cancer causing kids shampoo? (PIOG)

Which Kids Shampoos Have Cancer Causing Agents?

Manufacturers of children's bath products are the latest to earn the ire of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which accuses the likes of Johnson & Johnson, Gerber and Bath and Body Works of putting chemicals linked to cancer in products meant for children. 

The CSC, which put out a scathing report last year on cancer-causing agents in lipsticks, has released a study this month dubbed "No More Toxic Tub," accusing major kids bath product manufacturers of using formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane to produce shampoos, soaps, sunscreen, bubble bath and lotions. Neither is listed on the lables, the CSC says, but actual tests of forty-eight products found trace amounts. 

The Environmental Protection Agency classifies 1,4-Dioxane as a “Group B2, probable human carcinogen,” while it ranks formaldehyde as "a probable human carcinogen." According to the CSC, sixty-one percent of twenty-eight products tested contained both chemicals. Twenty-three out of twenty-eight products tested contained formaldehyde at levels ranging from fifty-four to six hundred ten parts per million. In the broader spectrum test of forty-eight products, thirty-two contained 1,4-dioxane with levels up to thirty-five parts per million. 

So what should you avoid? 

The products that tested positive for 1,4-dioxane include:

• American Girl Hopes and Dreams Glistening Shower and Bath Wash
• American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out Shower Gel – Apple Blossom (three samples)
• American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out Shower Gel – Sunny Orange
• Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Creamy Wash (three samples)
• Baby Magic “Soft Baby Scent” Baby Lotion
• Barbie Berry Sweet Bubble Bath
• CVS Baby Shampoo
• CVS Kids Body Wash – Blueberry Blast
• Dora the Explorer Bubble Bath
• Equate Tearless Baby Wash
• Gentle Naturals Eczema Baby Wash
• Grins & Giggles Milk & Honey Baby Wash
• Hot Wheels Berry Blast Bubble Bath
• Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea Baby Wash
• Johnson’s Baby Shampoo
• Johnson’s Moisture Care Baby Wash
• Johnson’s Oatmeal Baby Wash - Vanilla
• L’Oreal Kids Extra Gentle 2-in-1 Fast Dry hampoo – Burst of Cool Melon
• Mustela Baby Shampoo
• Mustela Dermo-Cleansing Gel for Hair and Body Newborn/Baby
• Mustela Multi-Sensory Bubble Bath
• Night-time Bath Baby Wash
• No-Ad Sun Pals SPF 45 UVA/UVB Sun Protection
• Pampers Kandoo Foaming Handsoap – Magic Melon
• Sesame Street Bubble Bath – Orange Mango Tango
• Soft & Beautiful Just for Me! No-Lye Conditioning Creme Relaxer, Children’s Super
• Suave Kids 2-in-1 Shampoo – Wild Watermelon
• Tinker Bell Scented Bubble Bath

The products that tested positive for formaldehyde include:

• American Girl Hopes and Dreams Shimmer Body Lotion
• American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out Shower Gel – Apple Blossom (three samples)
• Baby Magic “Soft Baby Scent” Baby Lotion (three samples)
• Barbie Berry Sweet Bubble Bath
• CVS Baby Shampoo
• CVS Kids Body Wash – Blueberry Blast
• Dora the Explorer Bubble Bath
• Equate Tearless Baby Wash
• Grins & Giggles Milk & Honey Baby Wash
• Hot Wheels Berry Blast Bubble Bath
• Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea Baby Wash
• Huggies Soft Skin – Shea Butter
• Johnson’s Baby Shampoo (two samples)
• L’Oreal Kids Extra Gentle 2-in-1 Fast Dry Shampoo – Burst of Cool Melon
• Pampers Kandoo Foaming Handsoap – Magic Melon
• Sesame Street Bubble Bath – Orange Mango Tango
• Tinker Bell Body Lotion
• Tinker Bell Scented Bubble Bath

For a look at some alternatives, SuperEco has a round-up of non-toxic kids shampoos. You're probably going to need it.