Carcinogenic Ingredients in Perfumes

Welcome back from the holidays! 

In the first post of September, I want to tell you about a recent confirmation by a board of American scientists called National Academy of Sciences on the presence of carcinogenic substances for humans in the perfumes present in most of the products for cosmetics and cleaning products used in the house. 

Not everyone knows that less than 30% of perfumes are common aromas, while the remaining part is made of chemically obtained, synthetic substances such as toluene, aldehydes, naphthalene, and produced from benzene.

The incriminated substance is called Styrene, and is a chemical element synthesized precisely in a laboratory. Scientists have defined this chemical as a “dangerous substance that must be strictly controlled” with “convincing evidence shows that it can cause cancer” and states that “styrene as a known carcinogen to humans”.

The focus is on the presence of styrene as well as in perfumes, even in some plastic containers for food (known as polystyrene).

Identifying the products whose fragrance contains styrene is very difficult because, while in cosmetics and detergentsfor the home it is mandatory to divulge the ingredients, under the heading “perfume” it can hide any substance, because they are not required to report the individual ingredients. What then can we do to avoid exposing ourselves to a substance that is reasonably carcinogenic like styrene?

The best solution is to buy household products such as dish soap and laundry detergent without perfumes.

With regard to cosmetic products, you should always focus on eco-biological products whose specifications prohibit the use of these substances in perfumes, which, for the most part, are derived naturally (from essential oils).

While waiting for the substances used in perfumes to be more stringently regulated, it may be useful to keep up to date with news from the scientific field. More information can be found on the website of the American EWG.

Make sure to stay up to date for all of your organic, vegan, natural needs at ToBeOrganic.
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