Think Before You Shower: Could Your Shampoo Create Cancer-Causing Chemicals?

What if the ingredients in your shampoo were forming a mysterious cancer-causing substance when used in the shower?

Would you change the products you’ve been using to protect yourself?

Newly released research has shown that while your shampoo is harmless when used on its own, it may poorly react with some of the disinfectants in your home’s water. Many U.S. water treatment plants use chemicals like chlorine and chloramine to kill any bacteria, viruses, or parasites in the water that enter through the piping. Without using these disinfectants, people could be exposed to germs like norovirus and salmonella just by sipping water through their tap or accidentally drinking water while showering.

Consuming small amounts of chloramine and chlorine is safe for humans. Still, scientists have discovered that some of the ingredients used in our shampoos and household cleaners can form cancer-causing chemicals when mixed with water containing chloramine. This chemical is a combination of ammonia and chlorine.

The cancer-causing chemicals

Nitrosamines, formed by a reaction between secondary amines and nitrogen oxide, are the chemicals we have to be wary about, according to the U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Nitrosamines can be developed during the fermentation process in food, particularly with processed deli meats. These chemicals can also form through contact with water treated with chloramine.

The U.S. EPA has set limits on the amount of chloramine that can be used in treatment plants. This is because it has been discovered that quaternary amines found in cosmetics, shampoos, and household cleaners can actually create nitrosamines when they come in contact with chloramine, the disinfectant.

The good news is that studies have revealed that most treatment plants are able to remove quaternary amines from the water. However, when there are such high levels, small amounts are bound to sneak through the process. What’s even worse is that when quaternary amines aren’t removed from the water, they can even transform into tertiary amines, creating even more nitrosamines.

Nitrosamines can form in many different types of household and beauty products, like shampoos and conditioners for adults and babies, sunless tanner lotions, mascara, concealer, and dishwashing liquids.

To ensure that you’re not exposing yourself to these cancer-causing chemicals when you take a shower or bath every day, the smartest thing to do is make some changes to the products you use.

How to avoid exposure

The potential dangers of nitrosamines are yet another reason to switch over to vegan and clean personal care products. We already know that many cosmetics and beauty products contain PFAs (polyfluoroalkyl substances), which are chemicals that extend the shelf life of the items they are used in. Through repeat exposure, PFAs have the ability to impact one’s reproductive health, development, thyroid and immune function, and more.

But with all of this additional research on the products we tend to use on a daily basis, it is now clearer than ever that we need to be mindful of what we use on our bodies.

Using shampoos and conditioners that contain ingredients that end with “amine” should most definitely be avoided. As well as products that list DEA or TEA as this can indicate the presence of nitrosamines.

Not all shampoos are created equal

Now that you know what ingredients to avoid, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the things that indicate a safe shampoo or conditioner that won’t harm your health. It’s important to remember that even though your current hair care regimen may give you shiny, soft hair, it’s not worth the exposure to potentially cancer-causing toxins.

There are many ways to find out if a shampoo or conditioner is made with non-toxic, clean ingredients. The simplest and most effective way is by downloading the Think Dirty App, which can sort through ingredient lists and note any clean or dirty ingredients that you should know about. On the app, you’ll also find recommendations for clean beauty and household products that will support your health instead of harming it.

Shampoos, and other personal care items, that don’t contain nitrosamines, PFAs, or other endocrine-disrupting chemicals will typically state “vegan”, “plant-based”, “green”, “natural”, or “clean” on the label. So, before you lather your hair with shampoo, the next time you hop into the shower, take a long, hard look at the ingredient label first!

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