Avoid This Potentially Harmful Ingredient: Polyethylene Glycol

So far we have discussed the potential harm of the following common personal care product ingredients:  artificial colorants, artificial fragrances, and DEA.  Today we will take a look at polyethylene glycol, normally seen on the ingredient list as PEG followed by a number.

What is polyethylene glycol (PEG)?

Polyethylene, the most common form of plastic, is a mixture of several compounds, or polymers that have been bonded together.  When glycol is added, it becomes a thick and sticky liquid.¹

Why is polyethylene glycol (PEG) used?

PEGs serve three main purposes in skin care products:  (1) they act as emollients, which help to soften and lubricate the skin; (2) they act as emulsifiers, which help water-based and oil-based ingredients mix more readily; and (3) they help deliver other ingredients deeper into the skin.¹ Polyethylene glycols also function as surfactants, reducing the surface tension of other molecules³; cleansing agents; skin conditioners; and humectants, which promote the retention of moisture.^{4, 2}

What does the number after PEG mean?

Whenever you see polyethylene glycol on the ingredient list, it is normally shown as PEG followed by a number.  The number refers to the approximate molecular weight of the compound.  Most cosmetics use PEGs of smaller molecular weights, because they penetrate the skin more easily.¹

Does polyethylene glycol (PEG) cause cancer?

Most studies report no link to cancer from polyethylene glycol (PEG).  What they don’t tell you is that PEG compounds are frequently contaminated with various impurities that often are carcinogenic (cancer causing) or are equally hazardous.

What impurities are most often associated with polyethylene glycol (PEG)?

“According to a report in the International Journal of Toxicology by the cosmetic industry’s own Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) committee, impurities found in various PEG compounds included ethylene oxide; 1,4-dioxane; polycyclic aromatic compounds; and heavy metals such as lead, iron, cobalt, nickel, cadmium, and arsenic.^"2

What harm do these impurities cause?

Ethylene oxide increases the incidences of uterine and breast cancer and of leukemia and brain cancer, according to the National Toxicology Program’s Eighth Annual Report on Carcinogens.  Cancers of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas, bladder, and nervous system and Hodgkin’s disease have all been associated with exposure to ethylene oxide.² Small amounts of ethylene oxide are often found in PEG compounds.

1,4-Dioxane is a known carcinogen and has been linked with increased incidence of liver, lung, and skin tumors and gallbladder cancer.

Polycyclic aromatic compounds are also known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).  These compounds are known to cause breast and other cancers.

Heavy metals will be discussed more thoroughly in a separate article.  For now, I will only say that some have been linked to cancer; others have been linked to learning disabilities, behavior problems, hormonal and reproductive changes, and neurological problems.⁵

What are the other health concerns of using products containing PEGs?

Enhanced penetration effect:  as mentioned earlier, one of the main functions of polyethylene glycol is to help other ingredients penetrate the skin more deeply.  This effect gives the body greater exposure to other potentially harmful ingredients.

Irritation to sensitive skin, or contact dermatitis, has also been associated with polyethylene glycol.

How to avoid PEGs

·      Read ingredient lists carefully on everything you buy.  Be aware that even, so-called “natural” products often contain polyethylene glycol.

·      Buy organic whenever possible

·      Make your own products, using natural ingredients

·      Shop at www.naturalhomemadesoap.net

Source:

¹ PEGs, www.truthinaging.com/review/what-is-it-pegs

² Dangers of PEG Compounds in Cosmetics, Women at Increased Breast Cancer Risk?, www.phend.co.za/health/Chemical5.htm

³  Surfactant, www.thefreedictionary.com/surfactant

⁴ Humectant, www.thefreedictionary.com/humectant

⁵ Lead and Other Heavy Metals, www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=292

Shea Butter

It has been a while since I last wrote, as we were on an extended vacation, driving across the country and visiting family and friends.  Just before we returned, our home was burglarized; so we have been busy putting everything back in order.  The good news is that everyone is safe and my new website http://naturalhomemadesoap.net is live and running.  I have added only one product page so far.  I am learning as I go and writing an article to go with each new page.  Before resuming my series on Ingredients to Avoid, I want to share with you the benefits and uses of Shea butter.

