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Fri Feb 09, 2007 8:39 pm  |
I know there have been a few discussion about this lately. Here is what I just received in a newsletter from EWG:
Dear EWG: I am concerned about propylene glycol in cosmetics, lotions, soap, deodorant, and other personal care products. Now, I just found it in my kid's cough medicine. Why is it used in so many products? And how dangerous is this to my family? --Karen
Dear Karen: A lot of people confuse propylene glycol with its chemical cousin, ethylene glycol. Propylene glycol is a food and personal care product additive that the FDA says is "generally recognized as safe." Propylene glycol is used to control moisture content and can act as a solvent for color and flavor additives. On the other hand, ethylene glycol is best known as the active ingredient in automotive anti-freeze and can kill you if you accidentally drink it.
Our advice? We don't think you should be too concerned about propylene glycol, especially when used as an additive in personal care products. While we always recommend eating healthier foods with as few additives as possible, you'd probably see more adverse health effects from eating a steady diet of junk food.
Ask us a question! Visit http://www.ewg.org/askewg/ |
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Fri Feb 09, 2007 9:58 pm |
I posted a thread about finding propylene glycol in Comvita health products a while ago - I was veryyyyy concerned... but they replied that it was one of the safest, most inert substances they can find to help emulsify the propolis which otherwise would stick to any surface.
Anyhow when I did more research on PG, it is an FDA approved additive, so the best we can do is avoid it.. |
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Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:49 pm |
| Adonis wrote: |
....Here is what I just received in a newsletter from EWG:
......
Dear Karen: A lot of people confuse propylene glycol with its chemical cousin, ethylene glycol. Propylene glycol is a food and personal care product additive that the FDA says is "generally recognized as safe." Propylene glycol is used to control moisture content and can act as a solvent for color and flavor additives. On the other hand, ethylene glycol is best known as the active ingredient in automotive anti-freeze and can kill you if you accidentally drink it.
Our advice? We don't think you should be too concerned about propylene glycol, especially when used as an additive in personal care products. While we always recommend eating healthier foods with as few additives as possible, you'd probably see more adverse health effects from eating a steady diet of junk food.
Ask us a question! Visit http://www.ewg.org/askewg/ |
Thanks Adonis. This is one of the more sensible things I've read here recently. So many people take guidance from uncredentialled websites because of their aversion to science and research.
Interestingly, cosmetic and skincare compares exploit this with clever marketing, and are in turn, bullied into changing their formulations because of the power of the panicked consumer lobby. |
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Fri Feb 23, 2007 2:21 am |
| Something that's quoted as being 'generally recognized as safe', does not fill me with confidence?! |
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Fri Feb 23, 2007 2:55 am |
| sarahb wrote: |
| Something that's quoted as being 'generally recognized as safe', does not fill me with confidence?! |
'salright. As much as we have our silicon sensitives, we also have our propylene glycol sensitives.
Where "generally regarded as safe" is to be seriously doubted, avoid all use of cosmetics and skincare. |
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Fri Feb 23, 2007 7:41 am |
| nyonyakay wrote: |
| sarahb wrote: |
| Something that's quoted as being 'generally recognized as safe', does not fill me with confidence?! |
'salright. As much as we have our silicon sensitives, we also have our propylene glycol sensitives.
Where "generally regarded as safe" is to be seriously doubted, avoid all use of cosmetics and skincare. |
And avoid all foods and beverages you don't grow/raise or make yourself.
Ari |
_________________
Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor each morning the devil says, "Oh Crap, She's up!" Unknown |
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Fri Feb 23, 2007 2:46 pm |
| Arielle wrote: |
And avoid all foods and beverages you don't grow/raise or make yourself.
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Fri Feb 23, 2007 4:56 pm |
| Arielle wrote: |
| And avoid all foods and beverages you don't grow/raise or make yourself. |
That would be a starvation diet in my world. |
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Fri Feb 23, 2007 6:23 pm |
PG triggers asthma attacks in me (I've posted on this before). I recently saw an immunologist who confirmed that PG could cause this kind of reaction. But of course, each asthma suffer is different.
A few times I've forgetten to check the ingredients on a product (especially samples) and ended up having a attacks. I realized then that the product probably had PG -- and when I checked, sure enough it did.
It's definitely a challenge finding skin care products without it!
montrealgal |
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Fri Feb 23, 2007 6:28 pm |
I agree that it is entirely prudent to avoid all cosmetics and personal care products containing propylene glycol where you have a known allergy to it.
Montrealgal, have you thought of going the DIY route - that way you are (almost) always absolutely sure you're not putting it on your skin. |
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Fri Feb 23, 2007 10:54 pm |
| nyonyakay wrote: |
I agree that it is entirely prudent to avoid all cosmetics and personal care products containing propylene glycol where you have a known allergy to it.
Montrealgal, have you thought of going the DIY route - that way you are (almost) always absolutely sure you're not putting it on your skin. |
Hi nyonyakay,
I do make my own vitamin C serum (which I adore) but that's about it. I guess it's a matter of time and lack of know-how and not having the ingredients readily available, especially up here in Canada.
I guess it's the same reason I avoid food recipes with lots of steps and a long list of ingredients!
But I may need to resort to DIY if my search for a daytime moisturizer doesn't turn something up soon! And I do like the idea of DIY - aafterwards, I'm always filled with pride! 
Thanks, nyonyakay 
montrealgal |
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