What can you do TODAY to significantly reduce your family's exposure to toxins?

1. Remove damaging products ASAP. Start with high-exposure, frequently used
products — shampoo, baby washes, body washes, deodorant, acne treatments and
other products used in larger amounts (Look to remove cancer causing &
otherwise toxic ingredients like those you see in #2).

2. Become an avid and educated label reader. Look at the label and steer clear of ingredients like
triclosan,fragrances (which can contain phthalates), F&D Color, BHA or BHT,
PEG compounds, DEA/ MEA/TEA (diethanolamine, triethanolamine, monethanolamine),
sulfates or ingredients with the letters “eth” (e.g., sodium laurethsulfate),
ending in “paraben” (e.g., methylparaben), or “siloxane” (e.g.,
cyclotetrasiloxane) or “methicone” (e.g. cyclomethicone). The list goes on and
on, but I am sure you are getting the idea of what NOT to use! 

3. Look for SHORT & SIMPLE lists of ingredients above others. Simpler products,
fewer ingredients, fewer unknown and unnecessary products and ingredients are
key!

4. Buy from companies you trust — preferably small ones- many
companies like these have high standards for ingredients, good values and
effective products; we at Josiah's Oils are honored to be such a company for
many health conscience families.  Never trust "natural" companies who do not disclose the list of ingredients right on the bottles!

5.  Be diligent in examining ingredients even when companies claim to be safe!  here's an example of a "safe" "natural" "Koala" baby wash from a major "green" company:  “Aqua (water/Eau), Sodium trideceth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-80 Sorbitan Laurate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, PEG-150 Distearate, Benzyl Alcohol, Parfum, Polyquaternium-10, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, d-a-Tocopheryl Acetate (Natural Vitamin E), Avena Sativa (Oat) Extract, Butylene Glycol, Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile) Leaf Extract, Camellia Oleifera (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Amylcinnamyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Butylphenyl Methypropional, Hexl Cinnamal, Linallol."

6.  Ask on what IS in the product - not what is NOT.  A common marketing trend is to list what is not in the product (Paraben-Free; no SLS....) then the companies simple use OTHER just as dangerous toxins.  Please do not be fooled.  Many cleaning products use this trickery too.  Some simply list things like: non-ionic surfactants, buffering agents, non-disclosed preservatives, without disclosing what IS actually in there because there are toxins. 

A popular "green" company sells a personal care products with: WATER/EAU, CETEARYL ETHYLHEXANOATE, PHENYL TRIMETHICONE, CETYL LACTATE,
OCTYLDODECYL NEOPENTANOATE, DIMETHICONE, POLYSORBATE 60, STEARIC ACID, PANTHENOL, HYDROGENATED LECITHIN, SORBITAN STEARATE, PEG-100 STEARATE, TRIDECYL TRIMELLITATE, GLYCERYL ISOSTEARATE, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, GLYCERIN, BETA-GLUCAN,
PPG-20 METHYL GLUCOSE ETHER, SODIUM COCO PG-DIMONIUM CHLORIDE PHOSPHATE, POTASSIUM SORBATE, STEARYL ALCOHOL, TRIETHANOLAMINE, CARBOMER, CERA ALBA/BEESWAX/CIRE D’ ABEILLE, DISODIUM EDTA, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, PEG-7M, FRAGRANCE/PARFUM, BISABOLOL, RETINYL PALMITATE, VITIS VINIFERA (GRAPE) SEED EXTRACT, SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE, MAGNESIUM ASCORBYL
PHOSPHATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, ETHYLHEXYLGLYCERIN, BENZOIC ACID, SODIUM BENZOATE.
And that same company will not disclose on their label what is in their popular "natural" cleaner.  They list only non-ionic surfactants, buffering agents, non-disclosed preservatives, but digging reveals questionable ingredients like Ethyoxylated Fatty Alcohol & Methylchloroisothiazolinone -- Ethoxylation is an industrial process in which ethylene oxide is added to alcohols and phenols to give surfactants - FOAM for example. One byproduct ethoxylation is 1,4-dioxane, which is carcinogenic!!

