Shampoo and three other beauty products linked to cancer-causing chemicals, warn scientists
TOXIC TRAITS Shampoo and three other beauty products linked to cancer-causing chemicals, warn scientists
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BEAUTY products in the US and UK could be putting you at risk of cancer-causing chemicals, warn scientists.
In recent years, there have been growing concerns about the exposure of formaldehyde in personal care products.
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Recent studies have linked exposure to formaldehyde in hair relaxers to increased risk of uterine cancer
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Recent studies have linked exposure to formaldehyde in hair relaxers to increased risk of uterine and breast cancer among Black women.
Now, a new study has demonstrated formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are present in a wide range of beauty products, including shampoo, lotions, body soap, and even eyelash glue.
Lead author Dr Robin Dodson, an exposure scientist at Silent Spring Institute, said: "We found that this isn't just about hair straighteners.
"These chemicals are in products we use all the time, all over our bodies.
"Repeated exposures like these can add up and cause serious harm."
Formaldehyde is a colourless, strong-smelling gas often used in cosmetics for its preservative properties.
Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are often used as an alternative - these are chemicals that slowly release formaldehyde over time and serve the same purpose.
As part of the study, the researchers recruited 70 Black women and Latinas living in the Los Angeles area and asked them to track their use of personal care products over a period of five to seven days.
Each time participants used a product, they logged the information using a smartphone app developed by Silent Spring.
The app also prompted participants to take a photo of each ingredient label.
The 6 everyday items 'poisoning' you with toxic plastics linked to cancer
Co-author Dr Elissia Franklin, an analytical chemist at Silent Spring, says previous studies on people's use of personal care products have relied on imprecise surveys, asking participants questions like, 'Did you use lotion in the past 24 hours?'
But lotions can vary widely - some might have a few natural ingredients, like beeswax and shea butter, while others might have many toxic chemicals like formaldehyde releasers, phthalates, and parabens, says Franklin.
'We wanted to capture all that information,' she explains. 'Everybody uses lotions. Saying 'I used lotion' is like saying 'I am human!' We wanted a much more detailed picture—an accurate reading of all the chemicals in that lotion, and any other products the women were using.'
The team analysed over 1,100 products, looking for formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasing preservatives in the products' ingredient lists.
Fifty-three percent of participants reported using at least one personal care product that listed formaldehyde releasers on its label.
And many of the products with formaldehyde releasers that participants reported using were applied daily or multiple times per week.
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Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are present in a wide range of beauty products, including shampoo, lotions, body soap, and eyelash glue
Credit: Getty
DMDM hydantoin was the most common formaldehyde releasing preservative.
Roughly 47 per cent of skincare products and 58 per cent of hair products with formaldehyde-releasing preservatives contained DMDM hydantoin.
The team also identified several others, but Dodson stresses that their list is not definitive.
'Those are just the ones we knew to look for. There could be more that we're not aware of,' Franklin says.
In the UK, formaldehyde is regulated under both the Cosmetic Products Regulation and the UK REACH regulations, with the UK Cosmetics Regulation being based on the EU Cosmetics Regulation.
While formaldehyde is generally prohibited in cosmetics, its use is allowed in certain nail hardening products, but with specific labelling requirements.
Formaldehyde-releasing substances are also regulated, requiring labelling when the released formaldehyde concentration exceeds a certain threshold.
Dodson says one way to reduce exposure in the US would be to require that companies add warning labels to formaldehyde-releasing products like they do in Europe.
She agrees that it can be hard for the average consumer—and even chemists—to identify a formaldehyde releasing preservative on a label.
'They have long, weird, funny names, and they typically don't have the word formaldehyde in them,' she says.
While warning labels might be a good first step, Dodson says banning the use of formaldehyde releasers altogether would be the best-case scenario.
'Ideally, companies shouldn't be putting these chemicals in products in the first place," she adds.
