Toxic Chemicals Found in Shampoos

Refillism boasts many non-toxic products in our store, and we make sure our merchandise does not contain potentially harmful ingredients. Unfortunately, not all companies do this in the United States. It’s very common to find carcinogenic chemicals in a multitude of bath and body products in your everyday grocery stores. Here are a few ingredients to avoid the next time you’re out shopping for shampoos:

• Formaldehyde: Found in baby shampoos, formaldehyde is a carcinogen that has been known to cause leukaemia. It’s also listed as a class 1 known carcinogen by the World Health Organization and is a banned ingredient by the EU in the cosmetic industry.
• Fragrance: A tricky word, “fragrance” is actually an umbrella term used for 3,059 chemical compounds. Many of these ingredients are toxic, and if you see the term listed it generally means you should avoid the product. However, in the case of more natural products, the term also protects key essential oil mixes that some businesses want to keep private. All in all, be wary and know who you shop from. Most eco-businesses will be aware of this term and filter products accordingly.
• Coal Tar: Found in many shampoos, coal tar is known to cause skin cancer. It’s also listed as a class 1 known carcinogen by the World Health Organization and banned in Europe.
• Diethylamine & triethylamine: Banned in Europe, these chemical compounds cause cancer and negatively impact male reproductive health. Diethylamine builds up in organs, causes tremors, and memory issues in developing foetuses.
• DEA, Cocamide & Lauramide diethanolamine: These chemicals are linked to liver cancer and negatively impacts the skin and thyroid.
• 1,4-dioxane: An unfortunate byproduct of certain ingredients during manufacturing, 1,4-dioxane is a known carcinogen that’s also known to cause birth defects. Avoid PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, -eth, and oxynol to bypass this harmful byproduct. It’s banned in Europe and reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• Octinoxate: This chemical negatively influences thyroid hormones, causes breast cancer, and affects foetus growth.
• Nitrosamines: According to Dr. Domina Petric's research, this chemical builds up in the liver and bladder, causing chronic health issues. It is also considered a strong carcinogen that can cause cancer in most areas of the body. It’s reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and banned in the EU for use in cosmetic products.
• Parabens: Parabens are thought to be endocrine disruptors, as well as cause melanoma and can be toxic to reproductive systems. More research needs to be done on this particular type of chemical.

There is ample research implying the danger these chemicals cause when exposed to humans. Leading authorities like the Department of Health and Human Services know more research needs to be done on these ingredients that are used in daily life, and yet known carcinogens are still permitted to be used in manufacturing. This needs to change, and until it does it’s important to spread awareness.

In the name of full transparency, government websites argue that some of the ingredients listed above only cause damage when used in extremely high qualities or exposures. However, why risk using any of them if there are alternatives that clean hair just as effectively without the potential negative side effects? 

To complicate things, the chemicals listed above are called different names on ingredient lists depending on the shampoo brand. Check out this government website to find any other synonyms the compound might be known by in order to avoid it. If going through ingredient lists seems overwhelming, find a local refill store that you trust to shop at instead for more natural products, like Refillism! Another option is to download an app called Think Dirty that rates mainstream brands on their toxicity. Although it’s behind a pay wall, it’s well worth the money.

Although this topic can be disheartening, it’s important to understand the danger in what can be found in our hair care products. As stated in a 2024 study, Review: Health Hazards Associated with Cosmetic Products: A Silent Epidemic:

“… cosmetics and makeup are silent killers in our homes as they contain hundreds of hazardous chemicals and heavy metals that may adversely affect our health causing even cancer.”

Be aware of what you are putting on, and consequently in, your body. Skin is permeable, and many of these chemicals can be absorbed by your body. This is why it’s vital when shopping specifically for shampoo, especially for children, to look at the ingredient list. Find a natural alternative - one that doesn’t try to disguise the use of toxic chemicals. Try shopping from companies you know well and trust.

Check out our website for some alternatives to your mainstream shampoos. We have a variety of shampoo bars and refillable options!

References:

https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.14293/S2199-1006.1.SOR-.PPKO7OD.v1

https://abap.co.in/index.php/home/article/view/1194

https://echa.europa.eu/home

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK373185/

https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov/fact-sheets/cocamide-diethanolamine-cocamide-dea-coconut-oil-diethanolamine-condensate

https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969722061733

https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications

https://ntpsearch.niehs.nih.gov/?orderby=r&rpp=50&pageNum=1&query=Nitrosamines&suffixes=False&e=False&orderby=r&rpp=50&pageNum=1

https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/PHS/PHS.aspx?phsid=953&toxid=199

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemical-engineering/nitrosamines

https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/docs/citizens_parabens_en.pdf

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Amro-Abdel-Azeem/publication/388277259_Review_HEALTH_HAZARDS_ASSOCIATED_WITH_COSMETIC_PRODUCTS_A_SILENT_EPIDEMIC/links/6791498c1ec9f9589f5847d3/Review-HEALTH-HAZARDS-ASSOCIATED-WITH-COSMETIC-PRODUCTS-A-SILENT-EPIDEMIC.pdf