1,4-Dioxane

Everyday Chemicals 

Let's take a look at 1,4-dioxane

1,4-Dioxane, or just simply dioxane, is a colourless, sweet smelling, liquid solvent which easily mixes with water¹. It is used in the manufacture of chemicals, plastics, food additives and pharmaceutical drugs¹. It is also a contaminant in many everyday products like paints, pesticides, detergents, and personal care products, like shampoos and cosmetics¹.

Dioxane really isn’t good for anyone, but employees with occupational exposure are the most vulnerable, but otherwise, women tend to be more exposed than men. The reason is predictable, women just use more personal care products. More soaps, more lotions and creams, a variety of makeups applied to the body everyday, and the combination of all of these products together may be cause for concern. But avoiding dioxane can be tricky, it’s found in over 35% of facial moisturizers and more than 80% of hair dye². A study by The Organic Consumers Association found 1,4-dioxane in many natural and organic products, and of the child care products tested by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, dioxane was found in two-thirds of them².

So what’s it been doing out there in the environment? 

Well, Not much! It doesn’t really biodegrade³.

Dioxane is volatile and easily evaporates from dry soil and surfaces, but once it finds itself in a moist environment, it is resistant to decomposition³. It is highly mobile in soil, quickly moving into groundwater systems³. A study done by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that in America, between 5% and 10% of the public water supply had dioxane levels exceeding the health advisory standards³. 

Does it cause cancer? 

Probably! 

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has listed 1,4-Dioxane as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. Although typically, in small doses, the body can process dioxane just as quickly as you take it in¹. If you apply dioxane topically, using a lotion or a shampoo, it will probably evaporate before your skin has a chance to soak it up¹. If you do absorb some, or if you end up swallowing a small amount (because it might be in your drinking water!), it should pass right through you, to be excreted in the urine³. However, exposure to really high levels of dioxane can cause kidney and liver damage, and sometimes, even death^1,3. 

 Although you won’t find dioxane on any product labels (it’s a byproduct or contaminent, not an ingredient), if you are concerned, you can reduce your exposure. Just look on the label and pass it up if you see Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, PEG compounds, or chemicals that end in -xenon or -oleth^1,3. Dioxane can be difficult to escape, but if you're careful you can avoid this Everyday Chemical in your day to day. 

References

• ¹Surprenant, K. S. Dioxane.  In Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. 2014, 28-40. https://doi-org.libproxy.mtroyal.ca/10.1002/14356007.a08_545
• ²Sarantis, H.; Archer, L.; Nudelman, J.; Luppi, C. Retailer Therapy: Ranking retailers on their commitment to personal care product and cosmetics safety, 2015. http://www.safecosmetics.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Retailer-Therapy-report.pdf (accessed Jan 27, 2019).
• ³Knappe, Detlef, et al. Occurrence of 1, 4-Dioxane in the Cape Fear River Watershed and Effectiveness of Water Treatment Options for 1, 4-Dioxane Control. NC Water Resources Research Institute, 2016