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Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Melanie Rushforth is terrified her 20-year-old tattoo could have caused her cancer Credit: Melanie Rushforth 8 The 58-year-old was diagnosed with lymphoma - a type of blood cancer Credit: Melanie Rushforth The administrator is midway through treatment for lymphoma – a type of blood cancer. In March, a study by the University of Southern Denmark found a link between tattoos and an increased risk of developing blood cancers, including lymphoma. In fact, the increased risk could be as much as 170 per cent, something Melanie wasn't aware of during her various tatts between 2005 and 2016. It was only after being diagnosed in April that she became aware of the connection. 'In February I noticed a lump on my neck,' Melanie, who is married to Ian, 62, an HGV driver, tells Sun Health. 'At first, I didn't think much of it. But I have an underactive thyroid, so I decided to get it checked just in case. 'The doctor didn't seem too concerned. He ordered some blood tests and told me to come back in four weeks if the lump didn't go down. 'The blood tests were fine; he thought it might have been glandular fever, but that came back negative. 'By the time the four weeks were up, the lump had gone, so I didn't go back.' But two weeks later, Melanie's lump returned - much bigger and more painful than before - so she made another appointment with her GP. People with tattoos have a 21% higher risk of lymphoma blood cancer - even if they're tiny, study suggests 'I thankfully saw the same doctor, and that's when he first mentioned the possibility of cancer,' she says. 'He said it might be nothing but sent me for an ultrasound and possibly a biopsy.' The scans showed Melanie had lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that originates in the lymphatic system. 'I was diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma – DLBCL,' she says. 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The latest study, published in BMC Public Health, analysed the health data of 5,900 twins born between 1960 and 1996 up until 2017. Over the course of several decades, the risk of lymphoma - a type of blood cancer that affects the immune system - was found to be three times higher for those with large tatts. 'For larger tattoos – those bigger than the palm of a hand, the hazard was 140 per cent,' study author assistant professor Signe Bedsted Clemmensen said. 'We found that people with tattoos had a 60 per cent higher hazard – a measure of 'immediate risk' – of developing skin cancer compared to those without tattoos.' Prof Clemmensen says the study findings are a long time overdue. 'Our study found evidence of associations between having tattoos and development of lymphoma and skin cancer,' she says. 'While this doesn't prove causation, it highlights a potential health concern that warrants further investigation. 'It has long been known that tattoo ink doesn't just stay in the skin. It also accumulates in nearby lymph nodes.' 8 Melanie wasn't aware that studies show tattoos can increase your risk of cancer by as much as 170 per cent Credit: Melanie Rushforth 8 She got her various inkings between 2005 and 2016 Credit: Melanie Rushforth 8 'I started to wonder, 'Have I done this to myself?'' she says Credit: Melanie Rushforth She explains that this is one of the potential mechanisms that could explain why tattoos might lead to cancer. 'Firstly, there are carcinogenic properties of substances used in tattoo ink,' Prof Clemmensen says. 'Secondly, we suspect that tattoo ink as a foreign substance can cause chronic inflammation in the lymph nodes, which over time can lead to abnormal cell growth and an increased risk of cancer. 'Despite repeated calls from health authorities for research into the potential long-term health effects of tattooing, there were no scientific studies addressing this issue when we began planning our study. 'That gap in knowledge is what prompted us to take a closer look.' What are the signs of lymphoma? LYMPHOMA is a term for cancer that starts in the lymph system - a network of vessels and glands that spans your body. There are two main kinds of lymphoma – Hodgkin Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Lymphoma can cause many different symptoms, depending on which type of lymphoma it is and where it develops in the body. The most typical signs are: Swollen lymph nodes, such as in the neck, armpit or groin area Night sweats Extreme tiredness Itching Unexplained weight loss Fever Excessive bleeding, such as nosebleeds, heavy periods and spots of blood under the skin Other signs of lymphoma in a more localised area include: Swelling of the stomach, loss of appetite and other abdominal symptoms Coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain Dr Rachel Orritt, health information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: 'There isn't enough evidence to say that tattoos increase people's cancer risk, and more research is needed. 'This is a difficult area to study, because there are lots of different possible ingredients in tattoo ink, making it tricky to understand the effects. 'If people are concerned about their cancer risk, there are proven steps they can take to reduce it. 'These include not smoking, keeping a healthy weight, and enjoying the sun safely.' For Melanie though, the realisations that her tattoos could have caused or contributed to her condition has been incredibly difficult to deal with. She says: 'My husband and I were searching everything, and I came across a couple of articles linking tattoos to lymphoma or blood cancers. It understandably really worried me. 'I have four tattoos and I'd planned to get another this year to cover a scar on my leg. 'I was shaking when I read those articles though. I started to wonder, 'Have I done this to myself?' 'It added a whole new layer of stress.' 'Like a phoenix rising from the ashes' While Melanie's diagnosis could be entirely coincidental, Prof Clemmensen suggests the research is too hard to ignore. She says more education is needed so people can make informed choices. 'Ultimately, it's a personal decision,' she says. 'Each individual must consider whether they're comfortable with the potential health risks associated with tattooing. 'As with smoking, alcohol consumption, or highly processed foods, it's important that people have access to reliable information. 'Our role as researchers is to provide that evidence so individuals – and policymakers – can make informed decisions.' Melanie had planned to get a post-cancer tattoo, which she is now scrapping. 'It was of a phoenix rising from the ashes,' she says. 'It felt symbolic - about survival, rebirth, and strength - but I won't get anything done for the foreseeable future – not after reading the study. 'I love body art. It's a personal expression, but I won't get any more tattoos.' 8 Melanie is halfway through treatment for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma Credit: Melanie Rushforth 8 Her tattoos symbolise her love for her family Credit: Melanie Rushforth
