Chemical Safe Skincare Campaign

According to the news today, we should all be calculating our toxicsplash. That is, the number of synthetic chemicals we flush down our plughole every day, contained in household products ranging from shampoos to washing up liquid. These chemicals run into our water system and can have a detrimental effect on our health and environment. See http://www.toxicsplash.co.uk for more information.

Environmentalists are urging people to calculate their individual ‘toxic splash’ as they might their carbon footprint and take steps to reduce it by ecologically safe cleaning products and chemical safe toiletries. The research was commissioned by chemical safe skincare brand Elave http://www.elave.co.uk and involved 2,000 adults. It revealed that the average British household uses 18 toiletries and cleaning products every week.

Each of these products contains on average 10 synthetic chemicals, the net effect being that each household in Britain flushes 180 chemical compounds into the water system and environment every week.

A spokeswoman said, “Coupled with concerns about the effect of some of these chemicals on our skin and the fact that they are known triggers for many sensitive skin conditions, we recommend that consumers seek out chemical safe alternatives to their toiletries and cleaning products.”

Dr Paula Baillie-Hamilton, a visiting fellow in occupational and environmental health at Stirling University and author of Stop The 21st Century Killing You, said “Synthetic chemicals are incorporated into countless consumer products, many of which are released into our water system every time we shower, bath or clean our homes.

“Many do not break down easily, and can form dangerous compounds when they degrade. Reports suggest that there are a number of chemicals in our water, which are a threat to nature and the environment. Most worryingly, there is ample evidence which suggests that these chemicals are already disrupting hormones in wildlife at current levels of pollution.”

According to www.toxicsplash.co.uk, the chemicals in question are contained in countless items, ranging from shampoos and bubble baths to hand washes and cleaning products.

The website cites the most worrying chemicals as Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Formaldehyde, Chlorine and Phosphates.