Beware of this new finding on Propylene Glycol. It's an ingredient in many body lotions, deodorants, hair conditioners, cosmetics, toothpastes, laundry detergents and many more. Propylene Glycol is a petroleum derivative that acts as a solvent, surfactant and wetting agent.
The bad news is that it can easily penetrate the skin and can weaken protein and cellular structure. In fact, it penetrates the skin so quickly that the EPA warns factory workers to avoid skin contact to prevent brain, liver and kidney abnormalities. Surprisingly, Propylene Glycol is even used to help preserve the moisture content in many dog foods to prevent them from going rancid–a preservative.
Preservatives can be either natural or artificial. Natural preservatives are usually made from anti-oxidants such as vitamins C or E, otherwise known as tocopherol or ascorbate.
Why is Propylene Glycol a legal ingredient in so many products if it's proven to be dangerous?
Ironically, it's a key ingredient in some newer automotive antifreezes for automobiles. Although it is considerably safer (less toxic) than its far more dangerous cousin, Ethylene Glycol, why isn't the FDA doing something to ban it in products used for the human body? [It has, however, been banned by the FDA for use in cat food.]
It's been proven to cause a serious type of blood disease call Heinz body anemia.
As a Dangerous Product Attorney, I urge the FDA to do a full analysis of this ingredient and, with that evidence, move to ban it as an ingredient as it is found to be dangerous to humans.
About the author: Claude Wyle is an aggressive product liability advocate dedicated to keeping San Francisco Bay Area consumers–especially children–safe from defective and dangerous products. Claude has decades of experience representing those harmed by the wrongful conduct of others, and, as a Bay Area defective products lawyer, has fought to protect the rights of injured consumers throughout his legal career.
Claude A. Wyle is a partner of Choulos Choulos, and Wyle, a San Francisco based law firm dedicated to representing clients who have been injured by the wrongful conduct of individuals, corporations, public entities, and businesses. Mr. Wyle also frequently sits as a Judge Pro Tem for the city and county of San Francisco.
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