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Fluoride
Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally and is released from rocks into the soil, water, and air. Almost all water contains some fluoride, but usually not enough to “prevent tooth decay”. Fluoride works by stopping or even reversing the tooth decay process. It keeps tooth enamel strong and solid. Tooth decay is caused by certain bacteria in the mouth. When a person eats sugar and other refined carbohydrates, these bacteria produce acid that removes minerals from the surface of the tooth. Fluoride helps to re-mineralize the tooth surfaces and prevents cavities from forming.
Sources of fluoride have increased since the early 1960s. At that time, nearly all fluoride in-take came from drinking water and from food and from beverages prepared with fluoridated water. Today, water is one of several sources of fluoride. Other sources include dental products such as toothpaste and mouth rinses, prescription fluoride supplements, and professionally applied fluoride products such as varnish and gels. Decisions about adding fluoride to drinking water are made at the state or local level. Reference: Public Health Reports (2015)
EPA's drinking water standard differs from the Public Health Service (PHS) recommendation for fluoridation because the two have different purposes. EPA's enforceable standard for fluoride in public water supplies (4.0 milligrams per liter) is set to protect against exposure to high levels of naturally occurring fluoride. The PHS recommendation (0.7 milligrams per liter) identifies the optimal concentration of fluoride to prevent tooth decay while limiting the chance for dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis is a condition that causes changes in the appearance of tooth enamel. It may result when children regularly consume fluoride during the teeth-forming years, ages 8 and younger. Most dental fluorosis in the U.S., about 92 percent, is very mild, appearing as white spots on the tooth surface that may not be noticeable. Moderate and severe forms of dental fluorosis, which are less common in the U.S., cause more extensive enamel changes. In the rare, severe form, pits may form in the teeth. The severe form hardly ever occurs in communities where the level of fluoride in water is less than 2 milligrams per liter. The PHS recommendation only applies to those public water systems that add fluoride to reach the optimal concentration. Reference: (CDC) article
Fluoride is mitogenic to osteoblasts, directly stimulating cell division and bone growth in vivo and in vitro. Osteosarcoma is the most common form of primary bone cancer in humans, occurring more frequently in males than females. It commonly arises in the region that encompasses the epiphyseal (growth) plate of long bones, near the joints. Osteosarcomas occur more frequently during periods of rapid bone growth. The age distribution of osteosarcomas is bimodal, with the first and largest peak in incidence in the second decade of life, and the second peak occurring in males over 50.
Fluoride affects thyroid and parathyroid function in humans and animals, elevating thyroid stimulating hormone levels, altering levels of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4, and increasing levels of parathyroid hormone and calcitonin. These changes can affect the rate of formation of bone tissue and the overall rate of bone growth. Fluoride can either stimulate or inhibit cellular immune responses in humans, rats and mice.
Fluoride also decreases cellular immune response and might lead to a reduction in the ability of the immune system to identify and remove cancerous cells, in other words immune surveillance. The increases in cellular immune responses may lead to inflammation, which may play a role in carcinogenesis. Reference: Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)
Formaldehyde
Suspected carcinogen and neurotoxin, it may be fatal if swallowed, absorbed through skin, inhaled or swallowed. Can cause spasms, edema, chemical pneumonitis and is extremely destructive to tissue of the mucous membrane, this chemical is found in many nail care products. It’s known to cause cancers in humans and experimental animals. Found in baby shampoo, bubble bath, deodorants, perfume, cologne, hair dye, mouthwash, toothpaste, hair spray, nail polish. Reference: Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)
Synthetic Colors
Synthetic Colors are found in everything from food to hygiene products and generally will be labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number. Some synthetic colors are made from coal tar and might contain heavy metal salts that may leave toxins on the skin, causing skin sensitivity and irritation. Many synthetic pigments are made with azo compounds and are considered non-toxic, even though some have been found to be mutagenic. Several case studies have linked azo pigments with certain cancers and are listed on Proposition 65. Reference: Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)
Azo dyes do not degrade under natural environmental conditions. These compounds tend to bioaccumulate in the environment, and have allergenic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic properties for humans. Removal of azo dyes from effluents is mostly based on physical-chemical methods. These methods are often very costly and limited, as they accumulate concentrated sludge, which also poses a significant secondary disposal problem, or produce toxic end-products. Referenve: Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology. Volume 62, Issue 1, Pages 91–101
Certain azo dyes can break down under reductive conditions to release any of a group of defined aromatic amines. Consumer goods which contain listed aromatic amines originating from azo dyes were prohibited from manufacture and sale in European Union countries as of September 2003. Some of the aromatic amines are classified as being carcinogenic or potentially carcinogenic to humans. Only those few azo dyes that can release these amines upon reductive cleavage are affected. Reference: European Ban on Certain Azo Dyes
Synthetic Fragrances
Some perfumes / fragrances contain hundreds of chemicals; more than 95 percent of the chemicals in synthetic fragrances are derived from petrochemicals and contain phthalates, a group of bio-accumulative industrial chemicals linked to endocrine and hormone disruption, prostate cancer, liver, kidney and lung damage and male reproductive defects. Also contains methylene chlorides which is carcinogenic and may cause brain damage or are neuro toxins. These chemicals include: benzene derivatives, aldehydes, phthalates, and a slew of other known toxins that are capable of causing cancer, birth defects, nervous-system disorders and allergies—some of which are cited on the EPA’s hazardous waste list.
