Unlabelled chemicals are lurking in nearly all personal care and cleaning products, an ominous study has revealed.
Scientists from the Million Marker Research Institute tested 113 products including suncreams, baby lotions, shampoos and soaps.
They found that a shocking 98 per cent of these products contained at least one chemical that wasn’t listed on the label.
Meanwhile, 85 per cent of the products tested contained an unlabelled chemical with known or suspected health risks.
Unlabelled chemicals included fragrance chemicals, silicone contaminants, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and endocrine–disrupting compounds such as phthalates.
Exposure to these chemicals has been linked to serious health problems including infertility, miscarriage, obesity, diabetes, and severe allergies.
Some of the products tested were even found to contain compounds identified as potential carcinogens.
Senior author Dr Jenna Hua, founder of the Million Marker Research Institute, says: ‘The label can’t protect you when it doesn’t show what’s really in the bottle.’
Scientists have found unlabelled harmful chemicals lurking in almost all personal care products. Shockingly, almost 60 per cent of all products tested were awarded a ‘fail’ for the concentration of unlabelled chemicals (pictured)
To see what is really hiding in some of the most popular personal care and cleaning products, the researchers put samples through a process called ‘nontargeted analysis’.
This is an advanced laboratory technique that allows scientists to search for thousands of different chemicals at once.
They discovered that the products contained an average of 51 chemicals.
That was over three times more than the 16 chemicals listed by the label on average.
Researchers gave the products a ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ rating based on the unlabelled chemicals discovered, how concentrated they were, and how dangerous they might be.
Overall, more than half the products failed the testing, including products labelled ‘non–toxic’.
The worst products were shampoos and ‘ingredient oils’, where almost 80 per cent of the products failed due to the concentration of unlabelled chemicals.
Likewise, over 60 per cent of body oils, hair styling products, intimate products, moisturisers, and sunscreens failed the researchers’ tests.
Over 80 per cent of shampoos tested failed the researchers’ harmful contaminants test, making them the most contaminated personal product (stock image)
None of the oral care products tested, meanwhile, had sufficient harmful chemicals to warrant a ‘fail’ rating.
The Daily Mail has asked the researchers to provide a full list of the products tested.
More strikingly, researchers found that one in four products tested contained chemicals that directly contradicted claims found on the packaging.
Those included so–called ‘phthalate–free’ products that actually contain phthalates, a group of synthetic chemicals that can cause hormone disruption.
The researchers discovered synthetic chemicals in products that were marketed as ‘100 per cent natural’, ‘non–toxic’, or ‘organic’.
Likewise, fragrance, parabens, silicones, or oxybenzone were frequently found in products specifically claiming to be free of these chemicals.
Dr Hua says: ‘We found undisclosed harmful chemicals in products claiming to be free of them.
‘That means someone can carefully read ingredient lists, choose ‘clean’ products, and still end up exposed to the very chemicals they were trying to avoid.’
The researchers also found a number of products making false claims about their chemical components. Of those making false claims, 40 per cent claimed to be natural, and 23 per cent specifically said they were ‘chemical–free’
Under UK, EU, and US law, companies are generally required to report every ingredient contained in a personal care product on the packaging.
However, there are broad loopholes and exceptions that allow companies to avoid these requirements.
For instance, many chemicals can simply be listed under ‘fragrance’ and chemicals that exist in very low or trace amounts don’t need to be recorded.
Co–author Michael Lathrop told the Daily Mail: ‘People with sensitive skin should be especially cautious with fragranced products, including products labelled with ‘fragrance’ or ‘parfum.’
‘Fragrance mixtures can include many individual compounds, some of which may be irritating or sensitising for certain people. They should also avoid products with lots of ingredients.’
Additionally, some chemicals might end up in the finished product without the manufacturer’s knowledge.
A shampoo, for example, might be contaminated by the raw materials, by processing equipment, storage, packaging, or a chemical reaction that occurred at any step of the process.
Mr Lathrop adds: ‘People should be concerned, but this information is not intended to promote fear. We hope to raise awareness and help consumers make practical choices to reduce potential exposure to chemicals of concern.
