Toxic Chemicals in Deodorant
Finding a safe and effective deodorant can be truly difficult. Many people want to smell good, but at the same time it is important to be mindful of the effects chemicals used in deodorants can have on human and environmental health.
Ingredients of Concern
To help you navigate the chemical confusion, we’re identifying a few of the top ingredient offenders commonly found in deodorants:
Triclosan – Triclosan is linked to endocrine disrupting capabilities and increased risk of breast cancer. It’s been banned since 2018 for use in hand soaps by the FDA.
Parabens – Parabens are hormone impersonators, mimicking estrogen [1] in the body. Exposure to parabens has been linked to breast cancer [2] .
Diethanolamine – Diethanolamine is linked to [3] cancer [4] . Additionally, ethoxylation, the process of treating an ingredient with ethylene oxide, is used in the production of diethanolamine. 1,4-dioxane , a known carcinogen, can be a byproduct of ethoxylation.
Butane – Butane is restricted from use in cosmetics in Canada [5] , due to concerns of contamination with carcinogenic and toxic 1,3-butadiene. However, there are no such restrictions in the United States.
Tips for Choosing Better Deodorant
- Shop for deodorants with the MADE SAFE® seal.
- Look for fragrance-free deodorants. Deodorants that produce a strong smell are often the most toxic [6] .
- Avoid using antiperspirant deodorants. Sweat is not what produces odor; sweat coming in contact with bacteria on your body produces odor [7] . Therefore, deodorants that aim to reduce sweat are not addressing the right problem. Instead, they use toxic chemicals.
- Use naturally scented deodorants. Natural scents like lavender essential oils are not only safer for use when diluted properly, but they also provide additional benefits [8] .
- Look for charcoal in your deodorant. Charcoal provides further protection by drawing impurities from skin [9] .
References
[1] Darbre, P. D., & Harvey, P. W. (2008). Paraben esters: review of recent studies of endocrine toxicity, absorption, esterase and human exposure, and discussion of potential human health risks. Journal of applied toxicology : JAT, 28(5), 561–578. https://doi.org/10.1002/jat.1358
[2] Parabens. (2019). Breast Cancer Prevention Partners. Retrieved July 22, 2023, from https://www.bcpp.org/resource/parabens/
[3] DIETHANOLAMINE. (n.d.). IARC Monographs. Retrieved July 22, 2023, from https://monographs.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/mono101-004.pdf
[4] Diethanolamine - OEHHA. (2012). OEHHA. Retrieved July 22, 2023, from https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/chemicals/diethanolamine
[5] Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. (2022, August 26). Canada.ca. Retrieved July 22, 2023, from https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/consumer-product-safety/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredient-hotlist-prohibited-restricted-ingredients/hotlist.html
[6] Heid, M. (2016, July 5). 5 Things Wrong With Your Deodorant | Time. Time Magazine. https://time.com/4394051/deodorant-antiperspirant-toxic/
[7] Pellat, P. (n.d.). 10 Toxins In Your Drugstore Deodorant. Purelygreat. Retrieved July 22, 2023, from https://mynaturaldeodorant.com/blogs/healthy-articles/10-toxins-in-your-drugstore-deodorant
[8] Pellat, P. (n.d.). 10 Toxins In Your Drugstore Deodorant. Purelygreat. Retrieved July 22, 2023, from https://mynaturaldeodorant.com/blogs/healthy-articles/10-toxins-in-your-drugstore-deodorant
[9] Pellat, P. (n.d.). 10 Toxins In Your Drugstore Deodorant. Purelygreat. Retrieved July 22, 2023, from https://mynaturaldeodorant.com/blogs/healthy-articles/10-toxins-in-your-drugstore-deodorant
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