While waiting for the completion of the remaking of my
website, http://naturalhomemadesoap.net,
where I will be sharing healthy natural products for your skin, hair and home, I
decided to write a series of articles discussing what ingredients you may want
to avoid when shopping for soap and cosmetics.
According to EWG.org, “companies are free to use almost any ingredient
they choose in personal care products, with no proof of safety required.” Safety testing is voluntary and controlled by
the manufacturer of the products. Personal
care and household cleaning products expose the consumer to many chemicals that
pose significant health risks through skin absorption, inhalation and
ingestion. Today my focus is on the
potential harm of artificial colorants, whether in your food or on your skin.
What are artificial colorants?
Artificial colorants include both dyes and lakes and may be
derived from petroleum, acetone or coal tar.
Dyes will dissolve in water but not in oil; whereas, lakes dissolve in
oil but not in water and are often used in lipsticks, soaps and shampoos. Petroleum is derived from petrochemicals and
coal tar. Coal tar is a by-product of the
distillation of bituminous coal.
Petroleum clogs the pores, preventing the skin from being able to breathe and increasing the risk of acne break out; and coal tar is a known carcinogenic in large
quantities. Only 50% of the components
of coal tar have been identified. Some of its by-products are benzene, creosote, kerosine, naphtha, paraffin, and tuluene. According
to Leila McGehee Tucker, NC, CNC, "It takes up to 25 synthetic chemicals to
create one artificial dye. If a product
is purple, it could potentially have 50 or more chemicals just in the color.” 1
To make matters worse, synthetic dyes
become contaminated during the manufacturing process with other impurities like
lead, arsenic or other heavy metals that are known to be carcinogenic or toxic to
the nervous system.
Why are artificial colorants used?
If artificial colorants are known to be harmful, why do
manufacturers use them in producing personal care products and cosmetics. Synthetic dyes are less expensive than
natural colorants. Artificial colors
tend to be more vibrant and uniform than colors made from natural sources.
Known affects of certain artificial colorants in food? 2, 3
BLUE 1, or Brilliant Blue FCF, is commonly used in
beverages, candy and baked goods. It has
been shown to pose a small cancer risk.
It might affect neurons and occasionally causes allergic reactions.
BLUE 2 is commonly used in pet food, beverages, and
candy. Animal studies have shown
inconclusive evidence of Blue 2 causing cancer in male rats.
GREEN 3, or Fast Green FCF, is used in candy, beverages,
tinned green peas and other vegetables, sauces, and jellies. Green 3 has been shown to possibly cause bladder and
testes tumors in male rats. It is poorly absorbed in the intestines.
RED 3 had been used in candy, maraschino cherries and baked
goods until it was banned in 1983. It
causes sensitivity to light and learning difficulties. It can increase thyroid hormone levels and
lead to hyperthyroidism. It was shown to
cause thyroid cancer in rats and has since been replaced with Red 40.
RED 40 is used in soda pop, candy, gelatin desserts,
pastries, pet food, and sausage. This is
the most widely used food dye. Red 40 can
cause allergy-like reactions and may cause hyperactivity in children. It is mostly found in junk foods.
YELLOW 5, the second-most-widely used coloring, is used in
gelatin dessert, candy, pet food, and baked goods. It can cause allergic reactions, particularly in
people who are sensitive to aspirin, and triggers hyperactivity in some children. It may be contaminated with such
cancer-causing substances as benzidine and 4-aminobiphenyl (or chemicals that
the body converts to those substances).
YELLOW 6, or Sunset Yellow FCF, is used in beverages, candy,
and baked goods. This is the third-most-widely
used dye. Animal tests indicate that it
causes tumors of the adrenal gland and kidney.
It may be contaminated with small amounts of several known carcinogens,
such as 4-aminobiphenyl and benzidine (or chemicals that the body converts to
those substances). Yellow 6 may also cause
occasional, but sometimes severe, allergic reactions.
Are the artificial colorants in personal care products harmful?
The ingredients
in lotions and masks, which are left on the skin, can be absorbed into the body
and have the potential to cause more harm. While most manufacturers of the mass-produced personal care
products believe that the artificial colorants in their products are used in
such small amounts that they pose no threat, they are not taking into consideration that the average person uses several personal care products everyday. Not enough studies
have been done to provide conclusive evidence of the cumulative effects of long-term daily topical use of synthetic colors.
How do I know if a product has artificial colors in it?
Check the list of ingredients on the label. Look for words like “colorant,” “blue lake,”
or any of the “lakes,” a color followed by a number, “D&C,” or “FD&C.”
How can I avoid artificial colors?
·
Read the label.
Do not buy the product if it lists in its ingredients any of the above
dyes, or uses such words as “colorant,” “lakes,” a color name followed by a
number, “D&C,” or “FD&C.”
·
Shop for natural and organic products with
ingredients you can pronounce.
·
Look for products without added color.
·
Look for products colored with natural dyes made
from plants and herbs, such as turmeric or blueberries, and clays.
Sources:
1 “Ingredient Watch List: Artificial Colors and Dyes—Full of
Potentially Harmful Chemicals”
http://www.annmariegianni.com/ingredient-watch-list-artificial-colors-and-dyes%E2%80%94full-of-potentially-harmful-chemical
2 “Chemical Cuisine,” Center for Science in the
Public Interest,
http://www.cspinet.org/reports/chemcuisine.htm#dyes
3 “Artificial Food Coloring
Truth,” http://www.macquirelatory.com/color%20additives.htm
