Carcinogen found in 'organic' personal-care products.

In March 2008, the Organic Consumers Association announced that 1,4-dioxane, a known carcinogen, was found in several leading brands of shampoos, body washes, lotions, and other personal-care and cleaning products. 1,4-dioxane is a byproduct of ethoxylation, "a cheap short-cut companies use to provide mildness to harsh ingredients," explains the Organic Consumers Association. Many health-food stores carry these contaminated products, most of which have "natural" or "organic" on their labels. No product with USDA National Organic Program certification contains 1,4-dioxane, according to the independent laboratory tests commissioned by the Organic Consumers Association; but it is often found in conventional personal-care and cleaning products.

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In addition to having carcinogenic effects, 1,4-dioxane may damage the kidneys, nervous system, and respiratory tract, according to California's Environmental Protection Agency. Products that contain myreth, oleth, laureth, ceteareth (and any other -"eth"), PEG, polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, or oxynol typically undergo ethoxylation and therefore are suspected of containing 1,4-dioxane. Nearly all conventional cleaning and personal-care products and many "green" ones list one of these chemicals as an ingredient. Because of the widespread use of dioxane-contaminated products, the chemical has become "a significant groundwater contaminant" (the Environmental Working Group).

In June 2008, the California attorney general's office filed a lawsuit against four "natural" companies whose personal-care products had the highest dioxane levels: Avalon Natural Products, Beaumont Products, Nutribiotic, and Whole Foods Market. Since the 2008 study, some companies have reduced or eliminated 1,4-dioxane by reformulating their products. Others pulled offending products off the market. Results of 2009 laboratory tests and a new "Personal Care and Cleaning Products Safety Guide" are available at www.organicconsumers.org.

Environment News Service. California sues "natural" companies over carcinogen in soaps. Available at: www.columbia.org/pdf_files/organicconsumers7.pdf. Accessed June 9, 2009.

Organic Consumers Association. Carcinogenic 1,4-dioxane found in leading "organic" brand personal care products [press release]. March 14, 2008. Available at: www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/DioxaneRelease08.cfm. Accessed May 20, 2009.

Organic Consumers Association. Results of testing for 1,4-dioxane by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Available at: www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/DioxaneResults09.pdf. Accessed June 10, 2009.

Organic Consumers Association and Green Patriot Working Group. Personal care and cleaning products safety guide. May 2009. Available at: www.organicconsumers.org. Accessed May 20, 2009.