toxicant

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A New Years Resolution to Healthy Armpits

01/02/2010 in Health, Product Reviews, Sustainable Living | 1 comment

This December I read an article on Treehugger.com addressing healthy armpits.  Armpits are a common conundrum among health nuts like myself who have decided not to use deodorizers with chemicals and metals in them.  So many armpit products today advertise as an “antiperspirant”.  But do you really know why they work or how?

Metals that exist in most antiperspirants like Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex GLY actually react with your skin to close the sweat pores so that you are unable to sweat from your armpits.  Aluminum Zirconium is a metal that is a human nervous system toxicant.  This metal is the most common ingredient in antiperspirants like Axe, Dove, Secret, etc.  These products often also contain fillers like PROPYLENE GLYCOL, BHT, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE , and PPG-14 BUTYL ETHER. The EWG states that these ingredients are known to cause “neurotoxicity, endocrine disruption, persistence and bioaccumulation, organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), enhanced skin absorption, contamination concerns, occupational hazards, biochemical or cellular level changes.”

Do you know what you are smearing under your arms each morning?  Check your label and consider an alternative.

The only product out there that does not contain harmful substances and actually works is called Crystal. Instead of forcing sweat glands shut with a toxic metal powder, Crystal uses natural salts to kill the bacteria that eat your sweat and exude that awful stink you are trying to get rid of in the first place.  Get rid of the bacteria producing the smell, don’t force your skin to swell shut preventing natural sweat.

My favorite Crystalproduct is the “original” stick.  It is actually a rounded piece of salts rock that you apply right after showering when you arm pits are still damp from the shower.  I have been using it for a month now after previously having settled for another all natural stick that just masked odors.  There is no smell!  Even after a hard workout at the gym, I smell good.  Amazing!

Nail polish has “female reproductive toxicants”

06/21/2009 in Environmental, Health | 2 comments

California, known for the most strict environmental regulations in the USA is set to add 30 more ingredients to its list of banned toxins commonly found in everyday products that Americans use.

Some of those products with the newly banned toxins include gasoline, some insecticides, plastics, paint, cosmetics and nail polish.  The toxins banned have adverse effects on Male or Female Reproductive systems or are considered Carcinogens or Developmental Toxins.  Toluene, found in Nail polish is considered a Female Reproductive Toxin.  “Going Green” and “natural” might mean a whole new look for women who want to cut out toxins from their life.  Using cosmetics that are 100% natural and cutting out the nail polish is a great start. 

Here is the complete list from TheDailyGreen.com:

Male Reproductive Toxicants

  1. n-Butyl glycidyl ether, a chemical used to make epoxy resins with a number of uses in common products
  2. Carbaryl, a household pesticide used to kill a range of insects, and sold as Sevin by GardenTech and Bayer (also a developmental toxicant)
  3. 2-Chloropropionic acid, a chemical used to make herbicides
  4. Dichloroacetic acid, which forms in drinking water as a byproduct of disinfection using chlorine
  5. Diglycidyl ether, a chemical used to make epoxy resins
  6. Ethylene oxide, a chemical mainly used in the manufacturing of chemicals like antifreeze and polyester (also a developmental toxicant)
  7. Ethyl-tert-butyl ether, a common gasoline additive
  8. Methyl chloride, a chemical used primarily to make silicone polymers, but also used in other processes, including the oil refining
  9. Methyl n-butyl ketone, an industrial solvent
  10. Phenyl glycidyl ether, an industrial chemical
  11. 1,3,5-Triglycidyl-s-triazinetrione, a constituent of some paints
  12. 4-Vinyl-cyclohexene, a chemical used in the production of epoxy resins (also a female reproductive toxicant)

Carcinogens

  1. Amsacrine, a chemotherapy drug
  2. Bleomycins, antibiotics used in chemotherapy treatments
  3. Chlorophenoxy herbicides, including 2,4-D, are common weedkillers sold for lawn and garden use
  4. Marine diesel fuel
  5. Progestins, synthetic hormones found in some birth controls
  6. Styrene, an ingredient in many plastic and foam products
  7. Toxins derived from Fusarium moniliforme (Fusarium verticillioides), a fungus
  8. Vinyl acetate, a compound used to make polymers used in plastics, films, lacquers, adhesives, inks, water-based emulsion paints, floor tiling, safety glasses, cosmetics and personal care products and other goods
  9. Wood dust
  10. Zalcitabine, an HIV drug sold as Hivid
  11. Zidovudine (AZT), an HIV drug

Developmental Toxicants

  1. Tert-Amyl methyl ether, a common fuel additive
  2. Carbaryl, a household pesticide used to kill a range of insects, and sold as Sevin by GardenTech and Bayer (also a male reproductive toxicant)
  3. Chloroform, which is used in the manufacturing of other chemicals, and which can form in drinking water as a byproduct of disinfection using chlorine
  4. N,N-dimethylacetamide, a solvent used in industries ranging from fibers and adhesives to pharmaceuticals and plasticizers
  5. Ethylene oxide, a chemical mainly used in the manufacturing of chemicals like antifreeze and polyester (also a male reproductive toxicant)
  6. 2-Ethylhexanoic acid, a chemical associated with phthalates and PVC plastics
  7. p,p’-Oxybis (benzenesulfonyl hydrazide), an industrial chemical
  8. Phenylphosphine, an industrial chemical

Female Reproductive Toxicants

  1. Toluene, a constituent of oil, is found in gasoline and is used to make paints, paint thinners, fingernail polish, lacquers, adhesives and rubber
  2. 4-Vinyl-cyclohexene, a chemical used in the production of epoxy resins (also a male reproductive toxicant)