Rub a Dub, Dub... Is Cancer in Your Tub?

(The following is actual text from the booklet “Rub a dub , dub… is cancer in your tub?”

On February 23, 1998 CBS's morning talk show, "This Morning" reported the findings of a study from the US Department of Health and Human Services' National Toxicology Program that sent shock waves throughout the cosmetics and personal care products industries.

Diethanolamine (DEA) when applied to the skin, resulted in clear evidence of carcinogenic (causing or contributing to cancer) activity. "Diethanolamine was selected for evaluation because its large-scale production and pattern of use indicate potential for widespread human exposure," this from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Toxicology Program - NTP TR 478. This 2-year study concluded in late 1997.

DEA is an ingredient formulated into soaps, detergents and surfactants and is found in over 600 home and personal care products. These products include shampoos, conditioners, bubble baths, lotions, cosmetics, soaps, laundry and dish washing detergents. It's just one of an estimated 125 ingredients formulated into our home and personal care products suspected of carcinogenic activity; or, of being potentially dangerous or hazardous to our health.

The active ingredient in anti-freeze is in hundreds of everyday items, even food! Labels are clearly shown in the booklet. None of the products pictured has been proven to cause cancer. Do we have to wonder why cancer rates are soaring?

Hmmmm? DEA, an ingredient used for decades in products that we expose ourselves to day after day, many times for hour after hour (cosmetics and lotions), and just now we find out it contributes to cancer? The booklet never lets up and continues with hard-hitting findings from studies and quotes from premier publications. There's even a couple of pages that show highly regarded name brand cosmetics and personal care items with suspect ingredients circled on their labels, in fact one ingredient common to all of them is the main active ingredient in anti-freeze. Shocked? That's only the third page!

There's plenty more. Did you know most toothpastes have warning labels? You quite possibly are among the masses that had no idea those minty suds sloshing around in your mouth a couple of times a day, every day of your life are chock full of chemicals. Substances inside the mouth are easily absorbed by the body, usually intact, as they do not enter the digestive tract. Think about that!