Mercury chlor-alkali products are used to produce thousands of products including food ingredients such as citric acid, sodium benzoate, and high fructose corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup is used in food products to enhance shelf life and because it is a cheap sweetener. A pilot study was conducted to determine if high fructose corn syrup contains mercury, a toxic heavy metal. High fructose corn syrup samples were collected from three different manufacturers and analyzed for total mercury. The samples were found to contain levels of mercury ranging from below a detection limit of 0.005 to 0.570 micrograms mercury per gram of high fructose corn syrup. Average daily consumption of high fructose corn syrup is about 50 grams per person in the United States. Mercury accumulates in the body, so no amount is safe to ingest.

“With the exception of color additives and a few prohibited ingredients, a cosmetic manufacturer may, on his own responsibility, use essentially any raw material as a cosmetic ingredient and market the product without approval.”

Mercury is permissible in cosmetics and other products, even though it is easily absorbed through the skin and will accumulate in the body. Mercury in any form is extremely toxic.

Nitrosamines are known carcinogens. Nevertheless, the FDA permits their use.

Dioxane is also permissible in products by the FDA. Dioxane irritates the eyes and mucous membranes. Prolonged exposure is considered toxic to the liver and kidneys.

In rodent feeding studies conducted for the National Cancer Institute, 1,4-dioxane was found to produce  cancer of the liver and the nasal turbinates. It also caused systemic cancer in a skin painting study. Skin absorption studies demonstrated that dioxane readily penetrates animal and human skin, and yes, it is allowed in cosmetics.

Phthalates can interfere with the normal sexual development of a fetus or infant. Studies have linked phthalate exposure in infants, especially males, to reduced testosterone and reproductive defects.

Petrochemicals are very prevalent in cosmetics. Examples include lip gloss, which is commonly made from petroleum oil, and nail polish, which contains petroleum-derived solvents such as toluene.

The benzene family of chemicals tends to have a sweetish aroma that is very popular among perfumers and fragrances. The benzenes are petroleum-based, so they’re cheap, easy to come by, and a known cause of leukemia.

Synthetic hair dyes include petroleum-derived coloring chemicals as well as other harmful ingredients such as ammonia and lead. Synthetic hair dyes are known to penetrate skin and to cause cancer in laboratory animals.

Perfume and aftershave usually consist of a combination of chemicals, solvents, and natural essential oils in a base of alcohol, which can include toluene, ketone, and other hazardous substances. Approximately 95% of the ingredients in perfumes are derived from petrochemicals.

Many lotions, sunscreens and body care products contain pthalates, DEHP and DBP.. In animals, these chemicals are toxic to the liver, kidneys, testes, and the nervous system. DBP is used extensively in perfumes, nail polishes, lotions, and hair sprays.

Sunblocks contain suspected carcinogens, including diethanolamine and related ingredients (DEA, TEA), padimate-o, and titanium dioxide. Other ingredients are suspected endocrine disrupters: benzophenone (oxybenzone), homosalate, octyl-methoxycinnamate (octinoxate), and the parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, butyl-, propyl-). Moreover, sunscreens can contain chemicals associated with skin irritation and rashes, including avobenzone (parsol 1789), benzophenone, octyl-methoxycinnamate, and PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid).

Dying to Look Good : The Disturbing Truth About What’s Really in Your Cosmetics, Toiletries and Personal Care Products

Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry

The Green Beauty Guide: Your Essential Resource to Organic and Natural Skin Care, Hair Care, Makeup, and Fragrances
Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style

How to Make Your Own Organic Cosmetics: Face Masks, Hair Rinses & Body Lotions: Recipes for Natural Beauty

The world’s oceans are now so polluted with industrial waste that most commercially available fish have become little more than carriers of toxins – especially mercury– which accumulates throughout the fat and tissues of their bodies.

The most common contaminants found in fish include:  mercury, radioactive substances like strontium, toxic metals such as cadmium, lead, chromium and arsenic and PCBs.

Smaller fish, such as herring, sardines, and anchovies fare better than larger fish since they don’t have time to accumulate much mercury in their tissues.
Wild Planet Wild Albacore Tuna, Minimal Mercury, 6-Ounce Cans (Pack of 6)
Fish, Meat, and Poultry: Dangers in the Food Supply (What’s in Your Food? Recipe for Disaster)