CANCER-CAUSING CHEMICAL FOUND IN CHILDREN'S BATH PRODUCTS Women’s Shampoos and Body Wash also Contaminated

WASHINGTON — A hidden cancer-causing petrochemical has been found in dozens of children’s bath products and adults’ personal care products, in some cases at levels that are more than twice the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s lenient recommended maximum. Laboratory tests released today revealed the presence of 1,4-Dioxane in products such as Hello Kitty Bubble Bath, Huggies Baby Wash , Johnson’s Baby Wash , Scooby-Doo Bubble Bath and Sesame Street Bubble Bath. The tests also found the carcinogen in Clairol Herbal Essences shampoo, Olay Complete Body Wash and many other personal care products. 1,4-Dioxane is a petroleum-derived contaminant considered a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and a clear-cut animal carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program. It is also on California ’s Proposition 65 list of chemicals known or suspected by the state to cause cancer or birth defects. Because it is a contaminant produced during manufacturing, the FDA does not require it to be listed as an ingredient on product labels. The problem of 1,4-Dioxane contamination in personal care products is highlighted in a new book, “Safe Trip to Eden : Ten Steps to Save the Planet Earth from the Global Warming Meltdown,” by David Steinman. The laboratory results were released jointly today at the National Press Club by Steinman and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a coalition of U.S.-based health and environmental groups working to protect cosmetics consumers from toxic chemicals and hold companies accountable for the safety of their products. “Regrettably, 1,4-Dioxane contamination is just the tip of the iceberg,” said Jeanne Rizzo, R.N., executive director of the Breast Cancer Fund, a founding member of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. “Because the FDA does not require cosmetics products to be approved as safe before they are sold, companies can put unlimited amounts of toxic chemicals in cosmetics.” Steinman said parents should be outraged that companies are willing to spend a significant amount of money on entertainment licensing agreements that entice children but won’t spend pennies to remove contaminants such as 1,4-Dioxane. “Consumers who have young children, as I do, have the right to expect the highest purity in children’s products,” Steinman said. “I call on American consumers to say no to dangerous petrochemicals in their children’s cosmetic and personal care products.” Contrary to what many consumers may believe, the FDA does not review or regulate cosmetics products or ingredients for safety before they are sold to the public and has no legal authority to require safety assessments of cosmetics. Devra Lee Davis, professor of epidemiology and director of the Center for Environmental Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, said that the usual regulatory approach of assessing risk one chemical at a time does not account for the combined effects of very low levels of hidden contaminants in personal care products and from other sources. “We must lower exposures to controllable agents that we know or suspect cause cancer,” she said. The FDA has been measuring 1,4-Dioxane levels since 1979, but because the agency has little authority or enforcement capacity over the cosmetics industry, it has worked with manufacturers to reduce levels on a voluntary basis only. In 2000, the FDA recommended that cosmetic products should not contain 1,4-Dioxane at concentrations greater than 10 ppm (parts per million); yet some 15 percent of products tested exceeded even these lenient guidelines. This limit, however, also does not take into account that babies exposed to 1,4-Dioxane from baby shampoo may be exposed at the same time to 1,4-Dioxane from bubble bath, body wash and many other products. More than two dozen products were tested at Steinman’s request by West Coast Analytical Service, an independent testing laboratory specializing in trace chemical analysis. Among the products tested: Product Baby & Children’s Consumer Products 1,4-Dioxane concentration Disney Clean as Can Bee Hair & Body Wash (Water Jel Technologies) 8.8 ppm Disney Pixar Cars Piston Cup Bubble Bath (MZB Personal Care) 2.2 ppm Gerber Grins & Giggles Gentle & Mild Aloe Vera Baby Shampoo 8.4 ppm Hello Kitty Bubble Bath (Kid Care) 12 ppm* Huggies Baby Wash Shea Butter 4.0 ppm Huggies Natural Care Baby Wash Extra Gentle and Tear Free 4.2 ppm Johnson’s Head-to-Toe Baby Wash (Johnson & Johnson) 5.3 ppm to 6.1 ppm Johnson’s Kids Tigger Bath Bubbles (Johnson & Johnson) 5.6 ppm to 7.9 ppm Johnson’s Kids Shampoo Watermelon Explosion (Johnson & Johnson) 10 ppm* Lil’ Bratz Mild Bubble Bath (Kid Care) 3.7 ppm L’Oreal Kids Orange Mango Smoothie Shampoo 2.0 ppm Mr. Bubble Bubble Bath Gentle Formula with Aloe 1.5 ppm Rite-Aid Tearless Baby Shampoo 4.3 ppm Scooby-Doo Mild Bubble Bath (Kid Care) 3.0 ppm Sesame Street Wet Wild Watermelon Bubble Bath (The Village Company) 7.4 ppm Adult Consumer Products Clairol Herbal Essences Rainforest Flowers Shampoo 23 ppm* Olay Complete Body Wash with Vitamins (normal skin) 23 ppm* Suave Naturals Passion Flower 2.0 ppm *Product was at or above FDA maximum # # #

