Coming Clean! Hidden Dangers In Soap

Coming Clean - The Hidden Dangers in Common Soap
by Karyn Siegel-Maier

Originally published in Better Nutrition Magazine

Get the real dirt on what's in your soap (and what shouldn't be there)
Our standards of personal hygiene have changed dramatically since the 18th century. No longer do we fear "throwing out the baby with the bath water" since the days of the entire family taking turns in the same tub of soapy water each week are long gone. No, modern plumbing allows most of us to relish in private showers on a daily basis and, to keep up with our demands, the cosmetic industry has not fallen short of providing a vast array of soaps and cleansers in which to wash away the sins of dirt. Unfortunately, soap itself has also undergone major transformations and what you may be buying off the shelf today may be considered anything but "clean."

Soap Basics

Soap is made by combining a fat source (either animal or vegetable) and an alkali (acid) in a chemical process known as saponification. In spite of efforts to promote bathing as an immodest act by some factions of the early Christian church, the soap industry came into its own in the 12th and 13th centuries in Italy and France. By the 16th century, soapmaking became a prosperous industry in England and by the mid-17th century, the New England colonists benefited from exporting much-needed soap ash and animal fats to England. Soon, the territories now known as New Hampshire and Maine profited greatly from these exports and eventually became the heart of soap manufacturing in the United States.

Early soaps were made by boiling goat or sheep tallow (fat) with water and hardwood ash (alkali), although Italian and French soapmakers explored the use of olive oil in place of animal fats to improve texture and quality. But, commercial Soaps, as we know them today, may contain a variety of other chemicals that are not neutralized in the manufacturing process and that are being applied to your skin every day.

What's In Your Soap?

In 1938, under the U.S. Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act, cosmetics were legally defined as any product used for the purpose of "cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering appearance" without affecting bodily function. Products that come under this category include sprays, lotions, powders, deodorants, facial makeup and, you guessed it, soaps. Unlike products that are classified as both a cosmetic and a drug (such as fluoride toothpaste) cosmetics and their individual ingredients do not need FDA approval before appearing on the market. In fact, the FDA has no regulatory authority over these products and their ingredients until after they appear on the market, and only if it can be determined that they have caused direct harm to human health. Furthermore, the fact that many soaps and cleansers are formulated from a variety of combined chemicals complicates the issue further. Only about 16 percent of cosmetics have been tested for toxicity by the FDA-- although it does require companies to label cosmetics with a warning if they contain irritants or hazardous substances.

Curious now about what you're taking a bath with?

Here's a brief rundown on some potentially harmful ingredients found in many commercial soaps:

A-pinene -- Derived from the resinous sap of pine trees, this substance is a major component of turpentine and can damage the immune system.

A-terpineol -- This chemical is extremely irritating to your mucus membranes. Frequent or prolonged exposure (and especially repeated inhalation) can also cause edema, as well as respiratory difficulties.

Benzaldehyde -- Also called oil of bitter almond, this substance is a narcotic and anesthetic that can depress the central nervous system. When inhaled, it can bring on vomiting, dizziness and a sudden drop in blood pressure.

Benzyl Acetate -- An eye and lung irritant and known carcinogen (cancer-causer) that has been associated with pancreatic cancer.

Ethanol -- Appears on the EPA Hazardous Waste List and is used in the manufacture of varnish and paint remover. This chemical can irritate the respiratory tract and can cause impaired vision and loss of muscle control.

Linalool -- A narcotic that can impair respiratory function and motor activity. Linalool also attracts bees which can be a problem for those allergic to bee stings.

Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) -- Used to increase absorption of other chemicals; it is also a "wetting agent" that allows shampoo to spread out and penetrate more easily. SLS breaks down lipids (fats) and impairs the skin's ability to retain moisture. It is classified as a "mutagen," meaning it can alter cellular genetic material. In fact, SLS has been used in Japanese studies to promote bacterial mutations.

Triclosan -- A bactericide (anti-bacterial) and mutagen that is readily absorbed through the skin. It's also an eye irritant and associated with causing liver damage.

A New Generation Of Chemical-resistant Supergerms?

It should also be said that the overuse of chemical antibacterials, such as triclosan, has created a widespread problem of a new generation of bacteria that have mutated to become resistant to these harsh chemicals. According to research from Tufts University, triclosan-containing antibacterial soaps used in the home can become breeding grounds for creating a strain of resistant bacteria.

The Color of ... Danger

And, what about the colors that are added to soaps? Many of them are permitted in cosmetics (and some drugs) for use on the skin but are suspected of being carcinogens, teratogens (indicating the substance can pass through the placenta to an unborn child) or toxins. A mere sampling of these include (all prefixed by D&C, which means that the dye may only be used in drugs and cosmetics, not in foods):

* Blue Aluminum Lake 1 and 2

* Red No. 19

* Aluminum Lake

* Zirconium Lake

* Yellow No. 8

Get Clean The Natural Way!

You can take out the mystery of reading labels and the fear of uncertainty when you buy from your natural foods store. Chances are they will have a variety of body bars and facial cleansers on the shelves that will be safe for the entire family to use. And, you can be sure that these soaps are environmentally safe and cruelty-free to boot.

What Should You Look For In Natural Soaps?

Natural soaps contain vegetable-based oils, such as oils of olive, coconut, canola or soya, rather than animal products. They may also contain emollients such as glycerin and lanolin. Oddly, glycerin is a natural by-product of soap making, but many commercial manufacturers separate this substance from their product and sell it to other industries for a profit. Soaps that are "cold-pressed" retain their original glycerin content. Lanolin, on the other hand, is an animal product in the sense that it is derived from the wool of sheep, but without sacrificing the animal.

Natural soaps will also contain botanical essential oils, not perfumes or synthetic dyes and fragrances. The essential oils perform double duty: they offer superior cleansing and healing properties while providing the benefits of aromatherapy. You can replace your old triclosan-containing antibacterial soaps with those formulated with tea tree, rose, geranium or lavender. If you have very oily skin with a tendency toward acne, you might benefit from soaps made with carrot, citrus or mint oils. Dry skin benefits from the oils of lavender, rose geranium and calendula, while extremely dry skin can be helped with the oils of avocado, jojoba, wheat germ and sweet almond.