Study Finds Cancer-Causing Chemical in Nearly 100 Shampoos and Soaps

The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) revealed independent testing on Tuesday finding a cancer-causing chemical in 98 shampoos, soaps and other personal care products sold by major national retailers. The chemical, cocamide diethanolamine (cocamide DEA), a chemically-modified form of coconut oil used as a thickener or foaming agent in many products, was listed by California as a known carcinogen last year.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
Products tested with high levels of cocamide DEA include shampoos made by Colgate Palmolive, Colomer, Paul Mitchell and many others. In addition, products marketed for children and a product falsely labeled as organic were found with the chemical, in violation of California law.
CEH filed a California lawsuit Tuesday against four companies that sell products containing cocamide DEA, and the nonprofit has sent legal notices to more than 100 other companies that produce and/or sell cocamide DEA-tainted products that their products violate state law.
“Most people believe that products sold in major stores are tested for safety, but consumers need to know that they could be doused with a cancer-causing chemical every time they shower or shampoo,” said Michael Green, executive director of CEH. “We expect companies to take swift action to end this unnecessary risk to our children’s and families’ health.”
In addition to many brand name shampoos and personal care products (see the full list, below), the CEH testing found cocamide DEA in store-brand products purchased at Walmart, Trader Joe’s, Pharmaca and Kohl’s. A store brand children’s bubble bath from Kmart and a children’s shampoo/conditioner from Babies R Us were also found with cocamide DEA. Falsely labeled organic products from Organic by Africa’s Best also tested for high levels of the cancer-causing chemical (CEH previously won a legal settlement with this company requiring it to end its use of phony organic labels).
CEH has purchased the shampoos and other products containing cocamide DEA at Bay Area, CA, locations of major retailers and from online retailers since June, and commissioned an independent lab to determine the total content of the chemical in the products. In many cases, products contain more than 10,000 ppm cocamide DEA, and one shampoo tested at more than 200,000 ppm (20 percent) cocamide DEA. California listed cocamide DEA in June 2012 as a chemical known to cause cancer based on the assessment by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which evaluated skin exposure tests on animals.
PRODUCT | BRAND NAME | COMPANY | RETAILER |
Classic clean shampoo (for all hair types) | Prell | Ultimark Products | Walgreens |
Medicated Conditioning Shampoo | MG217 | Lake Consumer Products | Rite Aid |
Daily Shampoo | American Crew Classic | American Crew | Kmart |
Olive Oil Shampoo | Organics by Africa's Best | House of Cheatham | Glamour Beauty Supply |
Caprice (Acti-Ceramidas Shampoo) | Palmolive | Colgate-Palmolive Co. | FoodMaxx |
Mane 'n Tail Shampoo | Straight Arrow | Straight Arrow Products | FoodMaxx |
Climate Control Defrizzing Shampoo | Ouidad | Ouidad Products | Sephora |
TUI (moisturizing sulfate-free shampoo) | Carols Daughter | Carols Daughter Products | Sephora |
Brilliance Shampoo | Rusk | Rusk | Kmart |
Kid's Bubble Bath (Bubble Gum Scent) | Little Ones/Kmart | Kmart | Kmart |
Clasic Herbal Essence Shampoo (all hair types) | Vanart | Made by Estilo Y Vanidad, Distributed by Midway Importing | Kmart |
Therapeutic Anti-Dandruff Shampoo | TopCare | Topco Associates, LLC | Lucky |
Cleanse Hydrating Shampoo | BIOSILK | Farouk Systems | Lucky |
Maximum Strength Medicated Dandruff Shampoo | Equate | Walmart | Walmart |
Awapuhi Ginger Shampoo | Organix | Vogue International | Walgreens |
