Organic body care products 'contaminated' with cancer-causing chemical
1 Jul 2008, 1415 Hrs

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Washington, July 1 (ANI): Body care products with labels claiming them to be "100 per cent natural" and "Pure and Organic" may not be as safe as believed, for a new study has found several soaps and lotions to be contaminated with a cancer-causing chemical.

"We literally are bathing ourselves in chemicals every day," the Environmental News Network quoted Adam Eidinger of the Organic Consumers Association as saying.

The researcher said that he was very sceptical of any products marketed as organic. "The U.S. Government is not testing these products to make sure they're pure, to make sure they actually are not contaminated," he said.

During a study, Eidinger and his colleagues tested 100 soaps and lotions in their laboratory.

The researchers found that half of the items were contaminated with a cancer-causing chemical, and some were contaminated at very high levels.

"I was shocked that so many brands had the 1,4-dioxane in them," said Eidinger.

He highlighted the fact that previous studies had linked high concentrations of the 1,4-dioxane, which is created when certain ingredients mix during manufacturing, to cancer.

"We're talking about increasing your risk of cancer, and introducing a toxic carcinogenic substance into the bloodstream," he said.

Following its tests, the California Attorney General's office is said to have sued Avalon Natural Products, Beaumont Products, Nutribiotic, and Whole Foods Market. (ANI)