In the U.S., manufacturers can legally hide hundreds of synthetic chemicals in the one word, fragrance, without revealing what those ingredients are. It’s referred to as a “trade secret” in the industry. But really, it’s simply a loophole big enough to drive a fuel truck though. This excuse to not label fragrance ingredients was initiated in an era when the major fragrance houses lobbied to protect their secret formulas made from flowers and oils. But those days are long gone. What the government is protecting now are manufacturers who have a license to poison the American public with more than 3,000 chemicals that are being absorbed, inhaled, and ingested daily.
Environmental Working Group (EWG) researchers found more than 75 percent of products listing the ingredient “fragrance” contained phthalates (THAL-ates) which have been shown to disrupt hormone activity, reduce sperm counts, and cause reproductive malformation, and have been linked to liver and breast cancer, diabetes, and obesity. Additionally, studies by Dr. Philip J. Landrigan of the Mount Sinai Children’s Environmental Health Center, link fetal exposure with autism, ADHD, and neurological disorders.
Many of us work hard to make good food choices, such as eating organic and avoiding hormones and GMOs and we read nutrition labels. But how many of us read the labels of our bottles, sprays, and jars? A majority of personal care products for men, women, and children, along with home-cleaning products, contain “fragrance.” The ingredients in “fragrance” are absorbed into the bloodstream directly through the skin. We advise people to avoid ALL products with the ingredient “fragrance” on the label. Reference: Huffington Post, news article (2014)
TCC, Triclosan, Benzethonium chloride (Antibacterial cleansers)
Triclosan (TCS) is a broad spectrum antibacterial agent used in personal care, veterinary, industrial and household products. TCS reacts with chlorine under water treatment conditions to form chloroform. TCS is commonly detected in aquatic ecosystems, as it is only partially removed during the wastewater treatment process. There is strong evidence that TCS is highly toxic to aquatic species such as algae, invertebrates and exerts reproductive and developmental issues in some fish and frogs. Recently the Canadian government urged there industries to voluntarily remove TCS from consumer products because of concerns about its toxicity to aquatic organisms.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that use of TCC may contribute to development of allergies by interfering with our natural immune system antibodies and that their use may reduce resistance to infections. TCC was also observed in 75 percent of sampled Americans urine in a 2008 study by the CDC. TCS has also been detected in breast milk and in plasma. Mammalian systemic toxicity studies indicate that TCS is not acutely toxic, mutagenic nor carcinogenic to humans. Recently, however, concern has been raised over TCS's potential for endocrine disruption, as the antimicrobial has been shown to disrupt thyroid hormone homeostasis and possibly the reproductive axis.
( Urea’s ) Dimethylol Urea, Diazolidinyl Urea, imadazolidinyl urea
The formaldehyde (FA)-releasers urea’s are widely used in combination with parabens, urea’s are one of the most widely used preservative systems in the world and is commonly found in cosmetics.
Manufacturing Process: urea’s are produced by the condensation of allantoin and formaldehyde. In this process, allantoin, formaldehyde, and sodium hydroxide are refluxed for an hour and then concentrated acetic acid is added. The final solution is gradually concentrated to a clear viscous liquid. The product is then poured into shallow trays and dried in vacuum at 70 °C
Urea’s are listed in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory. For the 2-month period from July 2003 and September 2003, the Port Import/Export Reporting Service (PIERS) database reported imadazolidinyl urea imports with a cargo weight of 4,128 pounds. Reference: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
The principal source of human exposure to urea’s occurs from dermal contact when using personal care products containing this compound. These products, especially cosmetics, can remain on the skin for hours providing sufficient time for the absorption of urea’s. Repeated use of these cosmetics could result in chronic exposure to this compound.
Dimethylol urea (DMU) and diazolidinyl urea (DZU) were tested for genotoxicity in three short-term test systems. The results could clearly confirm both compounds need to be considered as genotoxic and in vitro released formaldehyde. Formaldehyde was classified as a human carcinogen in 2004. On account of this data and because of the widespread use of these compounds in various products used in daily life, a reevaluation of the risk associated with these compounds seems to be necessary. Reference: (NCBI) Research Article, Germany