INGREDIENTS TO AVOID (PARTIAL LIST):

1,4-DIOXANE:
a carcinogen, a kidney toxicant, neurotoxicant, and respiratory toxicant;
pollutes drinking water, air, and soil; a by-product of ethoxylation, a cheap
shortcut process many companies use

• 2-BROMO-2-NITROPROPANE-1,3-DIOL:
  a formaldehyde-releasing preservative (see FORMALDEHYDE), may break down into
  nitrosamines (see NITROSAMINES) in a product; gastrointestinal, immune system,
  skin, and liver toxicant


• ACRYLAMIDE:
  a carcinogenic impurity of polyacrylamide, polyquaternium-7, polyacrylic acid


• ALCOHOL DENAT.: ethyl alcohol (ethanol) with a denaturing agent making it
  poisonous to drink; carcinogenic, toxic, may cause birth defects


• ALUMINUM POWDER: used as a colorant; a known human nervous system toxicant and
  an allergen


• AMINOMETHYL PROPANOL: a skin, eye, lung irritant; may break down into carcinogenic
  nitrosamines (see NITROSAMINES)


• AMMONIUM LAURETH SULFATE: may be contaminated with carcinogenic ethylene oxide
  (see ETHYLENE OXIDE) and 1,4-dioxane (see 1,4-DIOXANE)


• BENZENE: a known human carcinogen, banned in European Union and Canada, an impurity of
  toluene (see TOLUENE)


• BENZO[A]PYRENE: a carcinogen, hormone disruptor, persistent and bioaccumulative; may be impurity
  of hydrogenated palm oil, hydrogenated palm kernel oil, and coal tar


• BENZYL ALCOHOL: often synthetically created; may cause contact allergy;
  subject to concentration or use limitations


• BHT (BUTYLATED HYDROXYTOLUENE): a fragrance or masking ingredient; skin,
  eye, lung irritant; immune system toxicant


• BUTYLENE GLYCOL: used as a solvent and conditioning agent; a skin, eye, and lung
  irritant


• CETEARETH-20: an emulsifying agent; may be contaminated with carcinogenic ethylene oxide (see
  ETHYLENE OXIDE) and 1,4-dioxane (see 1,4-DIOXANE)


• CETETH-20: a cleansing and solubilizing agent; may be contaminated with carcinogenic
  ethylene oxide (see ETHYLENE OXIDE) and 1,4-dioxane (see 1,4-DIOXANE)


• CHLOROFORM: banned in cosmetics in US, European Union, and Canada; carcinogenic, persistent
  and bioaccumulative; a possible impurity of triclosan (see TRICLOSAN)


• CITRUS GRANDIS (GRAPEFRUIT) SEED EXTRACT: may be contaminated with triclosan
  (see TRICLOSAN) and methylparaben (see PARABENS)


• COAL TAR: an antidandruff agent, a cosmetic biocide, a denaturant; obtained
  as a by-product in the destructive distillation of coal; a known carcinogen;
  banned in European Union and Canada; may be contaminated with benzo[a]pyrene,
  another carcinogen


• COCAMIDE DEA:  a chemically modified form of coconut oil, a foaming agent;
  carcinogen; may break down into Nitrosamines (see NITROSAMINES)


• COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE: a synthetic surfactant; a contact allergen; may break down
  into Nitrosamines (see NITROSAMINES)


• COLORANTS: FD&C and D&C colors are coal tar derivatives, tested on animals due to
  their carcinogenic properties


• DIAZOLIDINYL UREA: a formaldehyde-releasing preservative (see FORMALDEHYDE)


• DIBUTYL PHTHALATES (DBP): used in nail polish or a part of “fragrance”; a
  reproductive and developmental toxicant; banned in European Union; in animal
  studies, exposure to DBP during gestation causes infertility; prenatal exposure
  to DBP associated with reproductive organs mutation in baby boys