"Ricitos de Oro" Chamomile Baby Shampoo | Grisi | unknown | Walgreens |
Cabellino Shampoo Chile Con Romero | Grandall | Grandall Dist. Co | Kmart |
Dandruff Shampoo Selenium Sulfide | Image Essentials | Kmart | Kmart |
Nutress Hair Protein Pack Treatment Shampoo | nutresshair | Gabel’s Cosmetics, Inc. | Glamour Beauty Supply |
Treatment Curly Hair Moisturizing Shampoo Keratin and Cupuacu Butter | nuNAAT | nuNAAT | Glamour Beauty Supply |
Luxury Care 3 Plus Frizz Control Shampoo | Luxury Care | Inspired Beauty Brands, Inc. | Glamour Beauty Supply |
Anti Breakage Neutralizing Shampoo Gel | Mega Growth | Strength Of Nature | Glamour Beauty Supply |
Tea Tree Special Shampoo | Paul Mitchell | John Paul Mitchell Systems | Glamour Beauty Supply |
Plant Extracts & Moroccan Argan oil Dry, Itchy Scalp Shampoo Controls Dandruff | At One With Nature | BioCare Lab | Glamour Beauty Supply |
Gentle Cleansing & Conditioning Shampoo Aromatic Natural Essences pH balanced | Calm Cleanse | Johnson Products Co. | Glamour Beauty Supply |
Hair Polisher Shampoo with "Sparkle Lites" | Fantasia | Fantasia Industries | Glamour Beauty Supply |
African Essence Neutralizing Shampoo Plus Proteins and Conditioners | African Essence | Universal Beauty Products | Glamour Beauty Supply |
VIA Natural Style Moisturizing Shampoo | VIA | Universal Beauty Products | Glamour Beauty Supply |
Fair Trade Honey Shampoo | Lush | Lush | Lush |
Sunflower & Coconut Detangling Conditioning Shampoo | Crème Of Nature | Colomer USA | Safeway |
Medicated Shampoo Slednium Sulfide Dandruff Shampoo | up&up | Target | Target |
Salon Shampoo (for Extra-Dry Hair) | Parnevu | Advantage Research Laboratories | Lynas Beauty Depot |
Shea Butter Shampoo | Sofn'freen'pretty | M&M Products Company | Lynas Beauty Depot |
Conditioning Shampoo | Luster's Pink Brand | Luster Products, Inc. | Lynas Beauty Depot |
Coconut Oil Formula Conditioning Shampoo | Palmer's | E.T. Browne Drug Co. | Lynas Beauty Depot |
Neutralizing Shampoo (With DL Panthenol) | Vitale | AFAM Concept | Lynas Beauty Depot |
Extra Moisturizing Hand Wash | Dermasil/Rise International Group LLC | Rise International Group | 99 Cent Only Stores |
Moisturizing Shampoo with Panthenol (Placenta & Vitamin E) | La Bella | Newhall Laboratories, Inc. | 99 Cent Only Stores |
Despicable Me Hand Wash (tickled pink rose bonbon) | Delon Laboratories | Delon Laboratories | 99 Cent Only Stores |
Tingling Gro Shampoo with Flaking Control | Doo Gro | Nature's Protein | Sally Beauty Company |
KeraCare Anti-Dandruff Moisturizing Shampoo | KeraCare | Avlon Industries, Inc. | Macy's |
Dandruff Moisturizing Shampoo | Folicure | Alberto Culver USA | Sally Beauty Company |
Mixed Berry Anti-Bacterial Foaming Hand Soap | Simple Pleasures | Tri-Coastal Design | Kohl's |
Vanilla Rose Bubble Bath | Simple Pleasures | Paula Scaletta Licensed to Tri-Coastal Design | Kohl's |
berry burst shower gel | scentsations by bodysource | Made Especially for Kohl's Department Store | Kohl's |
Lemon Handwash Gift Set | Brompton and Langley | Upper Canada Soap | Sears |
French Lavender Hand and Body Wash Gift Set | Amelie's Garden | Upper Canada Soap | Sears |
Moroccanoil Extra Volume Shampoo | Moroccanoil | Moroccanoil | Blooming Beauty |
Julius Caesar Redreshing Citrus Scent Concentrated Shower Gel | Zirch Warrior Collection | TPR Holdings LLC | Marshalls |
I love Vanilla & Ice Cream Bubble Bath and Shower Gel | I love… | I love cosmetics limited | Ross |
Coconut Lime Handsoap | Pure Passion | Biolab International Inc. | Ross |
Lalaloopsy Cotton Candy Bubble Bath | Lalaloopsy | Added Extras | Ross |
Super Minty Soapy Suds Body wash + Bubbling Bath | Bliss | Bliss | Ross |
Olive & Shea Mositurizing Shower Wash Vanilla Spice | Tree Hut | Naterra International | Ross |
