are soaring. But, of course the chemicals couldn't be the cause. After all, we know that the manufacturers would never harm us. Right? Way back in 1909, a rather prominent scientist wrote the following: "[T]he administration of benzoic acid, either as such or in the form of benzoate of soda, is highly objectionable and produces a very serious disturbance of the metabolic functions, attended with injury to digestion and health."[1]
Now, over 100 years later, benzoic acid, sodium benzoate and related compounds--parabends--are still widely used in foods and cosmetics. The technical nomenclature is antimicrobial preservatives, which means they kill cells that might infect what we eat or put on our bodies. However, tests that have been peer reviewed and have drawn conclusive results reveal that these chemicals cause gastric irritation, hives and are a known asthma trigger. And, because they dissolve in water and are soluble in oil as well, they have become a tool of incalculable value for the cosmetics industry, which has strict controls on potential microbe contamination.
How ironic that the cosmetics industry would want to control the microbe contamination but not be concerned as to the serious threat to human health posed by the use of these chemicals.
Fortunately, there are some people who have taken note of these harmful chemicals in skin care products, makeups, creams, eye-shadows, lipsticks, and other personal products. Two organizations deserve kudos. First, Ava Anderson Non-toxic for her "zero tolerance" policy with respect to chemical additives in her cosmetic products. And second, to Skin Deep, an organization determined to show the public the deadly contents of thousands of cosmetic products.
May their tribe increase.
[1] Lindy Woodhead, War Paint: Madame Helena Rubinstein and Miss Elizabeth Arden : Their Lives, Their Times, Their Rivalry [book on-line] (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2003, p. 204
