Toxic Chemicals and Women’s Health
Safe Cleaning Products
Certain chemicals in cleaning products have been linked to fertility problems, birth defects, increased risk of breast cancer, asthma and respiratory disorders, and hormone disruption. What’s more, there is no federal law requiring cleaning product companies to list all the ingredients in their products on the label. Which means companies can keep toxic chemicals a secret from you.
The bottom line: Products you clean your home with shouldn’t contain toxic ingredients in the first place. Learn more.
Fragrance Ingredients
Thousands of synthetic chemicals are used to create modern day fragrances for our products, and over a 1/3 of these chemicals have been linked to health impacts ranging from allergies to increased risk of breast cancer. Furthermore, these ingredients are kept secret—the vast majority of manufacturers currently are not disclosing fragrance ingredients on websites or on the product label.
The bottom line: Toxic chemicals should not be in fragrance and fragrance ingredients should be disclosed so people can choose to avoid harmful chemicals and protect their health. Learn more.
Toxic Chemicals and Climate
The way everyday products are created, distributed, used, and disposed is having a dramatic and dangerous impact on our health and environment. People of color, Indigenous people, and low income families who often live in areas where pollution from manufacturing plants is highest are bearing the brunt of the public health crisis. Meanwhile, companies push products on us as “must-haves” to keep our homes and our bodies “clean”, “healthy” and “beautiful” with toxic ingredients that get washed down the drain, and released into our air at levels as high and alarming as emissions from cars and trucks.
The bottom line: Our Earth is sick. It is no coincidence that we are sick, too. Learn more.
Period Health & Menstrual Equity
Unfortunately, our research shows that many of today’s period and intimate care products contain a host of chemicals that may cause cancer, disrupt hormones, or cause unnecessary allergic reactions. Tampons are used by up to 70 percent of menstruating people in the U.S. Other products such as douches, sprays, washes, and wipes, are used by 20-50% of women, with use rates considerably higher among African-American, Latina and low-income women. The Food and Drug Administration does not require companies to test for all harmful chemicals, nor do they require companies to disclose the presence of all chemicals used in period and personal care products.
The bottom line: Toxic chemicals don’t belong in menstrual care products. Period. Learn more.
Safe Nail & Hair Salons
Salon workers — a population dominated by women — are exposed to various chemicals of concern everyday in their workplaces associated with asthma, dermatitis, neurological symptoms, cancer & more.
These chemicals can be dangerous, not only for you, but especially for women who work in salons everyday. In addition, because of weak laws, cosmetic manufacturers do not have to prove the safety of the ingredients they use. Furthermore, salon product ingredients are not required to be labeled, so when it comes to chemical exposure, salon workers and consumers are at risk.
The bottom line: It’s time to make sure the chemicals used in hair and nail salon products are safe for everyone. Learn more.
