Carcinogens in Kids' Bath Products
A group called the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics tested 48 top-selling children's products for 1,4-dioxane and 28 of them for formaldehyde. The 1,4-dioxane chemical is used as a foaming agent.
The resutls were not pretty. 23 had formaldehyde and 17 had both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane.
Among those were the highly popular Johnson's Baby Shampoo, L'Oreal Kids Extra Gentle 2-in-1 shampoo and Pampers Kandoo foaming hand soap, which contained enough formaldehyde to trigger a skin reaction in sensitive people, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics said in its report.
And I'm sure by now all of us know the adverse effects of formaldehyde, but just in case you don't the US National Cancer Institute has reported that studies of workers exposed to formaldehyde have linked the chemical to cancers of the nasal sinuses, nasopharynx, brain and possibly leukemia.
And 1,4-dioxane has been deemed as a "probable human carcinogen" by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Studies have shown that the chemical does cause cancer in animals and as a "probable human carcinogen."
Stacy Malkan of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics makes the point that while the levels might be low in individual products it all add up and "children are more vulnerable to the toxic effects of chemicals."
For the full report click here
Luckily there are many natural bath products available.
Showing posts with label Safety Issues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Safety Issues. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Danger in Plastic Containers
This is one you have probably heard rumors about. I remember my Mom mentioning to me years ago that plastic bottles weren't safe and we should always use glass.
Then there was talk about how the chemical in plastic containers interferes with estrogen and can increase the chance for disease in women.
But today the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that the chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) which is used in food containers and baby bottles is linked to diabetes, heart disease and liver abnormalities in adults.
The study, as reported by Agence France-Presse, found that adults with the highest concentrations of BPA in their urine had nearly triple the odds of cardiovascular disease, compared with those with the least amounts of the compound in their systems. Furthermore those with the highest BPA levels had more than double the
odds of having diabetes.
"Higher urinary concentrations of BPA were associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and liver-enzyme abnormalities," the authors wrote.
In the past consumer groups have complained that the FDA has ignored studies done on animals showing that small doses of BPA could provoke changes during development in the brain, prostate glands and at puberty for females.
A group of toxicologists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) also published their concerns about the levels of the chemical found in many food containers, plastic bottles and dental fillings in a study earlier this month. According to the NIH findings, the chemical could have dangerous effects on the development of the brain and the prostate gland in fetuses and newborn babies.
BPA is said to interfere with estrogen, the hormone which plays a key role in fetal and childhood development.
Canada has already outlawed BPA citing it as a health risk and major environmental contaiminant.
The compound is found in detectable levels in more than 90% of Americans, "primarily through food, but also through drinking water, dental sealants, dermal exposure, and inhalation of household dusts," researchers said.
This is one you have probably heard rumors about. I remember my Mom mentioning to me years ago that plastic bottles weren't safe and we should always use glass.
Then there was talk about how the chemical in plastic containers interferes with estrogen and can increase the chance for disease in women.
But today the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that the chemical called bisphenol A (BPA) which is used in food containers and baby bottles is linked to diabetes, heart disease and liver abnormalities in adults.
The study, as reported by Agence France-Presse, found that adults with the highest concentrations of BPA in their urine had nearly triple the odds of cardiovascular disease, compared with those with the least amounts of the compound in their systems. Furthermore those with the highest BPA levels had more than double the
odds of having diabetes.
"Higher urinary concentrations of BPA were associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and liver-enzyme abnormalities," the authors wrote.
In the past consumer groups have complained that the FDA has ignored studies done on animals showing that small doses of BPA could provoke changes during development in the brain, prostate glands and at puberty for females.
A group of toxicologists at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) also published their concerns about the levels of the chemical found in many food containers, plastic bottles and dental fillings in a study earlier this month. According to the NIH findings, the chemical could have dangerous effects on the development of the brain and the prostate gland in fetuses and newborn babies.
BPA is said to interfere with estrogen, the hormone which plays a key role in fetal and childhood development.
Canada has already outlawed BPA citing it as a health risk and major environmental contaiminant.