What is Shea Butter?

Shea butter is a triglyceride fat that is extracted from the nuts of the African Shea tree, found in the wild predominantly in the savannah of Western Africa.  It is slightly yellow or ivory-colored.  The Shea tree is considered sacred and is treated with great respect.  According to Nature Purity, the Shea tree grows up to 60 feet tall, does not flower before it is 20 years old, and can live for 200 years. 

Uses for Shea Butter

Shea butter is edible and is used as cooking oil in many African nations.  The food industry occasionally substitutes refined Shea butter for cocoa butter in pastries and ice cream; however, this is not permitted in the US.

Shea butter is most commonly used by the cosmetic industry to make soaps, moisturizers, emulsions, and hair conditioners.

According to Wikipedia, in some African countries Shea butter is used “for cooking oil, as a waterproofing wax, for hairdressing, for candlemaking, and also in medicinal ointments.”  It is also used by makers of traditional African percussion instruments to soften, condition and increase the durability of wood (such as carved djembe shells), dried calabash gourds, and leather tuning straps.

Shea butter is sometimes used as a base for medicinal ointments, in sun block lotion, to treat minor cuts and burns, and as an anti-inflammatory to relieve various skin irritations, such as psoriasis, eczema and sunburn.  Also, according to Wikipedia, in Nigeria Shea butter is used to manage sinusitis and to relieve nasal congestion.

Benefits of Shea Butter

·      Melts at skin temperature.

·      Absorbed readily into the skin

·      Does not leave a greasy residue

·      Anti-inflammatory

·      Has been shown to prevent tumor development

·      Contains essential fatty acids and phytosterols such as oleic, palmitic, and linolenic acids

·      Contains vitamins A, D, and E, as well as catechins (plant antioxidants found in green tea) and allantoin

·      UV protection

·      Repairs wrinkles, fine lines, and scars

·      Deep moisturizing for skin and hair

·      Stimulates superficial microcirculation

·      Strengthens the skin

·      Regenerates skin

·      Stimulates collagen production, making the skin stronger and more supple

·      Revitalizes dry and damaged hair

Precautions

Use only unrefined raw Shea butter.  Since the Shea tree grows in the wild, no fertilizers or chemicals are used in its growth.  Because it has been extracted manually or mechanically and no chemicals are involved in the process, unrefined Shea butter retains all of the moisturizing, healing and anti-aging qualities.

People allergic to tree nuts may experience a reaction to Shea butter.

References:

1.     Shea Butter, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shea_butter

2.     Shea Butter Benefits, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/shea-butter-benefits-79280.html

3.     Shea Butter, Superfood for your Skin, http://www.naturepurity.com/holistic/sheabutter.html

4.     Shea Butter Scoping Paper, http://greencommodities.org/attachments/121_UNDP%20Green%20Commodities%20Facility_Shea%20butter%20Scoping%20Paper.pdf

Avoid These Potentially Harmful Ingredients: DEA and TEA

Are you making progress toward clearing out your cabinets of products containing artificial colorants and artificial fragrances?  I agree that it can be a bit daunting, especially when even many supposedly “natural” and mostly organic products often contain them.  Your health is worth it.  We have been misled to believe that because these products are used externally, they are safe to use.  Yet, according to Dr. Mercola, “Putting chemicals on your skin or scalp may actually be worse than eating them.  When you eat something, the enzymes in your saliva and stomach help to break it down and flush it out of your body.  However, when you put these chemicals on your skin, they are absorbed straight into your bloodstream without filtering of any kind, going, directly to your delicate organs.  Because we lack the enzymes to break down these chemicals, they tend to accumulate over time.”¹

Thousands of chemicals are used in personal care products.  The U. S. government does not require any testing before they are sold.  Many of these chemicals have been found to be hazardous to your health.  Next on my list of potentially harmful ingredients is a group of chemicals called diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA).