Organic Cleanse Deep Cleansing Shampoo with Oatmeal Protein | Design Essentials | McBride Research Laboratories | JC Penny |
Moisturizing Shampoo for all hair types | Body Time | Body Time | Body Time |
Lemon Kitchen Hand Soap | Trader Joe's | Trader Joe's | Trader Joe's |
All Natural moisturizing Shower Gel Yuzu | ShiKai | ShiKai Products | Andronico's |
2 in1 Shampoo and Conditioner | Toys R Us | Toys R Us | Babies 'R' Us |
Body Wash ylang ylang & ginger | Pharmaca | Pharmaca | Pharmaca |
avocado oil moisturizing shower gel | Australian Organics | Kent Cosmetics | TJ Maxx |
Lemon Balm White Musk Hand Wash | D&H Australia | Dickens & Hawthorne Australia | TJ Maxx |
Eucalyptus Aloe Hand Soap | CST | CST | TJ Maxx |
Honey B Crème Handwash | Scottish Fine Soaps | Scottish Fine Soaps Company | TJ Maxx |
Enriched wtith Argan oil Restorative Shampoo | Beauty Products Mgoador | Chic Cosmetic Ind. | TJ Maxx |
White Nectarine & Pear Cleansing Hand Wash | Boutique | Grace Cole Co. | TJ Maxx |
Lavender Conditioning Handwash | Brown & Harris England | HotHouse Partnerships LTD | TJ Maxx |
English Rose Moisturizing Hand Wash | A & S | Asquith & Somerset | TJ Maxx |
Best Face Forward Daily Foaming Cleanser Passionfruit + Green Tea | Formula 10.0.6 | Aspire Brands | Ulta |
Triple Action Bath, Shower, & Hair Wash Revitalizing Rosemary Mint | c. Booth simple. Natural. Trusted. | Freeman Beauty Labs/ pH Beauty Labs | Ulta |
Advanced Volume Shampoo with Expansion Technology | Nick Chavez | Perfect Plus | Ulta |
Bubble Bath Calm One with lemon balm | Calm All | The Soap & Glory Cosmetics | Sephora |
Lemon Basil Shea Butter Hand Soap | Michel Design Works | Michel Design Works | Bristol Farms |
Philip B. Peppermint & Avocado Volumizing and Clarifying Shampoo | Phillip B. | Phillip B Inc. | Bloomingdale's |
Lemon Verbena Hand Wash Gel | Accessory Zone | Accessory Zone | Sears |
Mango Body Wash | Boots | The Boots Company | Target |
Citrus Blush Shower Gel | Champneys | Boots Retail | Target |
White Tea and Ginger Neutralizing Shampoo | Ampro/Pro Styl/ Neutra Foam | Ampro Industries | Lucky |
Lychee Flower Hand And Body Wash | Mor | Mor | Nordstrom Rack |
Zinc Shampoo | DHS | Person & Covey Inc. | hairenvy.com |
Bubble Bath Sweet Water | RRYSpa | RRYSpa | burlington coat factory |
Skinny Girl Shower Gel Margarita | Skinny Girl | Lotta Luv | burlington coat factory |
Peppermint Bubble Bath | Elegant Home Design | Elegant Home Design | burlington coat factory |
Apothecary Lemon Verbana Bath and Shower Gel | Apothecary | International Design Associates | burlington coat factory |
French Lavender Cleansing Hand Wash | Baylis & Harding England | Baylis & Harding PLC | burlington coat factory |
American Crew Classic Daily Shampoo | American Crew | American Crew | Saks Fifth Avenue |
Herb Hand Soap | Daiso | Daiso Industries | Daiso |
Hair Plump Volumizing Shampoo | Big & Bold | Fisk Industries | Beauty Palace |
Blondes Lemon flower Shampoo | ARTEC | ARTec Systems Group | Beauty Palace |
Rejuvi Shower Cream | Rejuvi | Rejuvi Laboratory Inc. | Dermstore.com |
The Revitalizer Body Wash (Cucumber + Grapefruit) | Portico | Portico Home + Spa | Dermstore.com |
Colour Protecting Caviar Shampoo | Kelly Van Gogh | Kelly Van Gogh LLC | Dermstore.com |
Walnut Body Scrub | Banzai Living Inc | Banzai Living Inc | Ichiban Kan |
Clear Lemon & Mint Body Soap | Aroma Resort | PMAI | Ichiban Kan |
Bath/Shower Gelee with Green Tea and Aloe | Dr. Michelle Copeland | Dr. Michelle Copeland Skin Care | Dermstore.com |
Lavender Shower Gel with cucumber, arnica, and aloe vera | elizabeth W san francisco | E Wightnan & Co | Dermstore.com |
Caring Hand Wash Fig & Pink Cedar | Nougat London | Nougat London | Tuesday Morning |
Hydrating Shampoo | Moroccanoil | Moroccanoil | Regis Salon |
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In a wildfire, hurricane, or other disaster, people with pets should heed the Humane Society's advice: If it isn't safe for you, it isn't safe for your animals either.