The compound is found in detectable levels in more than 90% of Americans, "primarily through food, but also through drinking water, dental sealants, dermal exposure, and inhalation of household dusts," researchers said.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Cell Phone Poses Cancer Risk Says Cancer Researcher
When the person who is researching the link between cancer and cells phones tells his own staff to limit cell phone use, it makes you think. In an article on CNN on July 24, Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, issued a warning to his staff.
He says that it takes too long to get answers from science and that people should act now especially when he comes to children. He send a memo to his staff ( 3,000) and said that children should use cell phones only for emergencies because their brains are still developing. He suggests adults use a wireless headset.
The concern is electromagnetic radiation and its effects on children.
The article pointed out that 20 groups have endorsed the advice the Pittsburgh cancer institute gave, and authorities in England, France and India have cautioned children's use of cell phones.
So far other major studies done globally haven't found any connection between cancer and cell phone use but it is still being studied and the jury is still out.
When the person who is researching the link between cancer and cells phones tells his own staff to limit cell phone use, it makes you think. In an article on CNN on July 24, Dr. Ronald B. Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, issued a warning to his staff.
He says that it takes too long to get answers from science and that people should act now especially when he comes to children. He send a memo to his staff ( 3,000) and said that children should use cell phones only for emergencies because their brains are still developing. He suggests adults use a wireless headset.
The concern is electromagnetic radiation and its effects on children.
The article pointed out that 20 groups have endorsed the advice the Pittsburgh cancer institute gave, and authorities in England, France and India have cautioned children's use of cell phones.
So far other major studies done globally haven't found any connection between cancer and cell phone use but it is still being studied and the jury is still out.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Serious Warning On Birth Control Patch
As reported in the New York Times on April 5, the Ortho Evra birth control patch, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson has found to cause 50 deaths which occurred between 2002-2006.
Serious side effects such as strokes and heart attacks have been reported as well.
While news of serious side effects did come out in November 2005 in the form of warning the public about potential risks, the new report says that J& J knew even before the product hit the market that the dosage was higher than FDA regulations allowed.
In 1988 the FDA banned birth control pills with more than 50 micograms of estrogen. While J & J said their patch had 30-38 it had in fact altered the reports to get to that number and another study said the dosage could actually be 76 micrograms of estrogen.
As reported in the New York Times on April 5, the Ortho Evra birth control patch, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson has found to cause 50 deaths which occurred between 2002-2006.
Serious side effects such as strokes and heart attacks have been reported as well.
While news of serious side effects did come out in November 2005 in the form of warning the public about potential risks, the new report says that J& J knew even before the product hit the market that the dosage was higher than FDA regulations allowed.
In 1988 the FDA banned birth control pills with more than 50 micograms of estrogen. While J & J said their patch had 30-38 it had in fact altered the reports to get to that number and another study said the dosage could actually be 76 micrograms of estrogen.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Serious Effects For Women Took Estrogen-Progestin Pills
First the good news. The heart trouble associated with taking HRT ( hormone replacement treatment) goes away 2 years after women stop taking these drugs. As you might recall a study was stopped and women were encouraged to get off these pills ( six years ago) due to both heart risks and risk of breast cancer.
The analysis focused on participants' health in the first two to three years after the study's end. During that time, those who'd taken hormones but stopped were 24% more likely to develop any kind of cancer than women who'd taken dummy pills during the study.
"There's still a lot of uncertainty about the cause of the increased cancer risk," said analysis co-author Dr. JoAnn Manson, chief of preventive medicine at Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
More Bad News About Cold Medicine for Children
Almost 7,000 children ended up at hospital emergency rooms each year, due to adverse reactions to cold and cough medicines, according to a report out on Jan. 28.
As reported on Aol.com, almost 2/3 of the kids were unsupervised at the time, but that still leaves 1/3 of kids who were given proper doses by their parents. More than three-quarters of the cases involved kids ages 2 to 5, according to the CDC.
This comes on top of recent warnings not to give children ages 2 and under any type of cold or cough medicine. This study looked at children from 2- 11.
Almost 7,000 children ended up at hospital emergency rooms each year, due to adverse reactions to cold and cough medicines, according to a report out on Jan. 28.