What are DEA and TEA?

Diethanolamine (DEA) is a colorless liquid surfactant and corrosion inhibitor.²   DEA is commonly used to produce the foam and bubbles in shampoos, liquid soaps, and detergents.  DEA is usually combined with other substances and converted to a new ingredient, such as cocamide DEA.³   Because DEA is such a strong base, it balances the pH of the other more acidic ingredients.

Triethanolamine (TEA) is produced by reacting ethylene oxide (considered highly toxic) with ammonia (also toxic).⁴  TEA  is a thick, colorless surfactant.  As a wetting agent, triethanolamine reduces the surface tension of droplets, allowing water to flow more freely.⁵  As an emulsifier, TEA enables water and oil soluble ingredients to mix.  TEA is also a buffering agent and can be found in a variety of cosmetic and personal care products:  eyeliners, mascara, eye shadows, blushes, make-up bases and foundations, fragrances, hair care products, hair dyes, wave sets, shaving products, sunscreens, skin cleansing products.⁴  Triethanolamine also serves as a pH balancer in liquid laundry detergents, dishwashing liquids, general cleaners, hand cleaners, polishes, skin lotions, eye gels, moisturizers, shampoos, make-up removers and shaving cream.⁶

What is the potential danger of using DEA and/or TEA?

Allergic reactions and skin irritations have been reportedly linked to both DEA and TEA.  According to Dr. Mercola, “triethanolamine can cause asthma to develop in otherwise healthy individuals.”⁷

While the International Agency for Research on Cancer found “inadequate evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of diethanolamine,”³ TEA has been shown to cause bladder and liver cancer and changes in the testicles.⁴  Both DEA and TEA can be contaminated in the manufacturing process with nitrosamines.  Nitrosamines are known carcinogens and have been shown to penetrate the skin.⁸

In addition, nitrosamines have been found in drinking water that was converted from wastewater.  When the DEA and TEA from shampoo, cleaning agents, liquid soaps, etc. wash down the drain and hit the wastewater treatment plants where chloramine is added, NDMA  (a nitrosamine) is formed as one of the byproducts.  Reverse osmosis filters remove only about half of NDMA.  NDMA causes fibrosis of the liver and cancer in rats.⁹

How to avoid DEA and TEA

• Read the list of ingredients carefully.
• Look for DEA, TEA, MEA, monoethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine.
• Do not buy any product listing those ingredients.
• Make your own personal care and household cleaning products (recipes will be in future blogs)
• Buy organic products; look for the genuine USDA Organic Seal
• Ask yourself, “Would I eat this?”

Sources

1.     “Deadly and Dangerous Shampoos, Toothpastes, and Detergents:  Could 16,000 Studies Be Wrong?”  www.articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/07/13/sodium-lauryl-sulfate.aspx

2.     “Diethanolamine” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/diethanolamine

3.     “Diethanolamine” www.cosmeticsinfo.org/HBI/5

4.     “Triethanolamine” http://truthinaging.com/ingredients/triethanolamine

5.     “What’s In My Shaving Cream?” www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2007/03/whats-my-shaving-cream

6.     “Triethanolamine” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triethanolamine

7.     “What’s Inside:  Clorox Shares A Little” www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2011/02/whats-inside-clorox-shares-little

8.     “Nitrosamines” www.cosmeticsinfo.org/HBI/17

9.     “Is Your Shampoo Polluting the Water Supply?” www.articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/2010/06/29/household-detergents-and-shampoos-form-harmful-substance-in-wastewater.aspx

Avoid These Potentially Harmful Ingredients: Artificial Fragrance

In my last post I discussed why avoiding artificial colorants is important to our health.  Today I want to take a serious look at artificial fragrance.  Artificial fragrances can be found in soaps, shampoos, lotions, candles, air fresheners, laundry detergent, and so much more. Let’s face it, most of us like smelling good and enjoy walking into a room with a pleasing aroma.  Unfortunately, if those wonderful smells are coming from artificial fragrances, they are causing you more harm than good and also have a negative impact on the environment.

