12 Chemicals to Avoid when you’re shopping
Not all chemicals are bad – water is a chemical, after all – but there are some nasty ones that it pays to look out for when you’re shopping. Here’s a list of some of the most harmful ones we avoid and why we do - you’ll find more in-depth information on our website:
Ammonia
Not only can this cause irritation to skin, eyes and respiratory passages; it releases nitrogen to the environment, potentially harming plants, fish and animals.
Enzymes
These are widely used in laundry products and get trapped in fabrics, only to be activated later by sweat and moisture, to do the job they were designed for – removing the fats/protein from our skin, potentially causing allergic reactions or other health complaints.
Formaldehyde
This preservative in general cleaning products is a suspected carcinogen and irritant to the eyes, throat, skin and lungs.
NPE’s [Nonylphenol Ethxylates]
Found in many cleaning agents, NPE’s break down into nonylphenol - potentially harming the reproductive abilities and survival of fish.
Optical whiteners
While optical whiteners make clothes appear whiter, they don’t necessarily make your fabrics cleaner and can also cause allergic skin reactions when exposed to sunlight. Because they are not readily biodegradable they are also toxic to aquatic life.
Parabens
Chemical preservatives found in skin care, hair care and cosmetics prevent mould from developing. Methyl, Ethyl, Propyl and Butyl parabens were found to be mildly oestrogenic, mimicking the female hormones in your body when applied to the skin.
Petrochemicals
Can contribute to health problems such as skin irritations, eczema, allergies and weakened immune systems [the developing immune systems of children can be particularly susceptible], chronic fatigue, endocrine system upsets and even cancer.
Phosphates
A build-up of phosphates in our waterways can endanger aquatic life and contribute to excessive growth of plants and algae in our streams
Propylene glycol
Absorption through the skin can lead to skin irritation and has been shown to cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage in animal testing.
Synthetic perfumes or dyes
Almost always made from petroleum, dyes and perfumes are added to products to make them more appealing and/or disguise odours, but can be a common trigger for many allergies.
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate
SLS, a surfactant widely used in detergents and body care products, is absorbed through the skin and can cause damage to major organs including the brain, heart, spleen and liver.
TEA or MEA [Triethanolamine and Monoethanolamine]
Triethanolamine or Monoethanolamine are ammonia derivatives that are thought to have hormone-disrupting effects; also possibly carcinogenic when combined with nitrates present in other products.