NEVER MADEWITH
ETHYLENE OXIDE
What ETHYLENE OXIDE is
A petroleum derived compound that when mixed with other compounds creates ethoxylates. Ethoxylates can be found in almost any skincare product, but commonly used in cream bases. Ethylene Oxide has been linked to cancer.
Other names for ethoxylates:
- PEG (over 1000 types)
- PPG
- Polysorbate-20, Polysorbate-40
- Steareth-20
- Sulfates
- Ceteareth-20
- 1,4-dioxane
- Toluene
WHERE YOU CAN FIND IT + WHY MADEWITH DOESN’T ALLOW IT
You can find ethylene oxide in facial cleansers, shampoo, liquid soap, bubble bath, and hair relaxers. Ethylene oxide has long been classified as a known human carcinogen and listed on California’s Proposition 65 list of chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer. Lymphoma and leukemia are the cancers most commonly connected occupational exposure. Breast cancer and developmental issues have also been connected to ethoxylated ingredients.
WHERE IT IS BANNED OR RESTRICTED
1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide are banned for use in cosmetics products in Canada. The European Union also does not allow use of ethylene oxide in cosmetic products.
WHERE WE'RE GETTING OUR INFORMATION
[1] Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. State of California EPA. Chemicals known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. (2016). http://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/chemicals/ethylene-oxide
[2] Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry. 1,4-dioxane. ToxFAQs. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=954&tid=199
[3] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. (2014). http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/roc/content/profiles/ethyleneoxide.pdf
[4] NIH: National Institutes of Health. National Cancer Institute. Ethylene Oxide. (2015). https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/ethylene-oxide
[5] CDC/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (2012). “Toxicological Profile for 1,4-Dioxane.” www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp187.pdf
[6] EPA. 1,4-Diethyleneoxide. (2016). https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/1-4-dioxane.pdf
You can read more about the dangers of Ethoxylated ingredients at Campaign For Safe Cosmetics site, where they currently have 26 citations available for your review.
