PEG Compounds in Cosmetics: A Little-Known Danger to You

How many cosmetics and toiletries do you use in a day? Go ahead and add them all up, from shampoo and body wash to makeup and hair dye. You assume those products are safe and non-toxic, right?

But did you know that, according to the government agency that “regulates” cosmetics, the FDA's Office of Cosmetics and Colors, "... a cosmetic manufacturer may use almost any raw material as a cosmetic ingredient and market the product without an approval from FDA."

That’s right. And an Environmental Working Group analysis shows that “89 percent of 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products have not been evaluated for safety by the CIR, the FDA, nor any other publicly accountable institution.”

That means that the cosmetics you use daily likely contain ingredients that have not been studied at all, have been studied inadequately, or worst of all, have been studied and have been found to cause harm.

Why You Don’t Want Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) in Your Cosmetics
One such ingredient that is widely used, yet seldom spoken of, is polyethylene glycol (PEG). PEG-6, PEG-150 and other similar names are all close relatives of the PEG family.

PEG compounds are synthetic chemicals used in cosmetics as surfactants, cleansing agents, emulsifiers, skin conditioners and humectants that many believe could increase the risk of a variety of cancers, including breast cancer.

They contain various harmful impurities, according to a report by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) committee that was published in the International Journal of Toxicology, including:

Ethylene oxide: Ethylene oxide increases the incidences of uterine and breast cancers and of leukemia and brain cancer, according to experimental results reported by the National Toxicology Program.

1,4-dioxane: According to the National Toxicology Program, "1,4-dioxane is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen."

Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs): Known to increase the risk of breast cancer.

• Lead
• Iron
• Cobalt
• Nickel
• Cadmium
• Arsenic

Unfortunately, the risks associated with PEG compounds are widely underexposed. Even the CIR concluded that many PEG compounds "are safe for use" in cosmetics, yet they added that PEG compounds should “not be used on damaged skin."

Things do appear to be moving in the right direction, though, as some 23 PEG compounds have been named by the CIR Expert Panel as “high priority” for initiation of safety reviews in 2005.

by SixWise.com