12. No Nasties
You want to know that when you use Tasmanian Soap Farm’s skin care soap, or toothsoap, that it’s not going to harm you, but rather that it is going to help you, right? Good. That’s exactly the catalyst for why I created my cosmetic products in the first place – I didn’t want to poison myself!
Plenty of people choose to poison themselves. Daily choices are made by all of us whether it’s smoking, drinking alcohol, eating junk food and/or taking illegal and/or legal drugs. (The latter is a whole other topic!)
The Australian Government Poisons Standard of July 2020 defines “medicine” as ‘any poison for therapeutic use’ and “poison” [in Schedule 6] as ‘substances with a moderate potential for causing harm, the extent of which can be reduced through the use of distinctive packaging with strong warnings and safety directions on the label.’ The complete classifications are given below:
Cosmetics sold in Australia are regulated by the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS) formerly the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS), administered by the Department of Health. Its role is to assess the safety of chemicals new to Australia as well as existing chemicals if concerns arise.
Anyone importing or manufacturing cosmetic ingredients or products must be registered with AICIS. Products must comply with certain legislative requirements, including labelling of ingredients, which is overseen by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
While I don’t import ingredients to make my soap (since they’re all from Tasmania), I do make my soaps with cosmetic ingredients (in fact, each ingredient must belong to the Chemical Abstracts Services (CAS) Registry). Therefore, Tasmanian Soap Farm is registered with AICIS (Registration Number: NIC1007549).
In Australia, it isn’t a legal requirement to prove ingredients are organic. So, this aspect is self-regulated. While many of our ingredients are produced/grown organically (without genetic modification, without the use of herbicides, for weed control, and/or without pesticides), we only acknowledge the certified organic ones on our product labels. The Tasmanian Government is currently having a push on getting more farmers certified as organic, recognising that it adds to the island’s clean, green image.
There are hundreds of so-called ‘nasty’ soap ingredients because of the known, or suspected, health effects they have on humans, animals and/or the environment. Here are some of them (in no particular order):
Nasty #1: Genetically Modified (GM) Ingredients
A big plus is that Tasmania is free of GM crops (banned since 2001). It’s geographical isolation is a definite advantage.
According to National Geographic, no engineered foods/ingredients currently carry labels in the US because the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not found any of them to be substantially different from their conventional counterparts. Industry representatives argue that labelling engineered foods that are not substantially different would arouse unwarranted suspicion. (About 60% of food products contain such GM ingredients.)
Many of you would understand the terms ‘Big Farmer’ (wealthy agricultural companies) and ‘Big Pharma’ (wealthy pharmaceutical companies). Basically, the genetic modification of crops is well underway in the US and stopping it is nigh on impossible due to the money (and livelihoods) tied up in it.
Someone once called Australia the ‘deputy dog’ of America. Mainland Australia has GM crops! It’s 240 km away. We are separated by a body of sea, a giant moat: the Bass Strait.
In 2004, scientists discovered that pollen from GM plants (which can cause ‘gene flow’) can travel up to 21 km. Yet, there are arguments amongst agricultural companies about this fact.
A paper published in the Journal of Biomedical Sciences in 2015 stated ‘With the newfound breakthroughs in cloning [GM], the capabilities of changing human characteristics are unpredictable’. At best, the long term effects of GM are unknown! Our soaps are GM free.
Nasty #2: Hexane
Most conventional oils (e.g. canola) are extracted with the neurotoxin hexane. Studies have shown that some residue remains. Most research focuses on the industrial use and inhalation of hexane. Exposure has been linked to brain tumours and nerve damage. The FDA does not set a maximum residue level for hexane, and no one knows for sure how much residue consumers are exposed to. Unfortunately, this is the same case in Australia. Luckily, the oils we use (canola, hemp, olive, poppy) are single cold pressed and our essential oils are steam distilled – they are all hexane free.
Nasty #3: Animal Testing
In 2020, using animals to test product efficacy was officially banned in Australia. No animal testing has been carried out on our products.
