Environmental Impact

Problematic Ingredients in Conventional Deodorants

Apart from color additives, cosmetic products and ingredients are not subject to FDA approval before they hit store shelves. Consequently, many products and ingredients are not tested for safety at all. In fact, the Environmental Working Group, an environmental watchdog organization, revealed in 2004 that 89 percent of 10,500 ingredients used in personal care products had not been evaluated for safety by any governing body.

Skin irritation and allergies are the most common health complaints associated with deodorants and antiperspirants, but some ingredients found in these products are associated with more serious health effects, including hormone disruption and cancer. Furthermore, all these chemicals wash down the drain and interfere with the health of aquatic organisms.

Ingredients like astringent salts, triclosan, synthetic fragrances and various types of preservatives are often found in conventional deodorants and can cause health problems including skin irritation and allergies, eczema and hormone disruption. Triclosan has been implicated in the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria and also builds up in waterways—where the ingredient has been found to cause thyroid disruption and interfere with the growth and development of frogs.

Some preservatives, such as bronopol and diazolidinyl urea, can contain the known carcinogen and volatile organic compound formaldehyde. Because formaldehyde evaporates when the product is wet, it poses a higher risk in liquid roll-on deodorants.

Be on the lookout for polyethylene, PEG (polyethylene glycol) compounds and polysorbates, which can become contaminated with 1,4 dioxane, a known carcinogen. According to The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), some laboratory rats and mice developed cancer when implanted with polyethylene under the skin.

Aerosol Products

Butane and propane, used as propellants in aerosol products, are flammable, use nonrenewable resources and could irritate your skin. Moreover, aerosol antiperspirants make it easier for you to inhale all the problematic ingredients in deodorants, so it's best to avoid them altogether.

Resources:

"Antiperspirants and Breast Cancer Risk," American Cancer Society, 2007.

The Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics: www.leapingbunny.org