2-Phenoxyethanol - another safe, natural preservative?? Really?
at around evening time of August 19th, 2007To illustrate my point, we will start with a little story about this safe preservative, which seems to be anything but safe and natural.
2-Phenoxyethanol, used as an anesthetic, caused three women to experience headaches and symptoms of intoxication during use, followed by a loss of sensation and strength in their hands and fingers, which proved worse in their preferred hand. After 1 to 2 years of exposure, the women manifested gradual onset of symptoms of cognitive impairment with an inability to work. Neuropsychologic testing verified that all three had focal cognitive impairments that continued to persist. One also had documented labyrinthine hypofunction, which originated during this exposure.
I have always maintained that many ingredients that have been approved for use in cosmetics, bodycare and/or food are not as safe as they would like us to believe.
For a number of years I’ve had serious doubts about Phenoxyethanol; its a fashionable preservative for companies touting to be natural, pure and/or organic. Its also used in vaccines and as a fixative in perfumes.
For you techies out there, Phenoxyethanol is also known as 2-Phenoxy-; Ethylene Glycol Monophenyl Ether; 2-Hydroxyethyl Phenyl Ether; 2-Phenoxyethanol; 2-Phenoxyethyl Alcohol; Phenoxytol; 2-Phenoxy-Ethanol; and Ethanol 2Phenoxy.
It is manufactured by combining derived coal tar with ethylene oxide.
Phenoxyethanol can be found in facial moisturising products, anti-aging treatments, moisturisers, facial cleansers, sunscreens with an SPF 15 and above, body wash cleansers, exfoliants/scrubs, eye creams, conditioners and other products that contain an SPF.
It is a skin and eye irritant by absorption. Lab tests for this ingredient show evidence that it is linked to cancer, developmental reproductive toxicity, and effects on the brain and nervous system.
Working with Phenoxyethanol is an occupational hazard. It has been linked with spontaneous abortions, cancers and on the low end of the scale, as a lung irritant by inhalation.
Quote from Dr. Mary Teeling, Medical Director of the Ireland Medicines Board, during the 2Phenoxyethanol workshop:
”Perhaps I’m getting old and a bit cynical, but I’m really not sure that we have the full safety picture on 2-phenoxyethanol. It certainly does look to be a safe and efficacious vaccine — preservative, but we’re actually not 100 percent sure about either of these at this point in time. Formaldehyde has also been used. Now, there are other preservatives that have been used in other medicinal products, like benzochromium chloride. I think the important thing is that for a preservative to be used, they must fulfill the European Pharmacopeia specifications. That’s a requirement in order to get a license either nationally or at community level in the European Union. So they do have — So they will, more or less, fulfill the PH Euro requirements. But we’re not really -
Ever how much information we have on thimerosal, I think we have less on the others. So you’re into a situation, or are you — You know the phrase, “The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know”. And I think that’s a very important aspect of this whole review.”
The government seems to have adopted a “close enough is good enough” policy. It certainly isn’t when it comes to the health of you and your family.
