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The Associated Press reported yesterday that Pepsi is quietly rolling out cans of Diet Pepsi made with a new sweetener, designed to increase the cola’s shelf life and “fresh” taste. The AP article assures us that the new sweetener won’t change the old Diet Pepsi flavor — but it says nothing about the safety of acesulfame or any potential health concerns. More
Often times, a health study comes out with a conclusion that is either a.) not surprising at all (like that sports drinks are useless) or b.) kind of a bummer (like that bananas are covered in crab juice), but not life-ruining. But there is a rare third category, in which a scientific study is so heartbreakingly awful that I just want to cry. Like this one, that found that the tapioca “pearls” found in bubble tea are full of potentially cancer-causing chemicals. Readers, I am officially devastated. More
I fell for the natural= nontoxic fallacy. But being labeled natural doesn’t necessarily mean makeup that’s free of lead or carcinogens. More
Bookmark this page, print out our handy PDF—whatever you do, keep this graphic guide to toxic ingredients in makeup, soaps and other beauty products on hand. We’ve got more info these comm chemicals like lead, triclosan, formaldehyde, phthalates and others other toxins below. But the graphic above provides an easy reference for what to avoid next time you’re shopping for lipstick, shampoo or moisturizer (or, like, a million other things—it’s amazing how prevalent some of these toxins are in personal care products). More
Two weeks ago, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics was all over Johnson & Johnson after finding out that our favorite baby shampoo manufacturer had removed two cancer-causing chemicals (1,4-dioxane) and a preservative found in formaldehyde (quaternium-15) from its products in the U.K., Scandinavia and South Africa, but had failed to do so in the United States. (And just in case you didn’t know, formaldehyde is the same smelly stuff you used when you dissected the frog in seventh grade.) But now, thankfully, the “No More Tears” giant has agreed to remove these poisons and keep us cancer-free too. However, it’s going to take longer than you think.
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There’s been a lot of hoopla over Bethenny Frankel’s SkinnyGirl cocktails getting banished from the shelves of Whole Foods for not meeting ‘quality standards.’ The cocktails claim to contain only ‘natural’ ingredients, but actually contain sodium benzoate, a common preservative (also known as E211). Sodium benzoate is not carcinogenic on its own, but can become so when combined with things Vitamin C (ascorbic acid); together, sodium benzoate and Vitamin C create benzene, a chemical that’s been proven carcinogenic as well as linked to ADHD and DNA damage. More
Could your desire for lavender-scented undergarments be killing you? One University of Washington researcher says yes. Anne Steinemann, a professor of environmental engineering and public affairs, tested some of the top-selling scented liquid laundry detergents and dryer sheets, and found air vented from machines using these products contained seven potentially hazardous chemicals, including two classified as carcinogens. More
Bath & Body Works—the mall mega-retailer responsible for plumeria-scented teen girls and suburban moms the world over—may be selling summer products containing the chemical triclosan, which is classified by the EPA as a pesticide. The Los Angeles Times reports that health and environmental groups are campaigning against Bath & Body Works for including the potential hormone-disruptor in its ‘Summertime Scent’ line of soaps. More
Obviously, there are already plenty of health reasons to limit your soda intake, but the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is determined to add another to the list: Cancer.
In a report published Wednesday, CPSI urged the FDA to ban the caramel coloring used in cola products including Coke and Pepsi, claiming that “artificial brown coloring in colas and some other products is made by reacting sugars with ammonia and sulfites under high pressure and temperatures.” Not exactly appetizing. Even less so? “Chemical reactions result in the formation of 2-methylimidazole and 4 methylimidazole, which in government-conducted studies caused lung, liver, or thyroid cancer or leukemia in laboratory mice or rats,” CPSI says. More
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We usually buy our cranberries in neatly portioned, sealed-off plastic bags (or in aluminum cans), so we don’t usually think about where they’ve come from before we dump them in a pot with sugar and orange peels. But their boggy … More
Sometimes, it’s hard to be a consumer. Giving all your love to just the right kind of products isn’t simple or cheap, so we rely hard on lists like “the dirty dozen” to make us smarter shoppers. We’re thrilled to find a dirty dozen list for our cosmetics; when it comes to shampoo and eyeshadow, it’s hard to remember which chemicals we should care about (or even how to pronounce them). The David Suzuki foundation, a charitable Canadian group dedicated to environmental conservation and education, finally made a list to help us decipher what we should toss out of our medicine cabinets. More
Check out this post from Catherine Donaldson-Evans on AOL Health.
Carcinogens have spread rapidly in the Gulf of Mexico since the region was devastated by the BP oil spill in April, according to researchers.
A report released by scientists at Oregon State University found that cancer-causing oil compounds increased by 40 times between May and June of 2010 in the waters bordering Louisiana. More
You just smoke when you’re stressed; you think it’s good for your figure; or you think it’s your body, and you’ll do what you want. There are a lot of excuses that keep you puffing away, but deep down you … More
Ready to get schooled about your health? Our Daily Health Quiz will test your know-how. Answer our question, below, and check back tomorrow for the answer and your next pop quiz. Today’s Question: hGH, or human growth hormone, is kind … More