• DIOXINS: a carcinogenic impurity of triclosan; a hormone disruptor; persistent and
  bioaccumulative; a priority pollutant on the EPA Clean Water Act list


• DISODIUM LAURETH SULFOSUCCINATE: a foam booster; may be contaminated with
  ethylene oxide (see ETHYLENE OXIDE) and 1,4-dioxane (see 1,4-DIOXANE)


• DMDM HYDANTOIN: a formaldehyde-releasing preservative (see
  FORMALDEHYDE)


• ETHYLENE OXIDE:  a known human carcinogen; banned in Canada and European
  Union; EWG rates it 10 for the harmful health impact on a scale from 0 to 10 (10
  being the most harmful); associated with cancer, reproductive effects, mutagenic
  changes, neurotoxicity, and sensitization; not an ingredient but a contaminant
  of ingredients such as Polysorbate-20, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, PEG-100 Stearate,
  Ceteareth-20, Ceteth-20, Polysorbate-60, Laureth-7, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor
  Oil, Steareth-21 and others


• FERRIC AMMONIUM FERROCYANIDE: a synthetic colorant; restricted by FDA, an
  environmental toxin


• FORMALDEHYDE: a carcinogenic impurity released by cosmetic preservatives, such as diazolidinyl
  urea, imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15,
  2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, and others; causes dermatitis; banned in Japan
  and Sweden; in the U.S., 20% of cosmetics and personal care products contain a
  formaldehyde-releaser


• FRAGRANCE: an undisclosed mixture of various scent chemicals and ingredients containing
  hormone-disrupting phthalates, allergens, and diethyl phthalate linked to sperm
  damage.  top toxic body product ingredient: fragrance!  Did you know that product makers
  are allowed to withhold toxic fragrance ingredients?  Examples of ingredients
  include diethyl phthalate, a chemical found in 97 percent of Americans and
  linked to sperm damage in human epidemiological studies, and musk ketone, which
  concentrates in human fat tissue and breast milk.

HYDROGENATED PALM OIL: a skin conditioning agent; may be contaminated with
benzo[a]pyrene (see BENZO[A]PYRENE)

• HYDROQUINONE: a skin bleaching agent, a hair colorant; banned in European Union and Canada;
  may cause a bluish black discoloration of certain tissues; a skin and
  respiratory organ toxicity; an allergen; may also be an impurity found in
  “tocophe” group of chemicals (e.g. Tocopheryl Acetate)


• IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA: a formaldehyde-releasing preservative (see FORMALDEHYDE)


• LAURAMIDE DEA:  a foam booster; may break down into Nitrosamines  (see
  NITROSAMINES)


• LEAD: carcinogenic; persistent and bioaccumulative; banned by FDA to be used around
  eyes; used in hair colorants; an impurity found in hydrogenated cottonseed oil,
  sodium hexametaphosphate, hydrogenated cottonseed glyceride


• LECITHIN: a skin conditioning substance, an emulsifying agent; may break down into
  Nitrosamines (see NITROSAMINES)


• MERCURY: a non-reproductive organ toxicant; persistent and bioaccumulative; as a
  cosmetics ingredient banned in Canada, Japan, European Union, and US, but may be
  an impurity in hydrogenated cottonseed oil and hydrogenated cottonseed
  glyceride


• METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE: a preservative causing allergic reactions; skin, lung, and eye irritatant; may
  be neurotoxic; restricted in Canada and Japan;


• NITROMETHANE: an anticorrosive agent found in aerosol hair sprays; a carcinogen; persistent and bioaccumulative


• NITROSAMINES: a carcinogenic contaminant; no repercussions for US manufacturers contaminating
  their products with nitrosamines; very common, nearly every kind of personal
  care product and cosmetics can contain nitrosamines as various compounds break
  down over time and recombine into nitrosamines


• OLEAMIDE DEA: a foam booster; may be contaminated with Nitrosamines (see
  NITROSAMINES)


