Testing finds 85% of everyday personal care products contain unlabeled chemicals with suspected health hazards

A recent study of common personal care products, including sunscreens, baby lotions, shampoos and soaps, has found that nearly all of them contain chemicals not listed on their labels. Most of these products had at least one unlabeled chemical with known or suspected health risks, and one in four products contained a substance that contradicted the claims made on their packaging.

This includes products marketed as "phthalate-free" that actually contained phthalates. The research, published in the journal Environment & Health, analyzed 113 personal care and cleaning products across 12 different categories, and discovered an average of 51 chemicals per product, compared to the 16 ingredients listed on the label.

The study found that 98% of products contained at least one unlabeled chemical, and 85% had at least one chemical with known or suspected health hazards. These chemicals include endocrine-disrupting compounds like phthalates and parabens, fragrance chemicals, silicone contaminants, and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), which have been linked to various health problems such as infertility, breast cancer, obesity, diabetes, allergies, and even potential carcinogenic effects.

The findings show that undisclosed harmful chemicals were present in products across all price points, sizes, and marketing claims, including those advertised as "natural," "nontoxic," or "organic." The researchers suggest that this does not necessarily indicate intentional adulteration, but rather contamination from various sources such as raw materials, processing equipment, chemical reactions, storage, or packaging.

Changes in suppliers can also alter a product's chemical composition without updating the label. The study used nontargeted analysis, a method capable of detecting thousands of chemicals without a predefined list. Researchers identified 3,141 chemical signals and confirmed the presence of 303 compounds. The study highlights the limitations of current product safety ratings and certification programs that primarily rely on disclosed ingredient lists, as this approach can overlook contaminants, impurities, breakdown products, and chemicals introduced during manufacturing or packaging.

The researchers recommend incorporating nontargeted analysis of finished, packaged products as a standard part of product safety and quality control alongside traditional tests like stability, microbial, and preservative testing. They also argue that U.S. oversight of cosmetics should move beyond ingredient disclosure and manufacturer reporting, calling for routine testing of finished products for undisclosed chemical contaminants.