How Toxic is Your 'Natural' Spa?From the Telegraph.

And... perhaps because we are getting more health conscious and perfumes can be poisonous!!!

Like red roses and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, perfume has traditionally been one of the fail-safe offerings of Valentine’s Day. But this year, as couples sit down to romantic dinners, a small but growing cohort of American women will emit scents that are more corporal and less Chanel. At a time when the number of perfumes on shelves has dramatically increased, consumption of fragrances is declining, industry analysts said. Last year, department stores carried 1,160 different fragrances for women compared with 756 in 2002, according to NPD Group, a market research firm that tracks consumer product sales.

Study raises alarm about baby shampoo, lotion
Chemicals linked to health problems

Feb 05, 2008 04:30 AM

CHICAGO–Baby shampoos, lotions and powders may expose infants to chemicals that have been linked to possible reproductive problems, a small study suggests.

The chemicals, called phthalates, are found in many ordinary products, including cosmetics, toys, vinyl flooring and medical supplies. They are used to stabilize fragrances and make plastics flexible.

They were found in elevated levels in the urine of babies who'd been recently shampooed, powdered or lotioned with baby products.

Phthalates (pronounced thowl-ates) are under attack by some environmental advocacy groups, but experts are uncertain what dangers, if any, they might pose. The U.S. government doesn't limit their use, although California and some countries have restricted it.

Animal studies have suggested that phthalates can cause reproductive birth defects and some activists believe they may cause reproductive problems in boys and early puberty in girls.

Rigorous scientific evidence in human studies is lacking. The current study offers no direct evidence that products the infants used contained phthalates, and no evidence that the chemicals in the babies' urine caused any harm. Still, the results worried environmental groups that support restrictions on these chemicals.

Associated Press

Here's an article from today's Daily Mail re: the outrageously unscientific claims being made by cosmetics companies. It also goes to show people's outrageous gullibility to actually believe this stuff in the first place!!!

Check out this article from The Nation on Nail Polish and the hazards of working with it day in and day out.

Understanding the Dangers of Phthalates in Nailpolish
Some Links of Interest:

Decrease in Anogenital Distance among Male Infants with Prenatal Phthalate Exposure ys

Parents needn't wait for legislation to shield kids from toxins in products

Aggregate Exposures to Phthalates in Humans

China toothpaste scare spreads

Nicaraguan police have seized more than 40,000 tubes of Chinese-made toothpaste suspected of containing a chemical that killed at least 51 people in Panama last year.

The move follows the seizure in the US earlier this week of all imported Chinese toothpaste to test for diethylene glycol, a substance used in anti-freeze and brake fluid.

Read the rest of this story via Al Jazeera

I just want to remind everyone that Propylene Glycol is also a substnace found in anti-freeze and industrial floor cleaners, etc. Propylene glycol is the "safer" anti-freeze substance only in that it is less toxic than diethylene glycol. Although approved as safe by the FDA, PG remains a controversial ingredient.

In Greek Mythology, Hygieia was the goddess of health, cleanliness and sanitation. Grandaughter of Apollo and daughter of Asklepios, the god of medicine and healing, she was associated with the prevention of sickness and the continuation of good health.

She was often depicted as a young woman feeding a large snake that was wrapped around her body. Sometimes the snake would be drinking from a jar that she carred. Her sacred snake together with the rod of Asklepios, is today the symbol for medicine.

Her name is the source of the word hygiene.