Designate 1,4-dioxane as toxic
Breast Cancer Action Montreal (BCAM) is collaborating with Environmental Defence Canada to encourage the government to designate 1,4-dioxane as ‘toxic’. Environmental Defence is a not-for-profit organization working to protect human health and the environment across Canada. You can find more information about them at www.environmentaldefence.ca/
1,4-dioxane is used in the production of various substances, e.g., pharmaceuticals, fats, waxes, lacquers, varnishes, cleaning and detergent preparations, adhesives, cosmetics, animal and vegetable oils, plastics, rubber, insecticides, herbicides, paint strippers, textile processing. It is most commonly found in products that create suds (e. g., shampoo, liquid soap and bubble bath) and has been found in popular brands of children's bubble bath and body wash according to The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics in 2007. For more information about 1,4-dioxane, www.toxicnation.ca/node/248/
The federal government has refused to list this chemical as "toxic" even though exposures have been linked to tumours of the liver, gallbladder, nasal cavity, lung, skin, and breast. It's hard to believe this decision, given that 1,4-dioxane is in all kinds of personal care products, from mascara to antiperspirant to lipstick to aftershave, and given that it is considered "possibly carcinogenic to humans" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
There's no reason to have this chemical in our cosmetics. It can easily be removed from products before they are sold.
We are asking you to insist that the government designate 1,4-dioxane as "toxic" so that manufacturers will be required to remove it from their products. By following the link below, you can send a letter to the government urging them to change the designation and eliminate 1,4-dioxane. Please circulate this information to your friends and colleagues. http://petition.environmentaldefence.ca/dioxane/