Is My Shampoo Toxic?

By Lorri Epstein, Water Quality Director—

I try to buy organic food. I use non-toxic cleaning products in my home, but until recently I didn’t put much thought into the chemicals in my personal care products such as shampoo, lotion, sunscreen and cosmetics. Occasionally, I’d scan an ingredient list (if it was even included), but even though I was a good chemistry student the chemical names were daunting. I found it too easy to assume that because these products have made their way to the shelf that they are safe, but that is not always the case.

I’ve learned that the average woman uses twelve personal care products every day (six on average for men), but because the Food and Drug Adminstration conducts safety testing on compounds only if they are added to food, the safety of personal care products, cosmetics, and their ingredients are mostly unregulated. Cosmetic companies are not required to conduct safety assessments before putting new products on the shelf, and although many of the chemicals found in these products are safe, others are linked to cancer, learning disabilities, asthma, infertility, and environmental concerns.

In my research on toxic threats to the Columbia River, I have been alarmed to find the number of toxic chemicals originating in our homes that are finding their way to the Columbia River. Many chemicals in personal care products pass through wastewater treatment plants unaffected and are released into our waterways. Although some companies argue that the concentrations of dangerous chemicals in their products are quite low, their products are not used in isolation. We do know that exposure to multiple chemicals can have cumulative effects, and studies have shown reproductive and development issues caused by these contaminants in salmon, osprey, other wildlife, and even humans.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with trying to make the right choices for our health and the environment, but there are folks who can help you make sense of it all. I did a toxic overhaul in my bathroom and found Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database particularly helpful in determining which products were safe and which I should avoid. By carefully choosing and being conscious of the products we use, we can reduce toxic chemicals making their way into the environment and minimize exposure to ourselves.

To learn more, check out this video, “The Story of Cosmetics”, on the pervasive use of toxic chemicals in our everyday personal care products. 

For more information on chemical ingredients or to check the safety ratings of your favorite products, check out Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database