Baby's Toxic Tub

Do you trust that baby shampoos or bubble baths marketed as “pure” or “gentle” are free of toxic chemicals?  Think again.

Dozens of top-selling children’s bath products are contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, according to a new report and products tests released by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and groups around the country.

This study is the first to document the widespread presence of both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane in bath products for children. Formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane are listed as probable human carcinogens by the Environmental Protection Agency.  Formaldehyde can also trigger skin rashes in some children. 

Sixty-one percent – 17 of 28 products tested - contain both formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, including Johnson’s Baby Shampoo, Sesame Street Bubble Bath, Grins & Giggles Milk & Honey Baby Wash and Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea Baby Wash.

Baby Magic Lotion had the highest levels of formaldehyde, while American Girl shower products had the highest levels of 1,4-dioxane.  See the report for more details.

Neither formaldehyde nor 1,4-dioxane appear as ingredients on the labels of the bubble baths, baby lotions and other products sent by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to an independent lab.  But test results show that toxic chemicals used in embalming fluids, fumigants, and automotive coolant are found in children's skincare products.

Pound for pound, children's exposures to toxic chemicals are greater than adults. And children's developing organs are more vulnerable to damage from exposure to even low doses of toxic chemicals.

“There is no reason for bath products to contain carcinogens,” said Lisa Archer, national coordinator of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. “Public policy is failing our kids. Congress must act to protect our health and our future by reforming the federal policy that, at this moment, allows dangerous chemicals in our personal care products.”

Other nations, including Canada, the European Union, Sweden and Japan, have laws restrict the use of certain chemicals in cosmetics, but under US law, it is perfectly legal to use carcinogens and toxic chemicals in cosmetics. The Food and Drug Administration does not require that a safety assessment be conducted before any ingredient in personal care products is sold in the U.S. And there is no consumer right to know about what ingredients are in cosmetics because contaminants are exempt from labeling laws.

To find safe alternatives for your baby, check out these resources:

SafeMama.com Cheatsheet: Paraben and Phthalate Free Baby Products 

Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Database

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics wants you to take action to stop industries from adding toxic chemicals to cosmetics, whether baby shampoos, body lotions or lipsticks. Write to Congress to pass legislation to strengthen FDA oversight and regulation of the cosmetics industry. To send a message to your federal elected officials, follow this link .