Nasty #4: Triclosan
Triclosan was banned in body soap in the US by the FDA in 2016. It is a preservative and antibacterial agent also found in personal care products such as antiperspirant, hand wash and toothpaste and cleaning products. Tests on mammals and other animals have shown endocrine disruptor effects. It contains dioxins. There are also concerns that it may contribute to antibiotic resistance. Triclosan isn’t made in Australia, but it is imported. Its use in cosmetics is limited to a maximum concentration of 0.3%. In 2009, triclosan was the subject of a full risk assessment by NICNAS. The report concluded that, ‘under normal conditions of consumer use, the risk of adults and children being exposed to levels of triclosan that would lead to chronic health effects is low.’ It is not in our soap.
Nasty #5: Coal Tar
Coal tar is a known carcinogen used in psoriasis and dandruff treatments, and some colouring dyes are also derived from coal tar. Some colourings have been banned in certain cosmetic products in various countries and have also been banned in soaps and shampoos in Europe and some Asian countries. Shampoos and soaps containing coal tar in Australia are required to carry warning labels and are not recommend for prolonged use. We don’t use it.
Nasty #6: Parabens
Parabens are widely used preservatives that prevent the growth of bacteria, mould and yeast in cosmetic products. Parabens possess estrogen-mimicking properties that are associated with increased risk of breast cancer. These chemicals are absorbed through the skin and have been identified in biopsy samples from breast tumours. They can be found in makeup, body washes, deodorants, shampoos and facial cleansers. We don’t use them.
Nasty #7: Methylisothiazolinone & Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone are preservatives used to inhibit bacteria growth in lots of personal care products including hand soaps. Some of the health risks associated with these preservatives include skin irritation, lung and respiratory issues and neurotoxicity. When you’re searching for toxic chemical free hand soaps, make sure to check for this common preservative, as sometimes they are used in more ‘natural’ products to replace other nasty preservatives, like parabens. We don’t use them.
Nasty #8: Cocamidopropyl betaine (aka CADG, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Cocamidopropyl dimethyl glycine, Cocoamphocarboxypropionate, Cocoamphodiproprionate, and Disodium cocoamphodipropionate)
Cocamidopropyl betaine is a synthetic detergent and surfactant that is used to increase the foaming action of cleansing products and control the viscosity of liquids. It is found in a number of personal hygiene products, including hand soaps. Health concerns around cocamidopropyl betaine include allergic skin reaction, contact dermatitis and environmental toxicity. Increasing rates of sensitisation in the population led to it being named Allergen of the Year in 2004 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society. We don’t use it.
Nasty #9: Synthetic colours
‘FD&C’ or ‘D&C’ on product labels represents artificial, or chemical, colours. “F” represents food and “D&C” represents drugs and cosmetics. These letters precede a colour and number (e.g., D&C Red 27 or FD&C blue 1). Such synthetic colours are derived from petroleum or coal tar sources. Synthetic colours are suspected to be a human carcinogen, a skin irritant and are linked to ADHD in children. The European Classification and Labeling organisation considers them human carcinogens and the European Union has banned them. According to AICIS, they ‘can be manufactured or imported into Australia for commercial purposes without telling us first.’ We don’t use them.
Nasty #10: Fragrance (aka phthalate, Diethyl phthalate or DEP, Di-butyl phthalate or DBP, Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate or DEHP)
Fragrance is manufactured artificially. The term was created to protect a company's ‘secret formula’. In Australia, having such a trade secret is a legal loophole and the fragrance constituents don’t need to appear on product labels. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep Database, fragrance blends have been associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system. They can be found in many products such as soap, perfume, cologne, shampoo, conditioner, body wash and moisturisers. We don’t use it.
Nasty #11: Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)
This surfactant can be found in more than 90% of foaming personal care and cleaning products. SLS is known to be a skin, lung, and eye irritant. A major concern about SLS is its potential to interact and combine with other chemicals to form carcinogens from nitrosamines. These combinations can lead to a host of other issues like kidney and respiratory damage. It can be found in shampoo, body wash/cleanser, mascara and acne treatment. We don’t use it.
