I'm a sunsilk user. I have read in another forum that this product contains formaldehyde (according to some it is commonly called "formalin"). I checked the ingredients of sunsilk if it was true. I found out that FORMALDEHYDE is really one of Sunsilk's ingredients.
Here's some info bout this chemical that I've got from another site.
Formaldehyde Is a confirmed carcinogen (
cancer causing agent).
Low levels can result in breathing problems, dizziness, eye and skin irritations, nausea, headaches and heart palpitations. Formaldehyde is colorless, gaseous and widely used today because of its qualities as a preservative and as a bonding agent. It is one of the most important products among the chemical industry ranking 25 in volume of production among chemical commodities manufactured in the U.S. Nine billion pounds of it are produced every year. It is found in consumer and industrial products ranging from shampoo and lipstick to toothpaste and household disinfectants. Thus, formaldehyde is a potential danger to our children. A researcher in ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" />..:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 />..:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 />Seattle observed a high incidence of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) in children who lived in formaldehyde-laden homes. Because it's so inexpensive, it acts as an effective preservative, fungicide and stabilizer. Its uses are unlimited. Frequent or prolonged exposure, however, can cause hypersensitivity leading to contact dermatitis (skin irritation), possibly escrematoid (resembling eczema). It has numerous names and it can be listed as:
Formalin, Formal Methaldehyde, Quaternium 15—to name a few.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health states that formaldehyde should be handled carefully because it's a potential human carcinogen. It's also suspected of being a terstogen (causing birth defects) and mutagen (causing genetic damage).
Some of the concerns with exposure to formaldehyde are that they can irritate the respiratory system, cause headaches, depression, joint pain, chronic fatigue, chest pains, ear infections, dizziness and loss of sleep. It can aggravate coughs and colds, and trigger asthma.
The following is a partial list of products that contain formaldehyde: Jergens Lotion, Listerine, Johnson's Baby Shampoo, Dial Soap, most Store-Brand Disinfectants, Clearasil, Air Fresheners, some Antiperspirants, Nail Polish, Perfumes and After-shave lotions. Also see Pamphlet #Mc1744R1087 as published by the Mayo Clinic, Department of Dermatology, Rochester, MN, entitled "Formaldehyde."
Phenol
Toxic by swallowing, breathing and skin absorption, suspected of causing cancer in humans. It is used in most furniture and floor polishes. If phenol touches your skin, it can swell, peel, burn, break out in hives or pim-convulsions, cold sweats, coma and eventual death. It is used in products used to clean your toilets. Yet, you can also find it in cosmetics such as Noxema. Some of the other names it is listed under are Cresol, Benzophenol and Resorcinol napthols.
Ammonia
It is a poison! Yet, it's used in nearly all household cleaners. Besides attacking the respiratory system, it attacks skin—causing rashes, redness and even chemical burns. When inhaled, it is a lung irritant and extremely harmful to people with colds and asthma/respiratory problems. If ammonia is mixed with bleach or any other product containing bleach, the resulting chloramines fumes can be DEADLY! Bathroom cleaners and Windex are just some of the products that contain ammonia.
Ethanol
It is a confirmed carcinogen. If swallowed, it can cause sleep disorders, sleep changes, ataxia, coma anti-psychotic episodes, headache, pulmonary changes, alteration in gastric secretion, nausea or vomiting. Other effects include gastrointestinal changes, menstrual cycle changes and body temperature decrease. It can also cause glandular effects in humans. If swallowed, reproductive effects include infertility, sterility or birth defects. It has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) effects on newborns as if the mother was drinking or drug-dependent during pregnancy. It's also a mutagen (changes inherited characteristics), and eye/skin irritant. This is 79.0% of the ingredients found in YES, LYSOL DISINFECTANT SPRAY!
*FELISA says... please read THIS too