• PAHs:
  a group of chemicals occurring naturally in coal, crude oil, and gasoline;
  carcinogenic; banned in the European Union and Canada


• PARABENS (METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, ETHYLPARABEN, BUTYLPARABEN, ISOPROPYLPARABEN): hormone disruptors; found in 99%
  of breast cancer tumors


• PETROLATUM (PETROLIUM JELLY): a semisolid mixture of hydrocarbons obtained from
  petroleum; may be contaminated with PAHs (see PAHs)


• PHENACETIN: used as a fever-reducing drug but banned in drugs in 1983; stabilizing function
  in cosmetics; a known carcinogen


• PHENOLPHTHALEIN: used in hair relaxers, shampoos and conditioners; a carcinogen; a hormone
  disruptor


• PHENONIP: a mix of preservatives Phenoxyethanol (see PHENOXYETHANOL), Methylparaben (see
  PARABENS), Ethylparaben (see PARABENS), Butylparaben (see PARABENS),
  Propylparaben (see PARABENS), and Isobutylparaben (see PARABENS)


• PHENOXYETHANOL: a preservative; restricted in Japan; in European Union considered harmful only
  for products used on the lips and around the mouth; skin, eye, lung
  irritant


• PLACENTA ENZYMES: derived from the uterus of slaughtered animals; widely used in
  skin creams, shampoos, and masks; may be contaminated with progesterone,
  estrogen, and estrone


• POLYSORBATE-20: a surfactant and emulsifier used in cleaners and personal care products; may be
  contaminated with carcinogenic Ethylene Oxide (see ETHYLENE OXIDE) and
  1,4-Dioxane (see 1,4-DIOXANE


• PROPYLENE GLYCOL: an organic alcohol commonly used as a skin conditioning agent;
  may cause an allergic contact dermatitis and itchiness; irritation may happen at
  propylene glycol concentrations as low as 2%


• QUATERNIUM-15: a formaldehyde-releasing preservative (see FORMALDEHYDE), skin, eye, lung
  irritant


• RETINYL PALMITATE (VITAMIN A PALMITATE): a synthetic vitamin A; restricted in
  cosmetics use in Canada; according to FDA studies, when applied to the skin in
  the presence of sunlight, may speed the development of skin tumors and lesions
  and daily skin application of vitamin A creams may build up in the woman’s body
  a high enough level of Vitamin A that may be toxic to a fetus


• SELENIUM SULFIDE: an antidandruff and hair conditioning agent; banned in
  European Union and Japan; a carcinogen; persistent and bioaccumulative;


• SODIUM BENZOATE: when combined with ascorbic acid, benzene may be formed (see
  BENZENE)


• SODIUM HYDROXYLMETHYLGLYCINATE: a formaldehyde-releasing preservative (see
  FORMALDEHYDE)


• SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLSE): an emulsifying and foaming agent; may be
  contaminated with carcinogenic Ethylene Oxide (see ETHYLENE OXIDE) and
  1,4-Dioxane (see 1,4-DIOXANE)


• SODIUM LAUROYL SARCOSINATE: a foaming agent, a skin and hair conditioning
  agent; restricted in cosmetics in Japan; can break down into Nitrosamines (see
  NITROSAMINES)


• SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS): an emulsifying and foaming agent; an eye, skin
  (eczema), and lung irritant


• SODIUM PCA: a skin and hair conditioning agent; can break down into
  Nitrosamines (see NITROSAMINES)


• TALC: may be contaminated with asbestos fibers causing respiratory toxicity and
  cancer; asbestos-free talc is still toxic and carcinogenic


• TOLUENE:
  a petrochemical solvent and paint thinner; in cosmetics used in nail polish;
  reproductive system toxin; damage to fetus


• TRICLOSAN:
  an antibacterial agent and preservative in personal care and home-cleaning
  products; persistent and bioaccumulative; a hormone disruptor; a skin, lung, and
  eyes irritant; may be contaminated with chloroform (see CHLOROFORM) and dioxins
  (see DIOXINS)

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