1. Stay Informed
<p>A first order of business in pet evacuation planning is to understand and be ready for the possible threats in your area. Visit <a href="https://www.ready.gov/be-informed" target="_blank">Ready.gov</a> to learn more about preparing for potential disasters such as floods, hurricanes, and wildfires. Then pay attention to related updates by tuning <a href="http://www.weather.gov/nwr/" target="_blank">NOAA Weather Radio</a> to your local emergency station or using the <a href="https://www.fema.gov/mobile-app" target="_blank">FEMA app</a> to get National Weather Service alerts.</p>2. Ensure Your Pet is Easily Identifiable
<p><span>Household pets, including indoor cats, should wear collars with ID tags that have your mobile phone number. </span><a href="https://www.avma.org/microchipping-animals-faq" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Microchipping</a><span> your pets will also improve your chances of reunion should you become separated. Be sure to add an emergency contact for friends or relatives outside your immediate area.</span></p><p>Additionally, use <a href="https://secure.aspca.org/take-action/order-your-pet-safety-pack" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'animals inside' door/window stickers</a> to show rescue workers how many pets live there. (If you evacuate with your pets, quickly write "Evacuated" on the sticker so first responders don't waste time searching for them.)</p>3. Make a Pet Evacuation Plan
<p> "No family disaster plan is complete without including your pets and all of your animals," says veterinarian Heather Case in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9NRJkFKAm4" target="_blank">a video</a> produced by the American Veterinary Medical Association.</p><p>It's important to determine where to take your pet in the event of an emergency.</p><p>Red Cross shelters and many other emergency shelters allow only service animals. Ask your vet, local animal shelters, and emergency management officials for information on local and regional animal sheltering options.</p><p>For those with access to the rare shelter that allows pets, CDC offers <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/emergencies/pets-in-evacuation-centers.html" target="_blank">tips on what to expect</a> there, including potential health risks and hygiene best practices.</p><p>Beyond that, talk with family or friends outside the evacuation area about potentially hosting you and/or your pet if you're comfortable doing so. Search for pet-friendly hotel or boarding options along key evacuation routes.</p><p>If you have exotic pets or a mix of large and small animals, you may need to identify multiple locations to shelter them.</p><p>For other household pets like hamsters, snakes, and fish, the SPCA recommends that if they normally live in a cage, they should be transported in that cage. If the enclosure is too big to transport, however, transfer them to a smaller container temporarily. (More on that <a href="https://www.spcai.org/take-action/emergency-preparedness/evacuation-how-to-be-pet-prepared" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.)</p><p>For any pet, a key step is to establish who in your household will be the point person for gathering up pets and bringing their supplies. Keep in mind that you may not be home when disaster strikes, so come up with a Plan B. For example, you might form a buddy system with neighbors with pets, or coordinate with a trusted pet sitter.</p>4. Prepare a Pet Evacuation Kit