What is in artificial fragrances?

Thousands of chemicals are used to make various synthetic scents.  Just one scent may consist of over 100 different chemicals.  None of those chemicals need to be listed individually on the label, as the formula is considered “trade secret.”  95% of artificial fragrances are made from petroleum-based chemicals such as benzene, toluene, xylenes, and methanol.  Most also contain phthalates.

What are the health concerns of certain components in artificial fragrances?

Benzene is a colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet odor.  Although benzene is formed from natural processes, such as volcanoes and forest fires, it is more commonly derived from coal and petroleum.  Benzene is often used in plastics, detergents, pesticides and other chemicals.  Exposure to benzene is known to cause cancer, leukemia, drowsiness, dizziness, unconsciousness, and death. ^1,2

Toluene is a clear, colorless liquid with a strong, sweet, and pungent odor that occurs naturally in crude oil and in the tolu tree.  Toluene is used as a solvent and to make paints, paint thinners, medicine, dyes, explosives, detergents, fingernail polish, spot removers, lacquers, adhesives, rubber, antifreeze and in some printing and leather tanning processes.  Inhaling toluene can cause death and unconsciousness.  Repeatedly breathing toluene over long periods of time can cause death, permanent brain damage, or depression and may cause birth defects.  High-level exposure may affect the kidneys, nervous system, liver, brain and heart.  The vapor can irritate the eyes.  Skin contact can cause dry skin and rashes.  Low to moderate levels of exposure to toluene can cause confusion, light-headedness, dizziness, headache, fatigue, weakness, memory loss, nausea, appetite loss, coughing, wheezing, and hearing and color vision loss. ^3,4

Xylenes are colorless, sweet-smelling liquids produced from petroleum.  Xylene is used as a solvent, a cleaning agent, and paint thinner, in paints and varnishes, and in the printing, rubber, and leather industries.  Exposure to xylene may cause harm to the liver, the nervous system, the kidneys, or the urinary tract and may cause birth defects related to organ development. ⁵

Methanol, or wood alcohol, was once made as a byproduct from the destructive distillation of wood; however, today it is produced from carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen.  Methanol can be fatal no matter if it is ingested, inhaled or absorbed through the skin.  It depresses the central nervous system similarly to ethanol poisoning.  Once in the body, methanol is also converted to formaldehyde and then to formic acid, which causes hypoxia at the cellular level. ⁶

Phthalates are esters of phthalic acid⁷ and are used mostly as plasticizers.  Phthalates are what soften vinyl plastics that are common in toys,⁸ give shower curtains their smell and are common components of the fragrance formulas in lotions, soaps, cleansers, hair care products, nail polish, air fresheners, detergents, cleaning products and more.  Much research has been conducted on the harmful effects of phthalates.  Phthalates have been shown to cause birth defects of the genitals, reduce the level of sex hormones, to be linked to breast cancer and several other types of cancer.⁹ Phthalates have also been shown to cause a “proliferation of breast tumor cells” and to cause anti-estrogen treatments, such as tamoxifen, to be less effective against tumors.⁸  Di-ethyl phthalate has been linked to developmental abnormalities in the fetuses of exposed mothers and to later learning disabilities in children of exposed mothers.⁹

Dioxin is formed by burning chlorine-based chemical compounds with hydrocarbons.¹⁰  Although dioxin, is not necessarily a deliberate ingredient in artificial fragrances, it is often an unintended byproduct of the interaction of the many chemicals used in the formula.⁹  Dioxin is known to cause cancer, severe reproductive and developmental problems, and damage to the immune and hormonal systems.  “Dioxin exposure has been linked to birth defects, inability to maintain pregnancy, decreased fertility, reduced sperm counts, endometriosis, diabetes, learning disabilities, immune system suppression, lung problems, skin disorders, lowered testosterone levels and much more.”¹⁰

