples)
- Baby Magic “Soft Baby Scent” Baby Lotion
- Barbie Berry Sweet Bubble Bath
- CVS Baby Shampoo
- CVS Kids Body Wash – Blueberry Blast
- Dora the Explorer Bubble Bath
- Equate Tearless Baby Wash
- Gentle Naturals Eczema Baby Wash
- Grins & Giggles Milk & Honey Baby Wash
- Hot Wheels Berry Blast Bubble Bath
- Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea Baby Wash
- Johnson’s Baby Shampoo
- Johnson’s Moisture Care Baby Wash
- Johnson’s Oatmeal Baby Wash - Vanilla
- L’Oreal Kids Extra Gentle 2-in-1 Fast Dry hampoo – Burst of Cool Melon
- Mustela Baby Shampoo
- Mustela Dermo-Cleansing Gel for Hair and Body Newborn/Baby
- Mustela Multi-Sensory Bubble Bath
- Night-time Bath Baby Wash
- No-Ad Sun Pals SPF 45 UVA/UVB Sun Protection
- Pampers Kandoo Foaming Handsoap – Magic Melon
- Sesame Street Bubble Bath – Orange Mango Tango
- Soft & Beautiful Just for Me! No-Lye Conditioning Creme Relaxer, Children’s Super
- Suave Kids 2-in-1 Shampoo – Wild Watermelon
- Tinker Bell Scented Bubble Bath
The products that tested positive for formaldehyde include:
- American Girl Hopes and Dreams Shimmer Body Lotion
- American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out Shower Gel – Apple Blossom (three samples)
- Baby Magic “Soft Baby Scent” Baby Lotion (three samples)
- Barbie Berry Sweet Bubble Bath
- CVS Baby Shampoo
- CVS Kids Body Wash – Blueberry Blast
- Dora the Explorer Bubble Bath
- Equate Tearless Baby Wash
- Grins & Giggles Milk & Honey Baby Wash
- Hot Wheels Berry Blast Bubble Bath
- Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea Baby Wash
- Huggies Soft Skin – Shea Butter
- Johnson’s Baby Shampoo (two samples)
- L’Oreal Kids Extra Gentle 2-in-1 Fast Dry Shampoo – Burst of Cool Melon
- Pampers Kandoo Foaming Handsoap – Magic Melon
- Sesame Street Bubble Bath – Orange Mango Tango
- Tinker Bell Body Lotion
- Tinker Bell Scented Bubble Bath
For a look at some alternatives, SuperEco has a round-up of non-toxic kids shampoos. You're probably going to need it.
Image: OneStepAhead
Related Posts:
