CONSUMER TIPS CONSUMER TIPS Avoiding controversial chemicals at the supermarket could be a daunting task, the report says. None of the baby bath products tested in the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics' new report list formldehyde and 1,4-dioxane on their labels, since they're formed as manufacturuing byproducts and aren't added intentionally. The group says consumers can look out for ingredients that are likely to contain either of the chemicals, though, including: peg-100 stearate, sodium laureth sulfate, polyethylene and ceteareth-20, quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea and sodium hydroxymethoylglycinate. — Liz Szabo, USA TODAY ONLINE RESOURCES ONLINE RESOURCES • National Cancer Institute formaldehyde fact sheet • Campaign for Safe Cosmetics' full report • Organic Consumers Association • Personal Care Products Council • Formaldehye Council, Inc., blog DAILY HEALTH BLOG DAILY HEALTH BLOG Get wellness tips, medical study roundups and news for healthy living here, including info on ... • Fitness and nutrition

• Parenting/kids' health

• Watercooler-worthy bits Many children's bath products contain chemicals that may cause cancer and skin allergies, according to a report released Thursday by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Twenty-three of 28 products tested contained formaldehyde, the report says. Formaldehyde — considered a probable carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency, — is released as preservatives break down over time in a container. PRODUCTS TESTED: Full list Thirty-two of 48 products contained 1,4-dioxane, also considered a probable human carcinogen by the EPA, is a byproduct of a chemical processing techniques used to make petroleum-based ingredients gentler to the skin. Nearly two-thirds of products tested, including Johnson's Baby Shampoo, contained both chemicals, according to the campaign, a coalition of environmental and health groups that includes the Breast Cancer Fund and the Environmental Working Group. Formaldehyde can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive people, the report says, and Japan and Sweden have banned formaldehyde from personal care products. Analytical Sciences, an independent laboratory in Petaluma, Calif., performed the tests. A spokeswoman for Johnson & Johnson, Iris Grossman, says the company's products are safe, meeting or exceeding all regulations. And a spokesman for the Personal Care Products Council says the study's results are old news. Manufacturers have known for years that bubble bath, shampoo and other products contain small amounts of formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, and have already reduced theses levels significantly, says John Bailey, the council's chief scientist. Bailey says that preservatives make products safer by preventing the growth of bacteria, fungus and other potentially harmful microbes. There's no reason to take "extraordinary measures" to further reduce levels of these chemicals, he says, because there's no evidence to prove that low levels pose a risk. "Cosmetic and personal care product companies take their commitment to safety and their responsibilities under the law very seriously and work hard to earn and keep the trust of consumers and their families," Bailey said in a statement. "Parents should be given complete and accurate information about their products based on sound science rather than on incomplete and alarmist reports." Other scientists say the report raises important safety concerns. Sheela Sathyanarayana, an environmental health pediatrician at Seattle Children's Hospital and an assistant professor at the University of Washington, says she's seen kids become "extremely sensitized" from formaldehyde exposures. These children develop bigger and bigger reactions with each new exposure. That can make skin sensitive to a variety of substances, beyond just formaldehyde, she says. Although Sathyanarayana was not involved in the new report, her research has shown that many other baby products contain chemicals called phthalates, which can interfere with the hormone system. She notes that formaldehyde also irritates the nasal and respiratory passages. A report released last week by the Organic Consumers Association found that makers of many personal products and household cleaners have significantly reduced levels of 1,4-dioxane in the past year. The study found that products bearing the U.S. Department of Agriculture Organic seal, such as items by Dr. Bronner's, Intelligent Nutrients and Terressentials, were free of 1,4-dioxane. Whole Foods is reformulating its 365 Everyday Value products to be free of 1,4-dioxane by this summer, spokeswoman Libba Letton says. Brands that have sharply reduced levels of 1,4-dioxane since March 2008, when the association released its last report, include: Earth Friendly Products, Ecco Bella, Giovanni, Jason, Johnson & Johnson, Kiss My Face, Life Tree, Method, Nature's Gate, Planet Ultra and Seventh Generation, which contributed $10,000 to fund the Organic Consumers Association study. Products tested A new study from the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found that many baby bath products contain formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane, which are both linked to cancer and skin allergies. The campaign notes that products with formaldehyde levels over 500 parts per million require warning labels in Europe, although not in the USA. While all of the following products were tested for 1,4-dioxane, only 28 were tested for formaldehyde. Product Name and Company 1,4-dioxane (in parts per million) Formaldehyde (in parts per million) Lotions American Girl Hopes and Dreams Shimmer Body Lotion (Bath & Body Works) ND* 310 Baby Magic "Soft Baby Scent" Baby Lotion (Ascendia Brands, Inc) ND* 570 Baby Magic "Soft Baby Scent" Baby Lotion (Ascendia Brands, Inc) 0.92 610 Baby Magic "Soft Baby Scent" Baby Lotion (Ascendia Brands, Inc) ND* 330 Johnson's Bedtime Lotion Natural Calm Essences (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies) ND* Not tested for this chemical Mustela Baby Body Lotion (Laboratories Expanscience) ND* Not tested for this chemical Tinker Bell Body Lotion (Goldie LLC) ND* 220 Shampoos CVS Baby Shampoo (CVS/Pharmacy) 0.92 350 Johnson's Baby Shampoo (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies) ND* 200 Johnson's Baby Shampoo (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies) 1.1 210 L'Oreal Kids Extra Gentle 2-in-1 Fast Dry Shampoo — Burst of Cool Melon (L'Oreal USA) 0.95 260 Suave Kids 2-in-1 Shampoo — Wild Watermelon (Unilever) 0.69 ND* Liquid Shower Soaps American Girl Hopes and Dreams Glistening Shower and Bath Wash (Bath & Body Works) 14 Not tested for this chemical American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out Shower Gel — Apple Blossom (Bath & Body Works) 6.3 210 American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out Shower Gel — Apple Blossom (Bath & Body Works) 5.7 220 American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out Shower Gel — Apple Blossom (Bath & Body Works) 18 150 American Girl Real Beauty Inside and Out Shower Gel — Sunny Orange (Bath & Body Works) 35 ND* Bath Washes Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Creamy Wash (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies) 1.4 Not tested for this chemical Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Creamy Wash (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies) 1.7 Not tested for this chemical Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Creamy Wash (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies) 4.6 Not tested for this chemical CVS Kids Body Wash — Blueberry Blast (CVS/Pharmacy) 0.75 54 Equate Tearless Baby Wash (Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.) 0.63 290 Gentle Naturals Eczema Baby Wash (Del Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) 6.4 Not tested for this chemical Grins & Giggles Milk & Honey Baby Wash (Gerber Products Company) 2.8 400 Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea Baby Wash (Kimberly-Clark) 3.2 410 Johnson's Moisture Care Baby Wash (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies) 3.9 Not tested for this chemical Johnson's Oatmeal Baby Wash — Vanilla (Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies) 4.2 Not tested for this chemical Mustela Baby Shampoo (Laboratories Expanscience) 2.8 Not tested for this chemical Mustela Dermo-Cleansing Gel for Hair and Body Newborn/Baby (Laboratories Expanscience) 3.9 Not tested for this chemical Night-time Bath Baby Wash (Target Corporation) 3.6 Not tested for this chemical Bubble Baths Barbie Berry Sweet Bubble Bath (Water-Jel Technologies) 0.65 440 Dora the Explorer Bubble Bath (MZB Personal Care) 1.5 130 Hot Wheels Berry Blast Bubble Bath (Water-Jel Technologies) 2.8 100 Mustela Multi-Sensory Bubble Bath (Laboratories Expanscience) 1.7 ND* Sesame Street Bubble Bath — Orange Mango Tango (The Village Company) 2.8 340 Tinker Bell Scented Bubble Bath (Goldie LLC) 11 420 Baby Wipes Huggies Naturally Refreshing Cucumber & Green Tea Baby Wipes (Kimberly-Clark) ND* Not tested for this chemical Huggies Soft Skin — Shea Butter (Kimberly-Clark Global Sales Inc) ND* 100 Kirkland Signature Premium Unscented Baby Wipes (Costco Wholesale Corporation) ND* Not tested for this chemical Pampers Baby Fresh (Procter & Gamble) ND* Not tested for this chemical Pampers Calming — Lavender (Procter & Gamble) ND* Not tested for this chemical Hair Relaxers Dark & Lovely Kids Beautiful Beginnings No-Mistake Nourishing No-Lye Creme Relaxer, Normal to Course Hair (SoftSheen-Carson, owned by L'Oreal USA) ND* Not tested for this chemical Dark & Lovely Kids Beautiful Beginnings No-Mistake Nourishing No-Lye Children's Relaxer System, Fine Hair Types (SoftSheen-Carson, owned by L'Oreal USA) ND* ND* Soft & Beautiful Just for Me! No-Lye Conditioning Creme Relaxer, Children's Super (Alberto-Culver Company) 0.27 ND* Hand Soaps Pampers Kandoo Foaming Handsoap — Magic Melon (Procter & Gamble) 0.49 310 Sun Blocks Banana Boat Kids UVA & UVB Sunblock Lotion SPF 30 (Sun Pharmaceuticals Corp.) ND* Not tested for this chemical No-Ad Sun Pals SPF 45 UVA/UVB Sun Protection (Solar Cosmetics Labs Inc.) 0.46 Not tested for this chemical Toothpastes Colgate Kids 2-in-1 Toothpaste and Mouthwash — Strawberry (Colgate-Palmolive Company) ND* Not tested for this chemical * Not detectable. Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more