BREAST-FEEDING REDUCES CANCER RISK

A study of over 9,000 women sponsored by the National Institute of Health called Contraception and Reproductive Experiences or CARE found that not only is breast-feeding beneficial for the infant by providing important antibodies through the mother's milk, but also that breast-feeding cancels out the effect of delaying childbirth past the age of 25. Breast-feeding protects again breast cancer no matter when you give birth. Even a most unfavorable type that is not promoted by hormones.

The new findings are particularly relevant to women who give birth after age 25 and eventually have three or more children. These women have double the risk of the aggressive and hard-to-treat hormone-negative breast cancers. This two-fold increased risk went away when they looked only at women who breast-fed. The women were no long at increased risk of breast cancer.

For more on the reasons why and other findings of this study go to:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9656285

WHAT IS PMDD?

The other night I saw an ad on TV for a new medication that treats PMDD. I wondered how that differed from PMS, so I did some searching. On WebMD I found that PMDD is a severe form of PMS. The article that I read said that symptoms of PMDD are similar to those of PMS but are severe enough to interfere with work, social activities, and relationships. Well, when I was menstruating I sure thought that my monthly symptoms were interfering with my work, social activities, and relationships!

So I read on, and I found out that PMDD occurs in up to 10% of menstruating women. Women who have a history of depression or postpartum depression are at greater risk. The exact cause is not known. The symptoms of PMDD can include any of the following:

• Mood Swings
• Depressed mood or feeling of hopelessness
• Marked anger and/or increased interpersonal conflicts
• Tension and anxiety
• Irritability
• Decreased interest in usual activities
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue
• Change in Appetite
• Feeling out of control or overwhelmed
• Sleep problems
• Physical problems, such as bloating
• 
  

While these symptoms do not sound all that different from regular PMS, apparently the main difference is in the severity of the symptoms. If you have these symptoms, especially one the first four, you should contact your gynecologist for a thorough exam. A psychiatric evaluation may also be ordered. Before a diagnosis of PMDD is made, the doctor will rule out other emotional problems such as depression or panic disorder as the cause of the symptoms or other underlying medical conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, menopause or hormonal problems that could also be the cause of these symptoms.

“PMDD is diagnosed when at least five of the above listed symptoms (including at least one of the first four) occur for most of the time during the 7 days before menstruation and go away within a few days of the start of the menstrual period. If these symptoms are present every day and do not improve with menstruation, they are unlikely do to PMDD” from WebMD.

The course of treatment is much the same as you would treat PMS but with some modifications.

Eat Properly - limit or avoid your intake of sodium, caffeine, refined sugars and alchol. You might also want to explore the ancient Chinese methods. I found taking Black Cohosh and Soy to be beneficial.

Exercise – Swimming and aerobics seem to be most helpful.

Medications - To treat PMDD, SSRI’s (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) can be taken orally every day, or only between the day you ovulate and your period (approx. 2 weeks). These would include Sarafern, Paxil CR, and Zoloft. Some over the counter analgesics may also help as might diuretics. Hormones may also be used.

Counseling - Therapy to help develop effective coping strategies as well as relaxation therapy, meditation, reflexology, and yoga.

If you are having severe problems during the time leading up to your menstrual cycle, and you are not of an age where you might be going into menopause, I would strongly recommend that you contact your doctor and discuss the possibility of PMDD.