As reported on Aol.com, almost 2/3 of the kids were unsupervised at the time, but that still leaves 1/3 of kids who were given proper doses by their parents. More than three-quarters of the cases involved kids ages 2 to 5, according to the CDC.
This comes on top of recent warnings not to give children ages 2 and under any type of cold or cough medicine. This study looked at children from 2- 11.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Children Under 12 Should Not Take Cold/Cough Medicine
About four months ago the FDA warned that the risks for children 2 and under of taking cold and cough medicine were high. In the past two years 1500 children have been hospitalized with adverse reactions to these drugs. Well today, Jan. 16, the FDA made it official that kids under age 2 should not take theses drugs at all.
In a report on CNN this morning,, Dr. Sanjay Gupta pointed out not a single study exists to prove that these medications can help kids 2 and under. He also said that kids 2-6 are the next group that the FDA is looking at. Following that he says the warning will probably be extended to kids up to 11. He seems to think that soon the FDA will say kids under 11 should not take these drugs at all.
When asked what parents can do, guess what made the list? CHICKEN SOUP!! Ok, I'm gloating.
I have written more than one blog on the benefits of chicken soup and I have been serving my children chicken soup on a daily basis during cold season. ( Don't forget to put lots of garlic in as it is a natural anti-biotic.)
Other alternatives he mentioned were a room humidifier, saline drops in the nose and a rubber nose bulb.
About four months ago the FDA warned that the risks for children 2 and under of taking cold and cough medicine were high. In the past two years 1500 children have been hospitalized with adverse reactions to these drugs. Well today, Jan. 16, the FDA made it official that kids under age 2 should not take theses drugs at all.
In a report on CNN this morning,, Dr. Sanjay Gupta pointed out not a single study exists to prove that these medications can help kids 2 and under. He also said that kids 2-6 are the next group that the FDA is looking at. Following that he says the warning will probably be extended to kids up to 11. He seems to think that soon the FDA will say kids under 11 should not take these drugs at all.
When asked what parents can do, guess what made the list? CHICKEN SOUP!! Ok, I'm gloating.
I have written more than one blog on the benefits of chicken soup and I have been serving my children chicken soup on a daily basis during cold season. ( Don't forget to put lots of garlic in as it is a natural anti-biotic.)
Other alternatives he mentioned were a room humidifier, saline drops in the nose and a rubber nose bulb.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Hospital Infection Warning
Though I rarely like to talk about negative things, but given the scope of this problem I feel I must mention it. In yesterday's New York Times, there was an article , Deadly Bacteria Found to Be More Common, which reported that in 2005, 19,000 people have died in the U.S. after being infected with a virulent drug-resistant bacterial have spread through hospitals and nursing homes. The germ is called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureau, or MRSA.
To put that number in perspective that is more than would have died from HIV-AIDS, Parkinson's disease, emphysema or homicide each year.
Researchers say that the germ is twice as common as previously thought.
According to the article, the study also concluded that 85% of invasive MRSA infections are associated with health care treatment. Previous research had indicated that many hospitals and long-term care centers had become breeding grounds for MRSA because bacteria could be transported from patient to patient by doctors, nurses and unsterilized equipment.
Though I rarely like to talk about negative things, but given the scope of this problem I feel I must mention it. In yesterday's New York Times, there was an article , Deadly Bacteria Found to Be More Common, which reported that in 2005, 19,000 people have died in the U.S. after being infected with a virulent drug-resistant bacterial have spread through hospitals and nursing homes. The germ is called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureau, or MRSA.
To put that number in perspective that is more than would have died from HIV-AIDS, Parkinson's disease, emphysema or homicide each year.
Researchers say that the germ is twice as common as previously thought.
According to the article, the study also concluded that 85% of invasive MRSA infections are associated with health care treatment. Previous research had indicated that many hospitals and long-term care centers had become breeding grounds for MRSA because bacteria could be transported from patient to patient by doctors, nurses and unsterilized equipment.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
A Warning About Tamiflu For Teenagers
I generally don't like to include negative things in this blog, but when I discover a health scare related to a drug that children are taking, I feel obligated to include it.