<p>Like the emergency preparedness kit you'd prepare for humans, assemble basic survival items for your pets in a sturdy, easy-to-grab container. Items should include:</p><ul><li>Water, food, and medicine to last a week or two;</li><li>Water, food bowls, and a can opener if packing wet food;</li><li>Litter supplies for cats (a shoebox lined with a plastic bag and litter may work);</li><li>Leashes, harnesses, or vehicle restraints if applicable;</li><li>A <a href="https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/emergencycare/pet-first-aid-supplies-checklist" target="_blank">pet first aid kit</a>;</li><li>A sturdy carrier or crate for each cat or dog. In addition to easing transport, these may serve as your pet's most familiar or safe space in an unfamiliar environment;</li><li>A favorite toy and/or blanket;</li><li>If your pet is prone to anxiety or stress, the American Kennel Club suggests adding <a href="https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/home-living/create-emergency-evacuation-plan-dog/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">stress-relieving items</a> like an anxiety vest or calming sprays.</li></ul><p>In the not-unlikely event that you and your pet have to shelter in different places, your kit should also include:</p><ul><li>Detailed information including contact information for you, your vet, and other emergency contacts;</li><li>A list with phone numbers and addresses of potential destinations, including pet-friendly hotels and emergency boarding facilities near your planned evacuation routes, plus friends or relatives in other areas who might be willing to host you or your pet;</li><li>Medical information including vaccine records and a current rabies vaccination tag;</li><li>Feeding notes including portions and sizes in case you need to leave your pet in someone else's care;</li><li>A photo of you and your pet for identification purposes.</li></ul>5. Be Ready to Evacuate at Any Time
<p>It's always wise to be prepared, but stay especially vigilant in high-risk periods during fire or hurricane season. Practice evacuating at different times of day. Make sure your grab-and-go kit is up to date and in a convenient location, and keep leashes and carriers by the exit door. You might even stow a thick pillowcase under your bed for middle-of-the-night, dash-out emergencies when you don't have time to coax an anxious pet into a carrier. If forecasters warn of potential wildfire, a hurricane, or other dangerous conditions, bring outdoor pets inside so you can keep a close eye on them.</p><p>As with any emergency, the key is to be prepared. As the American Kennel Club points out, "If you panic, it will agitate your dog. Therefore, <a href="https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/home-living/create-emergency-evacuation-plan-dog/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pet disaster preparedness</a> will not only reduce your anxiety but will help reduce your pet's anxiety too."</p>Evacuating Horses and Other Farm Animals
<p>The same basic principles apply for evacuating horses and most other livestock. Provide each with some form of identification. Ensure that adequate food, water, and medicine are available. And develop a clear plan on where to go and how to get there.</p><p>Sheltering and transporting farm animals requires careful coordination, from identifying potential shelter space at fairgrounds, racetracks, or pastures, to ensuring enough space is available in vehicles and trailers – not to mention handlers and drivers on hand to support the effort.</p><p>For most farm animals, the Red Cross advises that you consider precautionary evacuation when a threat seems imminent but evacuation orders haven't yet been announced. The American Veterinary Medical Association has <a href="https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/emergencycare/large-animals-and-livestock-disasters" target="_blank">more information</a>.</p>Bottom Line: If You Need to Evacuate, So Do Your Pets
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