What Doctors Don't Tell YouCosmetics can contain frank carcinogens – which are inherently carcinogenic – or hidden carcinogens – which become carcinogenic under certain circumstances, such as when mixed, or contaminated by frank carcinogens (Epstein SS, Unreasonable Risk, Environmental Toxicology, 2001). The most common of these are:
Benzyl acetate*
Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
Butyl benzylphthalate
Crystalline silica
Crystalline silica (inhaled)
Diaminophenol
Diethanolamine (DEA)
Dioctyl adipate
Ethyl alcohol*
Fluoride*
Formaldehyde
Glutaral
Hydroquinone
Methylene chloride
Nitrophenylenediamine
Phenyl-p-phenylenediamine
p-Phenylenediamine* (following oxidation)
Polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)
Pyrocatechol
Saccharin
Talc
Titanium dioxide*
*Suspected carcinogens, though evidence is limited
Daniel Redwood DC
Tom Ferguson MD