Formaldehyde is another unintended byproduct of the interaction of the many chemicals used to produce artificial fragrances.  Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen.  Even short-term exposure can be fatal.  Long-term exposure to low levels of formaldehyde may cause respiratory difficulty, eczema, and sensitization.¹¹

Galaxolide is a polycyclic musk that is used in some perfumes, soaps, cosmetics and detergents.¹²  Galaxolide has been shown to have hormone disrupting effects.  Galaxolide can bind to and stimulate human estrogen receptors and may, also, affect androgen and progesterone recptors.¹³

Tonalide is another polycyclic musk that is used in cosmetics, detergents, cigarettes, and toiletries.¹⁴  Tonalide has been shown to increase the proliferation of estrogen-responsive human breast cancer cells.”¹³  Tonalide has also been “identified as a photosensitizer, a chemical that becomes more toxic when exposed to sunlight on the skin and has been linked to liver toxicity.”¹³

How do I know if a product contains artificial fragrance?

By law the chemical components of an artificial fragrance do not have to be listed individually, as the formula used by each company is considered a “trade secret.”  Read the labels carefully.  Look for terms such as “artificial fragrance,” “fragrance,” “parfum”, or “fragrance oil.”  Be aware that “fragrance oils” are not the same as the 100% natural “essential oils” and that some people may have an allergic response even to "essential oils."  In addition, products labeled “unscented” or “fragrance-free” often contain masking agents to hide the odor of other chemicals. ¹⁴

How to smell good safely

·      Read all product ingredient lists carefully.

·      Avoid buying products listing “artificial fragrance,” “fragrance,” “parfum,” or “fragrance oil” on the label.

·      Look for products that say “no artificial fragrance” and “phthalate-free.”

·      Buy certified organic products; but still check the list of ingredients.  I just discovered that one of my favorite organic lotions has artificial fragrance in it.

·      Make your own home cleaning products.

·      Make your own air fresheners.

·      Make your own soap and other toiletries.  Recipes will be in future posts.

·      Buy beeswax candles.

Additional Comments

Although I have been using natural, mostly organic, personal care products for many years to avoid the harmful chemicals that I will be discussing in future posts, I still enjoy lightly scented products, fragrances, scented candles and air fresheners.  Having done the research for this article, I will now be discarding all of my perfumes, candles, scented wax and room fresheners.  For many of us, replacing every personal and home care product that has artificial fragrance (which would be just about all of them) at once would be prohibitively expensive.  So, please, at the very least commit to yourself that as you use up what you are currently using, their new replacements will contain no artificial fragrance or artificial colorants.

Source:

1 “Benzene”, https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/benzene/

2 “Benzene”, http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/intheworkplace/benzene

3 “Toluene” http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/substances/toxsubstance.asp?toxid=29

4 “Toluene” http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/chemicals.php?id=30

5 “Xylenes” http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/substances/toxsubstance.asp?toxid=53

6 “Methanol” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methanol

7 “Phthalate” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate

8 “Phthalates” http://safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=290

9 “Avoid Artificial Fragrances,” by Danna Norek http://www.naturalnews.com/z033634_fragrance_chemicals.html

10 “Dioxin” http://www.ejnet.org/dioxin/

11 “Formaldehyde” http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/formaldehyde/

12 “Galaxolide” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxolide

13 “What is the difference among perfume, eau de toilette, eau de perfume, and fragrance?” by Dahlia Kelada, January 30, 2013 http://salvenaturals.com/blog/?tag=artificial-fragrance

14 “Ingredients to Avoid: Artificial Fragrance” by Gwen Leron http://www.yummymummyclub.ca/blogs/gwen-leron-50-shades-of-green/20130227/ingredient-to-avoid-artificial-fragrance

Avoid These Potentially Harmful Ingredients: Artificial Colorants

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