Most of us know to be careful when picking personal care products. Checking labels for common hazardous ingredients like parabens, phthalates and triclosan is a good start. But what about the nasty chemicals that aren’t listed on labels?

That’s right, not all hazardous chemicals make it onto the ingredient panel. Sometimes contaminants or impurities are introduced into personal care products during the production process. Since they are not technically “ingredients,” companies are not required to make their presence known. Case in point? 1,4-Dioxane, which the Environmental Protection Agency has classified as a likely human carcinogen, linked to tumors in the liver and kidney damage.

There is absolutely no reason why companies can’t remove 1,4-dioxane from personal care products, but right now the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t require them to do so – even though the chemical is linked to cancer and serves no purpose in cosmetics.

Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand are petitioning the FDA to prohibit the presence of 1,4-dioxane from personal care products, and EWG is proud to join them in this fight. But in order for the FDA to hear us loud and clear, we need YOU with us too, Friend.

TAKE ACTION: Tell the FDA to protect consumers from 1,4-dioxane – a carcinogenic chemical contaminant in many cosmetic products!

1,4-Dioxane can be found in shampoos, foaming soaps, lotions and laundry detergents, but without regulations it’s hard to determine how many products contain 1,4-dioxane and how to avoid it. An analysis by EWG has revealed that the vast majority of personal care products may contain chemical contaminants like 1,4-dioxane. A recent survey of our Skin Deep® cosmetics database found more than 8,000 products with ingredients produced through ethoxylation, the manufacturing process that forms 1,4-dioxane. The bottom line? 1,4-Dioxane contamination may be harmful and is way too common.

Cosmetics companies have known about the dangers of 1,4-dioxane contamination for years. Way back in 1982, the industry-backed Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel noted that companies were aware of the problem and were making an effort to lower or remove 1,4-dioxane from their products. Thirty-five years later and we still have no way of knowing whether or not our favorite products contain this hazardous contaminant. It’s time for the FDA to step up and take action to protect consumers!

Join EWG today. Tell the FDA it’s time to hold cosmetics companies accountable and BAN 1,4-dioxane contamination from personal care products.

Thanks for standing with us, Friend.

Nneka Leiba
Director of Healthy Living Science, EWG