Nasty #12: 1,4-dioxane (aka Sodium Laureth Sulphate or SLES, Polyethylene glycols or PEG compounds, chemicals that include the clauses xynol, ceteareth and oleth)
1,4-dioxane, a carcinogen linked to organ toxicity, may be found in as many as 22% of the 25,000+ cosmetics products in the Skin Deep database, but you won’t find it on ingredient labels. That’s because 1,4-dioxane is a contaminant created when common ingredients react to form the compound ethylene oxide, a known breast carcinogen, which is added to other chemicals to make them less harsh. It’s found in products that create suds (such as shampoo, liquid soap, bubble bath), hair relaxers and more. It was found unsafe and banned for use in cosmetics in Canada. In Australia, manufacturers and importers must seek approval from AICIS. We don’t use it.
Nasty #13: Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives (FRP's) are used in many cosmetic products to help prevent bacteria growth. This chemical was deemed a human carcinogen by The International Agency for Research on Carcinogens (IARC) and has been linked to occupational related cancers: nasal and nasopharyngeal. It is known to cause allergic skin reactions and it may also be harmful to the immune system. It can be found in nail polish, body washes, shampoos, conditioners, cleansers, eye shadows, nail polish treatments. We don’t use it.
Nasty #14: Toluene (aka benzene, toluol, phenylmethane, methylbenzene)
Toluene is a petrochemical derived from petroleum or coal tar sources. It is a potent solvent able to dissolve paint and paint thinner. It’s also used to kill worms in dogs and cats. Soap manufacturers may unwittingingly use it because it’s often a carrier for fragrance. It can affect the human respiratory system, cause nausea and dry skin. According to Pub Chem, expecting mothers should avoid exposure to toluene vapours as they may cause developmental damage in the foetus. We don’t use it.
Nasty #15: Palm Oil
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) 2020 website announced that ‘palm oil has been and continues to be a major driver of deforestation of some of the world's most biodiverse forests, destroying the habitat of already endangered species like the Orangutan, pygmy elephant and Sumatran rhino’. You will find palm oil listed as an ingredient in many soap products because it is a relatively cheap oil produced in developing countries. We don’t use it.
Many of the above toxic ingredients (parabens, triclosan, synthetic colours, SLS, SLES,) are also commonly included in toothpaste. However, there are a few more ‘nasties’ commonly used in tooth ‘care’ compounds:
Nasty #16: Fluoride
Fluoride is naturally occurring. It’s even in our own saliva. When it was discovered that a population drinking water from a source with a high concentration of naturally-fluoridated water had less dental decay in the US in 1901, it began a clamouring to harness fluoride to include it in community water supplies and toothpaste. In 1945 the first city, Grand Rapids, in the US, had its water fluoridated. Fluoridation of community drinking water is considered unethical, and a violation of human rights, by many because individuals are not being asked for their informed consent prior to medication. Consequently, fluoridated water treatment has been banned in many European countries. Fluoride as a neurotoxin has been proven in several animal studies. A 2006 National Research Council report stated that it is apparent that fluorides have the ability to interfere with the functions of the brain (including the IQ of children) and the body by direct and indirect means. This year (2020) a new study revealed that fluoridated water caused the death of microbiota in the gut of rodents: ‘it can provide some new ideas about the harmful effects of fluorosis on intestinal fungal homeostasis’. It’s a concern for humans because the amount of drinking water (and therefore fluoride) consumed varies from person to person, as does the ingestion of fluoride from fluoridated toothpaste and mouthwash. The Swedish government now requires schools to teach children that toothpaste containing fluoride must be rinsed from the mouth, not just spat out. Basically, the long term effects of humans ingesting additional fluoride are not known. We don’t use it in our toothsoap.