Today in Japan, the government has ordered the importer of Tamiflu to warn that "teenagers should note be prescribed the drug after further reports of abnormal behavior by patients." (reported by AFP, a press service)
Japan wants warnings on the drug that teenagers should not use this drug.
In a case last month, a 14-year-old boy died after leaping from the 11th floor of a building. There are two other cases of teenagers jumping off buildings (luckily they only broke their legs.)
Japan has seen dozens of adults who have killed themselves after taking Tamiflu in treatment for the conventional flu. Why Japan? They buy more than 60% of the world's Tamiflu supply as the drug is considered to be the frontline drug against a global bird flu pandemic.
The U.S. EPA has looked into the connection between these deaths and the drug and there was no connection.
In my opinion, we have heard this same line from the FDA before. And other countries are much more aggressive in banning drugs that affect children. England was one of the first to issue warnings on the ADD drugs that kids were taking.
The lesson is to be very careful giving children and teenagers drugs. We don't seem to know the effects of many drugs on children and have not tested for that. Tests are done on adults.
I generally don't like to include negative things in this blog, but when I discover a health scare related to a drug that children are taking, I feel obligated to include it.
Today in Japan, the government has ordered the importer of Tamiflu to warn that "teenagers should note be prescribed the drug after further reports of abnormal behavior by patients." (reported by AFP, a press service)
Japan wants warnings on the drug that teenagers should not use this drug.
In a case last month, a 14-year-old boy died after leaping from the 11th floor of a building. There are two other cases of teenagers jumping off buildings (luckily they only broke their legs.)
Japan has seen dozens of adults who have killed themselves after taking Tamiflu in treatment for the conventional flu. Why Japan? They buy more than 60% of the world's Tamiflu supply as the drug is considered to be the frontline drug against a global bird flu pandemic.
The U.S. EPA has looked into the connection between these deaths and the drug and there was no connection.
In my opinion, we have heard this same line from the FDA before. And other countries are much more aggressive in banning drugs that affect children. England was one of the first to issue warnings on the ADD drugs that kids were taking.
The lesson is to be very careful giving children and teenagers drugs. We don't seem to know the effects of many drugs on children and have not tested for that. Tests are done on adults.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Very Serious Health Warning
Although I have made it a policy not to write about drugs in this column, given today's news I have to make an exception. Today the New York Times report that a recent FDA panel analysis of antidepressants reveals a strong suicide risk associated with taking these drugs.
And the group most affected? People under 25!
Here's what one panel member had to say.
"I really feel we have an obligation to warn the public when we have new information, and we do," said Jean Bronstein, a consumer representative and panel member from Sunnyvale, Calif., referring to a recent F.D.A. analysis that found a link between suicidal behavior and antidepressants in young adults.
From the article:
The recommendation followed hours of emotional public testimony on both sides of the issue, and comes amid a long-running debate about the safety of the drugs, which include medications like Prozac, from Eli Lilly, Paxil, from GlaxoSmithKline, and Effexor, from Wyeth.
Without jumping on a soapbox, can I tell you how many kids, aged 15 and younger, are on these types of medication in my own state? I bet everyone knows of at least a few kids on antidepressants.
What are we doing to our kids?
We have got to find better, safer alternative.
Although I have made it a policy not to write about drugs in this column, given today's news I have to make an exception. Today the New York Times report that a recent FDA panel analysis of antidepressants reveals a strong suicide risk associated with taking these drugs.
And the group most affected? People under 25!
Here's what one panel member had to say.
"I really feel we have an obligation to warn the public when we have new information, and we do," said Jean Bronstein, a consumer representative and panel member from Sunnyvale, Calif., referring to a recent F.D.A. analysis that found a link between suicidal behavior and antidepressants in young adults.
From the article:
The recommendation followed hours of emotional public testimony on both sides of the issue, and comes amid a long-running debate about the safety of the drugs, which include medications like Prozac, from Eli Lilly, Paxil, from GlaxoSmithKline, and Effexor, from Wyeth.
Without jumping on a soapbox, can I tell you how many kids, aged 15 and younger, are on these types of medication in my own state? I bet everyone knows of at least a few kids on antidepressants.
What are we doing to our kids?
We have got to find better, safer alternative.
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