Are You Giving Your Child a Daily Dose of Toxins?
* Are You Giving Your Child a Daily Dose of Toxins?
By Flora Stay
Naturalnews.com, August 28, 2008
Straight to the Source
(NaturalNews) Every day you're exposed to more than 123 chemicals through
your skin and mouth -- the vast majority of which have never been screened
for safety by the FDA! They're even in your children's personal care
products.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit research based, consumer
advocacy organization based in Washington DC, reports that personal care
products expose children to an average of 60 chemicals every day that they
can breathe in or absorb through their skin. EWG conducted product testing
in partnership with Health Care Without Harm and other members of the
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.
They go on to report that since federal law contains no safety standards for
cosmetics, it is legal for companies to use ingredients that are
reproductive toxins like phthalates, carcinogens, and other potentially
harmful substances.
Children's bodies do not react the same as adults when exposed to toxins.
Even small doses can affect their sensitive developing bodies, leaving them
vulnerable to allergies and frequent bouts of infections, colds, and even
behavioral challenges. In the February 2008 issue of the journal Pediatrics,
it was reported for the first time that infants and children are exposed to
toxins from everyday baby products, including shampoos, lotions, and
powders.
Depending on what is in your child's personal care products, there is a
potential for toxic overload. This means that if your child uses only a
product with one toxic ingredient, their body's immune system will be
capable of filtering out the toxin. But, if you continually bombard your
child's vulnerable body with more and more chemicals, you may be overworking
it!
Perfumes, artificial dyes, BHT along with other harsh preservatives, strong
detergents and salicylates are some of the other potentially harmful
ingredients. The Feingold Association is a non-profit organization started
by a pediatrician dedicated to helping expose how ingredients in foods and
personal care products can trigger eczema, hives, asthma, headaches,
dyslexia, irritability, infections, autism, PDD, ADHD and ADD.
Most people don't realize just because a product has a label indicating it
is a baby product, it doesn't mean it is safe. Toothpaste is one of the most
deceiving. Many popular children's toothpastes contain glitter, bright
colors and taste like bubble gum. Although there is a warning on all
toothpaste for the active ingredient fluoride, perhaps the warning should be
for the inactive ingredients as well.
Sodium lauryl sulfate is a common inactive ingredient in toothpaste as well
as shampoos, skin care and bubble baths. It is a surfactant that forms
lather to the formulas. Besides finding it in your child's toothpaste, you
may be surprised to learn it is a common industrial detergent used to clean
oil off car engines. It's true. You could use your child's toothpaste to
clean your car engine. Studies report of allergies and outbreak of canker
sores with this ingredient.
Artificial sweeteners are another common ingredient in toothpaste for
children. It's amazing that as a culture we have become so addicted to
sweets, we can't even motivate our children to brush unless we add
artificial sweeteners to them. Saccharin is the most often used which is
banned in many countries. It used to be banned by the FDA, but is now
accepted as safe.
Teenagers are also subject to toxic ingredients since they are heavily
marketed to by cosmetic companies.
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About the author Dr. Flora Stay is the founder of Cleure (fusion of Clean &
Pure)(www.cleure.com),the trusted company for chemically safe personal care
and cosmetic products. She is currently an Associate Professor at U.S.C.
School of Dentistry Dept. of Diagnostic Sciences. Her new book 'Secret
Gateway to Health' is available at Amazon and Barnes and Nobel. Go to her
website now for a FREE e-book "Product Labels: a cautionary tale" at http://www.cleure.com
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