Nasty #17: Saccharin
Saccharin is a petroleum-based sugar substitute. It’s commonly used in diet foods, soft drinks, lip balms and toothpaste. It’s approximately 350 times sweeter than ordinary sugar and falls into the same sweetener category as Acesulphame-K, sucralose, aspartylphenylalanine methyl ester, alitame and tagatose. Animal studies linked saccharin to cancer studies exposed to high doses, thereby raising concerns over potential human carcinogenicity. Saccharin continues to be a commonly used additive in food and personal hygiene products. We don’t use it.
Nasty #18: Aspartame
Aspartame is used as a sugar substitute and is arguably the most common artificial sweetener used today. It’s found in foods, drinks, toothpastes and more. It’s about 200 times sweeter than sugar therefore much less of it can be used to achieve the same level of sweetness, in turn keeping the calories in foods and drinks relatively low. However, it has been known to metabolise inside the body as both a poisonous wood alcohol and formaldehyde.
Possible side effects include migraines, dizziness, seizures, nausea, numbness, muscle spasms, weight gain, rashes, depression, fatigue, irritability, insomnia, vision problems, hearing loss, heart palpitations, anxiety, vertigo, memory loss, and, brain tumours, birth defects, and joint pain. Aspartame consumption could potentially lead to illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, Lymphoma, Parkinson’s Disease, and Fibromyalgia. We don’t use it.
Nasty #19: Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate (another SLS, aka sarkosyl)
While have the same initials as Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, this surfactant is different. It’s derived from sarcosine and used as a foaming and cleansing agent in shampoo, shaving foam, toothpaste, and foam wash products. Scientific tests have concluded that it causes Allergic Contact Dermatitis (ACD). We don’t use it.
Nasty #20: Propylene Glycol
Propylene Glycol is a mineral oil that acts as a solvent in antifreeze, paints, enamels, and airplane de-icers and in oral, intravenous, and topical pharmaceutical preparations. It’s used in toothpastes to smooth out the texture. Unfortunately, it can be toxic in short, high doses and may also cause skin irritation, reproductive issues and cancer. We don’t use it.
Nasty #21: Abrasives (aka calcium carbonate, silica, charcoal etc)
Abrasives are included in most commercially-produced toothpastes to remove stains and plaques from tooth enamel. Tooth enamel is the hardest tissue in the human body.
In Sharing 3 (‘Our Toothsoap Origins’) I wrote about Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA). This is a measurement of the ability of a substance to cut through dentin (see the image of the components of a tooth below).
If dentin is eroded by abrasives in toothpaste, this is what can happen:
This is not my mouth, but it shows what happens when the enamel is worn away. My dentist has had no hesitation in telling me that the toothpaste I was using caused it (and that led me to develop my toothsoap, which has no abrasives).
The toothpaste I used was Australian and organic (and advertised as having no SLS, fluoride nor parabens). Sounds good? Yes, of course it does, until I learned about the abrasive thing.
This toothpaste contained calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate, or chalk, can be obtained by mining limestone. According to dental researchers, calcium carbonate-containing dentifrices increasingly wear the enamel in proportion to the number of brush strokes. Consider the number of times that the teeth are exposed to brushing over 10, 20, 50 years. That’s a lot of brushing. (It is also important to note that the size and quantity of the abrasive particles can vary, with silica twice the size of calcium carbonate molecules in a scientific study of dentifrices.)
My toothpaste also contained silica. Silica is a component of sand. Are you starting to get the picture here?
The Mohs' hardness scale was developed in 1822 by Frederich Mohs. It measures a mineral's resistance to scratching on a scale of 1-10, with diamond rating 10.
The abrasivity of some of the components added to toothpaste can be seen on the chart below:
If you’ve stuck with me to this point, thank you and congratulations! It probably means that you really care about your own health (and the health of your loved ones). Once I started to learn about the nasties in soap and toothpaste I read the labels on what I was using and was horrified. I started Tasmanian Soap Farm and formulated my own healthy skin care soap and toothsoap recipes to ensure that there were no nasty ingredients. Have you checked the labels on what you’re using?
GENERAL DISCLAIMER
The contents of this sharing are for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment . . . Read More →